Minnesota is an “at-will” employment state. This means an employee can leave employment for any reason or no reason, and an employer can terminate an employee for any reason or no reason, just not for an unlawful reason. Sometimes an employer will present an employee with a severance agreement at termination or layoff. These agreements are not obligatory. They are usually designed to persuade an employee to waive their rights to sue in exchange for money and other contract terms. Non-compete agreements are frequently included in severance agreement. They may also be required at the beginning of employment and limit your right to seek subsequent employment if you leave the employer. It is important to understand the language and legal consequences before signing these agreements and any employment contract.