You go to your boss and you tell them that you want to resign from your position or quit your job. Maybe you found another job, maybe you are just unhappy in your current role or maybe you have other concerns, like how your job is affecting your family life. You just think it is time for your employment to come to an end.
To your surprise, your boss tells you that they are not going to accept your resignation. They need you to be at work tomorrow because the company and the other employees are counting on you. They essentially tell you that you cannot quit. Are they allowed to do so?
Are you an at-will employee?
As a general rule, no, your boss cannot refuse to accept your resignation or tell you that you are not allowed to quit. If you are an at-will employee, that decision is fully up to you. Your boss has absolutely no say in whether or not you want to leave your position. They may be unhappy that you are doing so, but they cannot stop you.
There are some rather rare exceptions to these rules, such as if you have signed some sort of employment contract. That contract may stipulate that you have to stay at your job for a certain number of months or years. It may say that you have to provide a certain amount of notice before quitting, so you are allowed to resign your position, but you have to give your boss a month of notice so they can find a replacement.
But if you do not have a contract, deciding to leave your job is entirely up to you. It is very important to understand your legal rights as an employee, especially if a dispute arises.