system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 : Why is it illegal to fire a professional athlete in "work at will" state?

Why is it illegal to fire a professional sports athlete and not pay the remainder of their "contract" if state law says they are employed in a work at will state? Employers in "at will" states have the right to terminate any employee without having to prove just cause. How is this any different?

For example, I live in the great state of Michigan. We love our Tigers. Verlander has been terrible lately since his multimillion dollar contract signing ... why can't we legally kick him to the curb and not owe him a dime?

Edit spelling *
gpt
"work at will" doesn't mean that employment contracts are void.  It means that there isn't an implied contract.  Just because you get hired doesn't mean the employer has to prove just cause to fire you.

But if your employer **chooses** to sign a contract which requires they pay you if they fire you than of course they have to follow the contract they've signed.