{"id":4694,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:40","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/employment-contract-law-firing-an-employee-with-a-contract.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T04:55:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T09:55:01","slug":"employment-contract-law-firing-an-employee-with-a-contract","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/employment-contract-law-firing-an-employee-with-a-contract.html","title":{"rendered":"Employment Contract Law: Firing an Employee With a Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Employment Contract Law: Firing an Employee With a Contract<\/h1>\n
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\n By Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Firing an employee with an employment contract is more complex than terminating an at-will employee. Employers can terminate at-will employees for almost any reason. At-will employees can also leave their employment for any reason. Employment contracts, by contrast, often dictate how and when an employer can terminate an employee. Many employment contracts<\/a> only allow termination for "good cause." This can seriously limit an employer’s ability to fire an employee.<\/p>\r\n

If the employee has a written contract, staying on the right side of the law is relatively straightforward — abide by the contract terms. However, employment contracts come in many other flavors, and knowing whether you comply can take time and effort.<\/p>\r\n

This FindLaw article explores different types of employment contracts and how they impact an employer’s ability to terminate an employee.<\/p>\r\n

Employment Contracts<\/h2>\r\n

A contract is a legally binding agreement, often expressed as the result of a negotiation<\/a> between the parties. An employment contract, therefore, is a legally binding agreement between an employer and an employee regarding the terms of employment. Possible terms of employment include, but are not limited to, the following:<\/p>\r\n