3 ms·

> What employment contract? They’re at will Despite the colloquial use of the word "contract," there is generally always going to be an employment contract (a

> What employment contract? They’re at will Despite the colloquial use of the word "contract," there is generally always going to be an employment contract (agreement) in place. Similarly, people colloquially talk about having a "contract" for things like cellphones meaning a fixed term, but there is always an actual "contract" (agreement) with the terms of the service regardless of whether the plan has a fixed term or not and regardless of whether it's prepaid or not.

junofan 4y ago
Contract and agreement are not synonyms. Contracts require consideration.
- resoluteteeth 4y ago
  I inserted "agreement" in parentheses to clarify the meaning of contract as a type of legally binding agreement here as opposed to other usages of the word. I don't think this is a controversial definition of the word contract (for example Wikipedia's entry for "contract" states, "A contract is a legally enforceable agreement..."). I did not say that contract and agreement are synonyms that can be replaced with each other in all circumstances, so I'm not really sure that your comment is relevant to what I wrote. I was also trying to clarify that the employment contract might be titled "Employment Agreement" or something like that but is still a "contract."
- alistairSH 4y ago
  Sure, but the larger point, that employees have employment contracts in at-will states, is still true.
  - danaris 4y ago
    Some employees have contracts. My workplace doesn't have them except for employees that are part of bargaining units (ie, the ones represented by unions). Sadly, I am not one of these; my employment is contract-free.
- tialaramex 4y ago
  But employment minus consideration is either: If the worker isn't receiving consideration: Slavery, which is illegal in the civilised world (Americans still enslave convicted criminals...) If the employer isn't receiving consideration: Some sort of payroll error? Are you mistakenly still paying people you fired? Call HR now.

junofan 4y ago

Contract and agreement are not synonyms. Contracts require consideration.

resoluteteeth 4y ago
I inserted "agreement" in parentheses to clarify the meaning of contract as a type of legally binding agreement here as opposed to other usages of the word. I don't think this is a controversial definition of the word contract (for example Wikipedia's entry for "contract" states, "A contract is a legally enforceable agreement..."). I did not say that contract and agreement are synonyms that can be replaced with each other in all circumstances, so I'm not really sure that your comment is relevant to what I wrote. I was also trying to clarify that the employment contract might be titled "Employment Agreement" or something like that but is still a "contract."
alistairSH 4y ago
Sure, but the larger point, that employees have employment contracts in at-will states, is still true.
- danaris 4y ago
  Some employees have contracts. My workplace doesn't have them except for employees that are part of bargaining units (ie, the ones represented by unions). Sadly, I am not one of these; my employment is contract-free.
tialaramex 4y ago
But employment minus consideration is either: If the worker isn't receiving consideration: Slavery, which is illegal in the civilised world (Americans still enslave convicted criminals...) If the employer isn't receiving consideration: Some sort of payroll error? Are you mistakenly still paying people you fired? Call HR now.