Employment At-Will: Arkansas
Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.
Authors: E. B. Chiles IV, Cameron C. McCree and Amber Davis-Tanner, Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull and Burrow PLLC
Summary
- Employment relationships in Arkansas are presumed to be at-will, meaning the employment relationship can be terminated by either party, at any time, with or without cause. See The At-Will Relationship.
- Arkansas recognizes limited exceptions to the at-will presumption, including written and verbal contracts and public policy exceptions. See Employment At-Will Exceptions.
- At-will employees in Arkansas challenging a discharge may file claims against their employers under tort theories, including outrage and defamation, so long as the plaintiff employee is able to satisfy an evidentiary burden. See Tort Considerations.