Texas follows the at-will employment doctrine. Because of this within the absence of a selected contract stating in any other case, an employer can usually terminate an worker for any cause that isn’t unlawful, and an worker can stop for any cause, at any time. No discover or justification is legally required from both celebration.
This authorized framework gives flexibility for each employers and staff. Companies can alter their workforce shortly to fulfill altering market calls for. Conversely, staff will not be certain to a place indefinitely if a greater alternative arises. Nonetheless, the at-will doctrine has essential limitations. Federal and state legal guidelines prohibit discriminatory termination based mostly on protected traits like race, faith, gender, age, or incapacity. Moreover, Texas courts have acknowledged some exceptions to at-will employment, resembling implied contracts based mostly on employer insurance policies or guarantees. The historic foundation for this doctrine is rooted in frequent regulation ideas of contract freedom.