What is the difference between an at-will and a contract employee?
The difference between an at-will and a contract employee in Florida is based on the duration of employment. An at-will employee can be hired and fired at the discretion of the employer without cause or notice. This means that the employer or employee can terminate the relationship at any time without having to provide an explanation. A contract employee, on the other hand, is employed by the company for a fixed length of time, with a specific job description and predetermined wage. The terms and conditions of the contract employee must be agreed to before the employee can begin work. At-will employees are not protected by employment laws, such as workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and anti-discrimination laws, in the same way as employees with contracts. Employers are not required to provide benefits to at-will employees. Contract employees, however, are typically provided with benefits, such as vacation pay and health insurance, which are outlined in the contract. It is important to note that just because an employee is classified as an at-will employee in Florida, that does not mean that the employee can be fired for any reason. Employers must still abide by anti-discrimination laws, and cannot terminate an employee’s employment based on their race, gender, or religion. Furthermore, although at-will employees can be terminated without cause, they can still seek remedies from the courts if they believe that their termination was a result of discrimination or other unlawful means.
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