Can you sue at-will staff to prevent quitting?

"Employment at will" means that either side--the employer or employee--can terminate the relationship at any time for any reason. So unless you have an employment contract or noncompete pact with a worker, don't try to play the litigious card to stop them from quitting.

Recent case: ThedaCare, a Wisconsin healthcare company, sued seven members of its radiology department who had quit their jobs and accepted similar jobs (for higher pay) at another heathcare company in town.

All seven were employed at-will and none had signed noncompetes. All seven also gave ThedaCare the chance to match the higher salary offered by...