Texas is an “at will” employment state — you can generally be fired for almost any reason, or no reason, but not for an illegal discriminatory one, including race, age (40+), disability, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, color, or religion.
Deadlines matter
If you believe you were discriminated or retaliated against, you have to file a charge within a strict window — typically a matter of months, not years — with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (for state claims) or the EEOC (for federal claims). These deadlines are short and unforgiving, so don’t wait to get advice.
- Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division: twc.texas.gov
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: eeoc.gov
Filing with both agencies where you’re eligible is often a good idea, since the deadlines and remedies differ. Talk to an employment attorney before you file — the charge document is filed under penalty of perjury, and mistakes on it can hurt your case later.