New Jersey follows the at-will employment doctrine. This means that in the absence of a specific contract or agreement, an employer can terminate an employee for any reason, or no reason at all, as long as the reason is not unlawful. Similarly, an employee can leave a job for any reason, or no reason at all, without notice. Examples of unlawful reasons include discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, religion, gender, or age, or retaliation for whistleblowing or engaging in legally protected activities.
This legal framework provides flexibility for both employers and employees. It allows businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and restructure their workforce as needed. For employees, it offers the freedom to pursue new opportunities without being bound to a specific employer. However, this doctrine has evolved over time through case law and legislation, creating important exceptions. Public policy exceptions, implied contracts, and certain statutory protections can limit an employer’s ability to terminate an employee, even in an at-will environment. These exceptions aim to balance the flexibility of at-will employment with the need to protect employees from unfair or discriminatory practices.
