You know times are tough. Job opportunities are scarce. Texas has not been hit as hard as most other states but it’s still pretty bad. Workers are being laid off or having their work hours reduced. If you have been fired or “downsized,” there may be good reasons to talk with a Texas employment lawyer to check if your firing or hour reduction is legal. You may also think about consulting with a Dallas employment attorney if you feel you have been given an unfair workload, have been denied a raise or promotion you deserve or have been denied a job transfer or have been the victim of employment discrimination.
Texas is an At Will state
Because the state of Texas is an At Will state, you can be terminated for any reason so long as it is not illegal or discriminatory. In fact, your employer doesn’t even have to give you a reason for terminating your employment. However, Texas law says that you cannot be fired due to your age, sex, religion, race, and national origin or because of a disability.
Employers are also not allowed to terminate you or discriminate against you due to pregnancy. In addition, it is illegal for an employer to consider your age, sex, race, religion and so forth in respect to giving you a promotion, a job assignment, or in giving you a 
raise.
You also cannot be terminated for refusing to break the law, for filing a safety or discrimination claim, for taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or for reasons not contained in your employment contract (if you have one). Also, your employer cannot fire you if it is not following its own stated policy or procedures.
The Importance of an employee handbook
You cannot know whether or not your employer is following its own policies or procedures unless you have the company’s employee handbook. In the event you feel you are likely to be terminated or are being discriminated against, make sure you get a copy of your employee handbook as you may need it to successfully pursue your complaint.
What to do if you have been discriminated against
When you feel that you have been discriminated against in your job or have been unfairly terminated, you will need to file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWCCRD). This is the commission that enforces the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act and may have jurisdiction to act on your claim. You can come to its offices at 1117 Trinity Street, Room 144T in Austin where you will be assigned an Investigator. She or he will help you prepare the claim and will discuss what you need to do to file it and how the complaint will be investigated.
As an alternative to this, you can call the TWCCRD offices and discuss your claim with an Investigator. You can also get what is called an Intake Questionnaire, fill it out, take it to a notary public, sign the form and mail the notarized version to the TWCCRD. If you choose to do this, be sure to keep a copy of the form.
Why you need a Dallas Texas employment attorney
You can handle your discrimination complaint yourself. However, it might be smart for you to arrange to see a Dallas employment attorney. He or she will be able to answer any questions you might have about how your complaint is being handled and arbitrated. Also, if you are unhappy with the way TWCCRD handled your claim or if you disagree with its final ruling, you can sue your employer in civil court. And you will definitely need a good employment attorney to do this.
If you are discriminated against at your job or have been illegally terminated, there are ways you can get justice – especially if you get hire a Dallas employment attorney.
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