What defines an at-will employment agreement?

An at-will employment agreement is characterized by the ability of either the employer or the employee to terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, as long as the reason is not unlawful. This means that an employee can resign without having to provide a specific reason, and similarly, an employer can dismiss an employee without needing to justify the decision or follow a specific procedure, assuming no contract specification alters this arrangement. This flexibility is a fundamental aspect of at-will employment, distinguishing it from other types of employment contracts where termination is subject to conditions or specified procedures.