It is not against the law for employers to let employees go, in general terms. Employers hire employees "at will," and as such have the freedom to dismiss employees for financial reasons or simply because of "bad chemistry." It is even legal for an employer to terminate an employee for a "wrong reason" such as false suspicions of cash register theft. If you lost your job because another employee was stealing and you were mistakenly blamed for it, this is regrettable, but most likely not illegal.
What is not legal is for employers to terminate employees for reasons including:
- Discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender or marital status
- Retaliation for an employee's lawful use of family or medical leave (FMLA) time off work
- Retaliation for reporting sexual harassment or illegal discrimination
- Retaliation in whistleblower situations, where the employee reports wrongdoing to a government agency
Contact a Texas Employment Law Attorney for Answers About a Potential Wrongful Termination Claim
Were you fired without cause? Do you have reason to suspect illegal discrimination or retaliation was a key factor in your dismissal? If you have lost your job, it is tempting to believe that the employer was in the wrong. An evaluation of your case by a knowledgeable employment law attorney can help you determine whether you may have a wrongful determination claim or may be eligible to file a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination. If you have a strong case, you may be eligible for compensation for back wages, reinstatement of your position and/or punitive damages. Contact us to learn how we can help. Initial consultations with our San Antonio employment lawyers are free.
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