Experienced Representation When You've Been Fired Unlawfully 

At Scanes Yelverton Talbert, LLP, we understand how devastating it can be to lose your job, especially when your termination wasn’t just unfair but unlawful. While Texas is an “employment-at-will” state, that doesn’t mean employers can fire employees for any reason they want. When your termination is based on illegal motives such as discrimination or retaliation, you may have a wrongful termination claim, and we’re here to help you pursue justice. 

 

What Is Wrongful Termination Under Texas Law? 

In Texas, employers can generally terminate employment at any time, with or without cause. However, that flexibility ends where the law begins. Employers cannot fire someone for illegal reasons, such as: 

• Discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, national origin, religion, pregnancy, or veteran status. 
• Retaliation for reporting harassment, unsafe working conditions, wage violations, or other protected activity. 
• Filing a workers’ compensation or overtime claim. 
• Refusing to commit an illegal act. 
• Taking protected medical or military leave. 

 

When an employer violates these laws, they may be liable for wrongful termination under state and federal statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 

 

How Do You Prove Wrongful Termination in Texas? 

Wrongful termination cases are complex, and Texas courts require substantial evidence to support your claim. Generally, you’ll need to prove: 

1. An employment relationship existed. 
2. You were terminated or constructively discharged. 
3. Your termination was due to an illegal reason. 

 

In constructive discharge cases, where working conditions were made so unbearable that you had no choice but to resign, you must show that any reasonable person in your position would have felt forced to leave. 

 

Employers often attempt to justify unlawful terminations with seemingly neutral reasons. That’s why it’s critical to uncover evidence that exposes the true, discriminatory, or retaliatory motive behind your firing. At SYT Firm, we know how to build these cases and push back against pretextual defenses. 

 

Discrimination-Based Wrongful Termination 

If you believe you were terminated due to race, sex, disability, age, or another protected status, we’ll evaluate your claim under legal standards that require: 

1. You are part of a protected class. 
2. You were meeting your employer’s legitimate expectations. 
3. You experienced an adverse employment action (termination). 
4. Similarly situated employees outside your protected class were treated more favorably. 

 

Once we establish these facts, the burden shifts to your employer to explain their decision. We then work to demonstrate that the stated reason was a cover and that your protected characteristic was a motivating factor in their decision to terminate you. 

 

Retaliation-Based Wrongful Termination in Waco, TX 

Employees in Waco are protected under the law when they engage in certain activities, such as reporting discrimination, taking Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, or refusing to participate in illegal conduct. If you were fired after engaging in this kind of protected activity, you may have a valid retaliation claim. 

 

To succeed in a retaliation-based wrongful termination case, you must show: 

1. You engaged in protected activity. 
2. You were fired or faced an adverse employment action. 
3. There is a causal link between the two. 

 

Employers often claim a legitimate reason for firing you. Our job is to expose that justification as a pretext and prove the real reason was retaliation. 

 

Timelines Matter: Don’t Miss the Filing Deadline 

Most wrongful termination claims in Texas must be filed quickly. For discrimination or retaliation cases under federal or state law, you often have only 180 days from the date of termination to file a charge with the EEOC or Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), sometimes up to 300 days, depending on the law involved. Missing these deadlines can mean losing your right to take action. 

 

What Can You Recover in a Wrongful Termination Case? 

If you’ve been wrongfully terminated, you may be entitled to compensation that includes: 

• Back pay 
• Future lost earnings 
• Emotional distress damages 
• Punitive damages (in some cases) 
• Attorney's fees and court costs 

 

At SYT Firm, we’ll evaluate the full impact of your termination and fight to recover everything the law allows. 

 

Contact SYT in Waco Today 

You don’t have to face this alone. If you believe you’ve been wrongfully terminated in Waco or the surrounding areas, the employment law team at Scanes Yelverton Talbert, LLP is here to help. We offer the experience, strategy, and personal attention needed to hold employers accountable.