Employment Law Basics

- **At-will** is the default in 49 states (Montana is the exception — requires "good cause" after probation). Either party can terminate at any time, for any legal reason, without notice. - **Contract employment** overrides at-will with negotiated terms: duration, termination conditions, severance, notice periods. - **Implied contracts** can arise from employee handbooks, verbal promises, or course of dealing — even without a signed agreement. Courts in ~37 states recognize implied contract exceptions.