The most common form of employment contracts offered in the United States are open-ended contracts, otherwise known as ‘unlimited’ or ‘permanent’ contracts. This form of employment contract runs for an indefinite period until it is terminated.
The benefit of using an open-ended contract is that this form of employment contract suggests job security and a long-term commitment to the employee.
Keep in mind that there are no minimum requirements for employment contracts in the USA. Most employer/employee relationships in the US are considered ‘at will’, meaning the employment relationship is terminable by either party, without the need to provide notice or give just cause.
Fixed-term contracts, otherwise known as ‘limited’ or ‘temporary’ contracts are used by some employers in the USA, but tend to be used when employment relationships are project-based.
Although fixed-term contracts can be harder to terminate than open-ended contracts, they do not offer the same sense of job security and commitment to employees.
The rise in the popularity of remote working in the United States has led to an increase in the use of casual employment contracts. In other countries, casual contracts are also known as zero-hours contracts as they often do not guarantee a regular working pattern.
Casual employment contracts usually guarantee a minimum number of hours but do not specify when the hours will be worked.