You got walked out, your last check never came, or you were punished for speaking up — and now you're staring down rent and a system that feels rigged for the employer. Texas is one of the most at-will states in the country, but at-will is not the same as 'no rights.' You may have only 180 days to file most discrimination charges with the Texas Workforce Commission, and unpaid-wage clocks run just as fast. Before you sign a severance, post on social media, or assume nothing can be done, call 1-844-690-0555. It's free, 24/7, and it's information that could save your claim.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Texas.
Right now, do three things. First, write down exactly what happened — dates, who said what, who was in the room — while it's fresh; texts and emails are evidence, so don't delete anything. Second, do not sign any severance, release, or 'final paperwork' your employer hands you until you understand what you're giving up. Third, find out which clock you're on: a discrimination or retaliation issue points to the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (180 days for most claims; 300 days for sexual harassment), unpaid wages point to a Texas Payday Law claim (180 days from when pay was due), and unpaid overtime points to the federal FLSA. Call 1-844-690-0555 and an AI assistant trained on Texas and federal employment law will help you figure out which deadline applies to you before it runs out. This is legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship.
The single thing that sinks Texas workers isn't a weak claim — it's a dead clock. Most people assume they have years to act, the way you do for a car crash or a contract. They don't. Most discrimination, harassment, or retaliation charges have to reach the Texas Workforce Commission within 180 days of the act — only half the federal window (sexual harassment is the rare 300-day exception). An unpaid-wage claim has that same 180-day fuse from the day your pay was due, and it's jurisdictional — miss it and the TWC can't even hear you. Worse, the 'right' agency depends on what happened to you: civil-rights division, wage-and-hour, EEOC, or federal court are four different doors. Before you waste a single one of those days, call 1-844-690-0555 — free, 24/7 — and find out which clock you're actually on.
If you can't afford a lawyer, Texas has real free and low-cost help for workers — these are the agencies you actually file with and the legal-aid groups that genuinely handle employment matters. (All separate from the Legal Hotline, which gives information, not legal advice.)
I was fired for no reason in Texas. Isn't that illegal?
Usually not on its own — Texas is strongly at-will, so an employer can fire you for any reason or no reason. What's illegal is firing you because of a protected trait (race, sex, pregnancy, age 40+, religion, disability, national origin, and more), in retaliation for a protected complaint, or solely because you refused to commit a crime. The question is whether your firing crossed one of those specific lines. Call 1-844-690-0555 and walk through the facts — free, 24/7 — to see if yours did.
How long do I have to file a discrimination complaint in Texas?
Generally just 180 days from the discriminatory act to file with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division — only half the 300-day federal EEOC window. Sexual harassment is the one Texas exception: since September 2021 it gets the longer 300 days. Because a state charge cross-files with the EEOC, filing once by the 180-day deadline can protect both your state and federal claims. Don't gamble on the longer clock. Call 1-844-690-0555 now to confirm which deadline applies to you.
My boss didn't pay my last paycheck. What can I do in Texas?
You can file a wage claim under the Texas Payday Law with the Texas Workforce Commission for earned wages, final pay, or withheld commissions — but you have only 180 days from when the pay was due, and that deadline is jurisdictional, so the TWC can't extend it. The TWC can order the employer to pay, and an employer who withholds in bad faith can face an administrative penalty too. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on filing before the clock runs out.
Is unpaid overtime handled the same way as unpaid wages in Texas?
No — and getting this wrong can cost you. Texas has no overtime law of its own, so unpaid overtime is usually a federal FLSA claim, which can mean double damages and a 2-year window (3 if willful). Straight unpaid earned wages, by contrast, go through the state Texas Payday Law on a 180-day clock. They're different doors. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll help you figure out which one is yours.
Do I file with the EEOC or the Texas Workforce Commission?
For discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, filing with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division usually cross-files you with the EEOC automatically — but the state's 180-day deadline is shorter than the federal 300-day one for most claims, so the safe move is to file by 180 days. Which agency makes sense depends on your facts and your timeline. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free help sorting it out.
I was fired after I refused to do something illegal at work. Is that wrongful termination in Texas?
It might fit Texas's one narrow exception — the Sabine Pilot doctrine — which protects an employee fired solely for refusing to perform an act that would itself carry criminal penalties. It's strict: 'solely' is the key word, and refusing something merely unethical or against policy usually doesn't qualify. You generally have 2 years to bring such a claim. Call 1-844-690-0555 to talk through whether your facts fit before time runs.
I'm a whistleblower. Does Texas protect me?
Only if you're a public employee. The Texas Whistleblower Act covers government workers who in good faith report a legal violation to an appropriate law-enforcement authority — and you must invoke your employer's grievance process within just 90 days. Private-sector workers aren't covered by it and have to rely on a federal statute like OSHA, Sarbanes-Oxley, or the FLSA anti-retaliation rule instead. Call 1-844-690-0555 to find out which protection, if any, fits your job and your situation.
I was fired while pregnant in Texas. What are my rights?
Pregnancy discrimination is sex discrimination under Texas Labor Code Chapter 21 and under federal law, so a firing or demotion because you're pregnant can be unlawful. The same short 180-day TWC deadline applies, so timing is critical. Under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act you may also have a right to reasonable accommodation. Call 1-844-690-0555 for free information on how the deadline and your protections work.
How much money can I actually recover for employment discrimination in Texas?
It depends on your employer's size. Texas Labor Code § 21.2585 caps combined compensatory and punitive damages at $50,000 for employers with 100 or fewer employees, rising to $100,000 (101–200), $200,000 (201–500), and $300,000 for employers with more than 500. On top of that you may recover back pay (up to 2 years), reinstatement or front pay, and attorney's fees. Call 1-844-690-0555 to understand the realistic range for your case.
Should I sign the severance agreement my employer offered?
Not until you understand what you're giving up — a severance release usually waives the exact claims that may have value, including discrimination, retaliation, or wage claims. Once you sign, those doors can close. There's no rush to sign on the spot, whatever they imply. Call 1-844-690-0555 first for free information on what the release means before you put your name on it. This is information, not legal advice.
Do I have to pay for the Legal Hotline, and is it a law firm?
The call is free, 24/7, and the Legal Hotline is not a law firm and not a public defender — it gives legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. If you decide you want a lawyer, we can help you arrange a paid consultation with a Texas-licensed employment attorney as a separate, optional step. Call 1-844-690-0555 to start.
I work in Texas on a visa and my employer is exploiting me. Can I still complain?
Yes — workplace protections like the FLSA's minimum-wage and overtime rules and the anti-retaliation laws generally apply regardless of immigration status. But anything touching your visa, work authorization, or status itself is federal immigration law handled by USCIS and the immigration courts (EOIR), not the Texas Workforce Commission. Those are different systems with different deadlines. Call 1-844-690-0555 to talk through which of your issues is a Texas employment matter and which is federal immigration before you act.
Are you a Texas-licensed employment attorney handling worker-side discrimination, wage-and-hour, retaliation, or wrongful-termination matters? We connect frightened, time-pressured workers across Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and the rest of the state to qualified counsel after a free first call. If you'd like to receive matched, consultation-ready Texas employment clients, reach out to join our referral network. (This is an attorney-intake path, separate from the client hotline above.)
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Every day you wait is a day off the shortest clocks in Texas employment law. Whether you were fired, discriminated against, retaliated against, or never paid what you earned, the first move is free and takes minutes — find out which deadline you're on and what to do before you sign anything or post anything. Call 1-844-690-0555 now, any hour, in English or Spanish. It's free legal information from an assistant trained on Texas and federal law — not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship — and if you want a Texas attorney afterward, we'll help you arrange one.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.