Case Studies
Enhancing Employee Benefits While Saving $312K Annually
Company X, an IT services company based in Northern California, employs 150 professionals dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions. Despite their focus on innovation and employee well-being
Streamlining Benefits Enrollment for a Large Medical Practice
J Associates is a large medical practice located in the East Bay, employing 60 healthcare professionals dedicated to providing exceptional medical care. As a growing organization
Maximizing Savings with Level-Funded Plans for a Bay Area Employer
S Inc. is a dynamic company based in San Jose, CA, employing over 150 professionals. Known for its innovative approach and young workforce, S Inc. had been providing its employees with fully insured health plans
Question of the week
What is at-will employment?
At-will employment means that the employer or the employee can end the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause. It doesn’t, however, allow an employer to terminate someone for an illegal reason, like their inclusion in a protected class or their exercise of a legal right.
Every state (except Montana) assumes the employment relationship is at-will unless there is a legal agreement in place that says otherwise. Assuming you want to maintain the at-will relationship with employees, we recommend including clear language about this in your offer letters and employee handbook.
Keep in mind that even with an at-will relationship, terminations carry risk. A terminated employee can always claim that they were terminated for an illegal reason, at which point you’d need to be able to show otherwise. To reduce that risk, you should have and document a lawful, business-related reason for each termination. This reason should also generally be shared with the departing employee, so they understand the legitimate reasons they were let go and are less likely to come up with their own theory, which could include a discriminatory motive.
You can find more information on employment termination and at-will employment on the platform. If you would like more information on drafting an employment contract, contact an attorney.
