Quitting, layoffs, and getting fired

If you quit your job, your employer does not have to pay you on your last day. Instead, you should be paid at your regular pay period. If you do not have a regular payday, you should be paid on the following Saturday. In this paycheck, you should also be paid for any unused vacation time.

Legally, you can leave your job whenever you want unless you have an employment contract that says otherwise. 

However, it is usually best to let your employer know ahead of time. This is called “giving notice.” Some people will give 2 weeks’ notice, but you might consider a shorter or longer notice period, depending on the type of job you have.

Maybe. If you left your job because you felt you had no other choice, and you tried to keep your job before you quit, you may be able to get Unemployment Insurance (UI). For more information on unemployment insurance benefits, see Can I get Unemployment Insurance if I quit my job?

If you are laid off, you have the right to get paid on your last day of work. You may also be able to get Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. 

If your employer has at least 100 workers, in some cases they might have to give you 60 days’ notice before any mass layoff or plant closing. If this applies to you, see more about the WARN Act.

If you are laid off, you should be paid on your last day of work. On your last day, your paycheck should include pay for any unused vacation time. 

That depends on whether you are protected by a contract of some sort.

Most people do not have an individual contract with their employer that gives job protections. If you have an individual contract, the job protections depend on what the contract says. 

• If you are protected by a union contract (collective bargaining agreement), then you should ask your union about your rights under that contract.
• An employee manual is not usually considered a contract. Still, there are some special cases where your boss might have to follow parts of the manual as if it were a contract. 
• An offer letter is also usually not a contract that gives job protections.

Most other people in Massachusetts are employed “at will.” That means that as a general rule, their employer can fire someone for any reason.

There are exceptions to this employment-at-will rule though. For example:

• An employer cannot fire someone because of their race; color; age (if you are over 40); sex; pregnancy; national origin; ancestry; religion; disability; genetics; sexual orientation; or gender identity or expression.  
• An employer cannot fire someone because they complained about illegal discrimination or stood up for their rights under the discrimination laws.
• An employer cannot fire someone because they took certain types of leave. 

There are other exceptions to the employment-at-will rule. If possible, talk with an employment lawyer to sort this out.

Probably not.

But, If your employer has at least 100 employees, in some cases they might have to give you 60 days’ notice before any mass layoff or plant closing. If this applies to you, see more about the WARN Act.

Maybe. If you were fired, you may be able to get UI, as long as you did not break any rules at work on purpose. For more information about unemployment insurance benefits, see Can I get unemployment insurance if I am fired?