Employment At Will, A State-By-State Survey

Kentucky

I Overview

Kentucky has adopted the at-will employment doctrine, which provides that an employee who has an employment contract with no express conditions or a definite term may leave or be terminated at any time for good cause (not prohibited by law), for no cause, or for a cause that some might view as morally indefensible.¹ This chapter will discuss Kentucky law on the following topics:

• The requirement of an indefinite term to qualify as an at-will employment relationship;
• Exceptions to the at-will doctrine, including oral modifications, implied contracts, and employee handbook exceptions;
• The recognition of a common law tort for wrongful discharge;
• The lack of recognition of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in at-will employment relationships;