Is Maine an at-will employment state? | Fact brief

Maine is an at-will employment state, meaning employers are allowed to fire workers for any reason not specifically prohibited by law or contract.

Maine has no specific at-will employment statute, but its courts have long held that in most cases, employees can be terminated for any reason — or no reason at all. 

The major exception is when an employee is covered by a collective bargaining agreement or another contract that limits termination. 

Employers also cannot fire workers for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons.

Maine employees likewise have the freedom to quit their job for any reason unless bound by contract, according to ALFA International, a global network of independent law firms.

Nearly all U.S. states are considered at-will employment states, with Montana being the only exception. Its Wrongful Discharge From Employment Act requires employers to have “good cause” to fire a worker after an established probationary period.