Abstract:Currently, China's judicial authorities generally face the phenomenon of "inconsistent rulings in similar cases" when dealing with personnel disputes arising from college teachers' resignations, primarily due to divergent legal application standards. The root cause lies in the overly broad legislative provisions regarding workers' rights to unilaterally terminate contracts with prior notice. This unrestricted freedom to resign is particularly unreasonable within the context of college employment contracts, which blends "labor" with "administrative" factors. This study suggests delineating the boundaries of the right to unilaterally terminate the contract by referring to "otherwise agreed" clause. It calls for establishing a relative balance between public interest and private rights in legislation and judicial practice, incorporating a layered understanding of workers' rights. Recommendations include clarifying the provisions of Article 17 of the Regulation on Personnel Management Regulations of Public Institutions regarding "otherwise agreed" clause, establishing a punitive damages system for breaches of contract, and improving the notice period system. These measures aim to balance interests on the legal track and promote the healthy development of the academic labor market.