[rmchugh]

"I now believe the only way to have a secure career is to make one for yourself. You could be let go at any time, for any reason."

This is absolutely nuts. Do American workers have zero rights to redundancy pay, notice, warnings etc? I realise this may seem ignorant, but it blows my mind that you can just be fired from one day to the next without compensation or any kind of due process. It reminds me of the working conditions for stevedores in the 19th century.

[aestra]

Generally, yes. With a few exceptions (I can't for example, fire you if I find out you are Jewish and I hate Jewish people) The concept in the US is called "At-will employment."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-will_employment

[brandontreb]

Great question. Yes, you can be fired for just about anything. Companies also love to give you very few reasons as it lowers their risk of a lawsuit. (i.e. if you say "You are fired because of your lack of professional dress". I could argue that it's part of my religion to wear sandals and tank tops and sue. It's a very tricky area.

I will say I got a 2 week severance package though.

[frandroid]

Depending on which state or province you get laid off (since this is basically the situation in Canada as well), you're entitled to some severance pay. I got laid off from a large multinational IT company after a couple years working there in a junior role, and I got less than 20% of my annual salary as a severance, which my employment lawyer told me was within the upper range for someone of my experience and seniority working there.

As for warnings though, it's rare that people are given much, especially when it comes to larger companies. I was taken aside to a meeting room, was announced by my manager that I was made redundant, was introduced to a guidance counselor for the agency the company had retained for me, my personal belongings were brought to me from my desk, and I was shown the door. I didn't get to say bye to my coworkers. It's pretty harsh.

[nilkn]

If you're employed at-will (most Americans are), you can, effectively, be fired at any time for any reason or no reason.

[fredgrott]

depends on the state. Some are at will work states, which means realistically no rights as each party is able to terminate at free will without warning.

The states with heavier union politics tend to have some amount of small rights to warnings, etc built in

[rhizome]

It depends, but generally yes.

[benched]

You can be let go at any time. It will be a surprise - companies typically go to lengths not to provide any warning. Usually you just go to work one morning, and get turned away - sometimes you won't even be allowed to go to your desk. You'll be able to collect unemployment, which is like insurance that you paid money into via taxes. You have to show that you're searching for work while you collect.

(I've been laid off once before.)