Free Case Reviews | No Fee Unless We Recover For You

At-Will Employment Doesn’t Mean No Protections

July 8, 2025

JUMP TO A CATEGORY PAGE

Emery Reddy

Share This Article

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter

Many Washington workers believe they can be fired for any reason — but that’s only partially true. At-will employment has exceptions.

wrongfully-terminated-female-employee-leaving-her-office-with-a-box-of-items

What Is an At-will Employment State?

Washington state is an at-will employment state. At-will employment means that employers do not need to establish cause or give notice before firing an employee.

At-will Exceptions

Termination based on any of the following are illegal:

• Discrimination
• Retaliation
• Filing an L&I claim
• Taking medical leave
• Whistleblowing

You may also have a claim even if no reason was given for your termination.

Take Our Poll

Do you understand at-will employment in Washington state?

Take our survey

Not sure if your termination was legal? Call us today for a Free Case Review.

360training.com, Inc. Data Breach

360training.com, Inc. (“360training”) has announced a data security incident that may have impacted certain customer information. According to the notice, 360training initiated contact with affected...

QualDerm Partners, LLC Data Breach

QualDerm Partners, LLC (“QualDerm”) has announced a data privacy event involving unauthorized access to certain systems within its network. According to the notice, QualDerm detected...

Hennessy Advisors, Inc. Data Breach

Hennessy Advisors, Inc. (“Hennessy Advisors”) has announced a data security incident involving unauthorized access to its systems and certain sensitive investor information. According to the...