The Independence Myth in American Jobs

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]This is the independent Smith, I think.

[00:00:03]The idea of at-will employment. Well, let's just begin with that, at-will employment. It is the cornerstone of American working life. It's a concept so peculiar in other countries that there's really not a word for it anywhere else.

[00:00:21]In America, 49 out of the 50 states, you can be fired from your job at any time for any reason, or for no reason.

[00:00:32]You can be fired because your boss just didn't like your shoes. You can be fired because your boss had a bad lunch. You can be fired because, I don't know, Karen at HR said you were just a bit much on Monday's meeting.