Fired in Texas? Here’s What Counts as Illegal Termination

Texans do not have a right to a job, but if they are working, they DO have a right to not be discriminated against and to not be fired for unlawful reasons. Terminations happen every day across the country, but let's take a look at which scenarios fall inside or outside of the law in Texas.

When Are You Unlawfully Fired in Texas?

In the Lone Star State, certain employees may have grounds to file a claim against their employer after being fired if the reason for being terminated is based on any of the following criteria, according to Texas Law Help:

• Your race, sex, religion, age, etc.
• If you are pregnant
• If you reject sexual advances from co-workers or bosses
• If you voice your complaints about your wage, overtime, medical leave, workers' comp, etc.
• If you take approved sick leave/maternity leave
• You refuse to partake in anything illegal
• Missing work for jury duty
• Discussing pay with co-workers
• If you try to form a union

Also, if you work for federal, state, or local government, you have the right to dispute the reason for your termination if you feel you were unlawfully fired.

DISCLAIMER: This should not be taken as legal advice. If you are interested in learning more about unlawful termination claims, you should speak with a lawyer to understand the full scope of your situation and what options you may have. 

Deadlines and How to File Discrimination Claims in Texas

Deadlines can vary, but you typically have 180 days to file a charge with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) saying that you have been discriminated against by your former employer.

You can call your local TWC office at (888) 452-4778 or (512) 463-2642 to begin the process.

You can also visit the Texas Law Help site and navigate to the Job Termination or Discrimination page to learn more about employees who are unlawfully fired from their job in the state and what steps you can take if it's happened to you.