Fired, Shorted on Pay, or Pushed Out of a Tennessee Job? Don't Let a Short Clock Run Out

I was told to file with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, but I can't find it. What happened?

The THRC was dissolved on June 30, 2025. State discrimination complaints now go to the new Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED) inside the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, and you generally have only 180 days from the discriminatory act to file. Any guide telling you to call the THRC is out of date. For a current, plain-English walk-through of where to file, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7.

Tennessee is an 'at-will' state — does that mean I have no case if I was fired?

Not necessarily. At-will means your employer can fire you for almost any reason — but not an illegal one. Firing you because of race, sex, age 40+, religion, or national origin violates the THRA; firing you because of a disability can violate the THRA or the Tennessee Disability Act; firing you for refusing to break the law can violate the Public Protection Act. Whether an exception fits your firing is exactly what the free call sorts out. Dial 1-844-690-0555.

Is it 180 days or 300 days to file a discrimination complaint in Tennessee?

Both — for different agencies. You have 180 days to file a state complaint with the AG's CRED, but 300 days to file a federal charge with the EEOC (Tennessee keeps the longer window because it still has its own discrimination agency). And a separate 1-year clock controls a direct THRA lawsuit. Mixing these up is one of the most common ways people lose. Call 1-844-690-0555 to find out which deadline is yours.

My Tennessee employer didn't give me my final paycheck. What can I do?

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103(g), your final wages — including accrued vacation owed by company policy — are due by the later of your next regular payday or 21 days after you leave. The Tennessee Department of Labor's Labor Standards Unit handles wage-payment complaints, and unpaid overtime is a separate federal FLSA claim. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for information on how to pursue what you're owed.

Does Tennessee have its own minimum wage or overtime law?

No — and that surprises a lot of workers. Tennessee has no state minimum wage and no state overtime statute, so both are governed entirely by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ($7.25 minimum, time-and-a-half over 40 hours in a workweek). That changes the deadlines and where you file. For free help understanding your FLSA rights in Tennessee, call 1-844-690-0555.

I was fired after reporting something illegal at work. Am I protected in Tennessee?

You may be, under the Tennessee Public Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-304), which protects workers fired for refusing to participate in — or to stay silent about — illegal activity. The catch is the 'sole cause' standard: that refusal has to be the only reason you were fired, so a mixed-motive firing can defeat the claim, and the lawsuit deadline is just one year. Don't guess whether you qualify; call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, for clear information.

Can I sue my employer in Tennessee without filing with an agency first?

For a state THRA claim, yes. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-21-311 you can take a discrimination claim straight to Chancery or Circuit Court without exhausting any administrative remedy — but you must sue within one year of when the discriminatory practice ceases. Federal claims work differently and need an EEOC right-to-sue letter first. To understand which path fits you, call 1-844-690-0555.

How much can I recover for workplace discrimination in Tennessee?

Back pay, front pay, prejudgment interest, reinstatement, and attorney's fees are uncapped, but compensatory (non-economic) damages are capped by employer size under § 4-21-313 — running from $25,000 for the smallest covered employers up to $300,000 for those with 500+ employees. Tennessee allows no punitive damages in THRA employment cases, a deliberate state limit. A parallel federal claim can change the math. For a free explanation of your situation, call 1-844-690-0555.

My employer only has 10 people — does any discrimination law even apply?

Yes. The Tennessee Human Rights Act covers employers with 8 or more employees, which is broader than federal Title VII's 15-employee floor — so a Tennessee worker at a small employer often has a state remedy where federal law gives none. The trade-off is a lower damage cap ($25,000) and no punitive damages. To see what protection you actually have, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7.

What about a green-card, visa, or work-authorization problem behind my firing?

That's a federal immigration matter, not a Tennessee one — work authorization, visas, and removal run through USCIS and the immigration courts (EOIR), not the state's CRED. But if you were singled out because of your national origin or citizenship status, that can still be employment discrimination under the THRA or federal law. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll help you sort the employment piece from the immigration piece, and point you to the right kind of help.

Does calling Legal Hotline mean I've hired a lawyer?

No. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender, and the call gives you legal information, not legal advice — it creates no attorney-client relationship. The free AI assistant explains your Tennessee options and deadlines; if you decide you want a lawyer, we can help you arrange a paid consultation with a Tennessee-licensed employment attorney as a separate step. Start with the free call: 1-844-690-0555.