Can I get fired for stating company policy to my boss?
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Can I get fired for stating company policy to my boss?
I work for a franchised clothing store. On Saturdays the owner buys us lunch as long as we don’t clock out while we eat and we take less than 15 minutes. I had just come from lunch before work and was told to eat an hour later (shift ends at 9 pm.) Long story short, I asked the owner and she said I could eat later. The next Saturday, the same issue. I was told eat now or don’t eat at all by supervisor. I stated that I have 2 /15 min breaks so I’ll eat on one of those. Supervisor didn’t like that I told her policy. Can I get fired for that? I live in TX, and understand that we are an “at-will” employment state.
Asked on October 3, 2010 under Employment Labor Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Yes, you can get fired for quoting policy at a supervisor--or for any reason, or even for no reason at all. The only exceptions would be if you have an employment contract or agreement, which specificies grounds or procedures for termination (which your employer would have to follow); or if you were fired because of your membership in a protected group or category, such as race, religion, age over 40, sex, or disability. Otherwise, you are indeed an employee at will, and as the term implies, an employee at will be fired literally at will by his or her employer. That's the law not just in Texas, by the way; I believe every state is an employment at will state, so contradicting your supervisor is never a safe policy.
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