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Employment At-Will: Texas

Employment At-Will requirements for other states

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Shafeeqa W. Giarratani and Kimberly King, Norton Rose Fulbright; S. Craig Wilcox, Adams and Reese LLP; Maureen Jennings, Phelps Dunbar LLP

Summary

  • Employment relationships in Texas are presumed to be at-will, meaning the employment relationship can be terminated by either party, at any time, with or without cause. See The At-Will Relationship.
  • Texas recognizes limited exceptions to the at-will presumption, including written and verbal contracts and public policy exceptions. See Employment At-Will Exceptions.
  • At-will employees in Texas challenging a discharge may file claims against their employers under tort theories so long as the plaintiff employee is able to satisfy an evidentiary burden. See Tort Considerations.