The employment-at-will doctrine
The general rule in Ohio is that “unless otherwise agreed, either party
to an oral employment-at-will agreement may terminate the employment
relationship for any reason which is not contrary to law.”1 There is a strong
presumption in favor of an at-will contract “unless the terms of the contract
or other circumstances clearly manifest the parties’ intent to bind each other.”2
The Ohio Supreme Court has held, subject to the exceptions described below,
that the right of an employer to terminate an employee’* employment for any
cause at any time is absolute and cannot be limited by principles that protect
persons from gross or reckless disregard of their rights, or from willful,
wanton, or malicious actions or acts done intentionally, with insult, or in bad
faith.