What is the difference between an at-will and a contract employee?

At-will employment is a type of employment status in West Virginia where either the employer or employee is allowed to end the employment relationship without notice or cause. This means that either party can terminate the employment at any time, for any reason or no reason at all, with or without notice. A contract employment is a type of employment status in West Virginia that is based on a written agreement between the employer and employee. This type of agreement typically includes specific conditions that both parties must abide by, such as job duties, hours of work, salary or wage rates, as well as the length of the employment agreement. It also outlines any potential grounds due to which the agreement may be terminated, such as breach of contract or serious misconduct. The major difference between the two is that at-will employment offers little or no protection to the employee if their employment is terminated, while contract employees, in general, have the right to specific remedies and damages if their contract is breached. This is because the terms of the contract serve as the basis for liability on the part of the employer.

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