Is Texas an at-will employment state?

Yes. Texas strongly follows the at-will doctrine, employers and employees can end the relationship at any time, for any legal reason, without notice.

Are non-competes enforceable in Texas employment contracts?

Yes, when ancillary to an enforceable agreement, supported by consideration (such as access to trade secrets), and reasonable in scope, duration, and geography.

Employment Agreement for Texas

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Texas legal context

Texas is a strong at-will employment state with no state income tax. The state enforces reasonable non-compete agreements in employment contracts when supported by adequate consideration. Texas does not have a state-level anti-discrimination statute comparable to Title VII but relies on the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act.

What's required

Texas At-Will Employment
Tex. Lab. Code § 1.001; Montgomery County Hosp. Dist. v. Brown, 965 S.W.2d 501 (Tex. 1998)
Texas Payday Law Compliance
Tex. Lab. Code § 61.011-61.014
No State Income Tax Notice
Tex. Const. Art. VIII, § 24-a
Workers' Compensation Disclosure
Tex. Lab. Code § 406.002
At-Will Employment Notice
Common law at-will doctrine

What's prohibited

Forfeiture of earned but unpaid wages upon termination
Under the Texas Payday Law, employers cannot withhold or forfeit earned wages. All earned wages must be paid according to the statutory timeline upon termination.
State income tax withholding provisions
Texas has no state individual income tax. Including state income tax withholding provisions is incorrect and misleading.

Key TX statutes

Texas Commission on Human Rights Act
Tex. Lab. Code § 21.001 et seq.
State anti-discrimination law covering employers with 15+ employees.
Covenants Not to Compete Act
Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §§ 15.50-15.52
Governs non-compete enforcement in employment agreements.
Texas Payday Law
Tex. Lab. Code §§ 61.001-61.095
Governs timing and method of wage payments.

Texas-specific considerations

Strong At-Will Doctrine
Texas strongly follows at-will employment, either party can end the relationship at any time for almost any reason.
Non-Compete Enforcement
Non-competes are enforceable if ancillary to an enforceable agreement, supported by consideration, and reasonable in scope.
No State Income Tax
No state income tax simplifies payroll provisions in employment contracts.
Right-to-Work State
Texas prohibits mandatory union membership as a condition of employment.