The default rule in most US states that allows an employer to terminate an employee at any time, for any reason or no reason at all — and equally allows an employee to quit at any time — unless a contract or law says otherwise.
At-will employment is the default rule in all US states except Montana (which requires good cause for termination after a probationary period). However, at-will employment has significant exceptions: employers cannot fire employees for illegal reasons (discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing), cannot violate an implied contract created by an employee handbook, and cannot violate public policy (e.g. firing someone for serving jury duty). Union members and employees with written contracts are generally not at-will.
A Texas employee is fired with no explanation given. This is lawful under at-will employment. However, if the employee was fired one day before her pension vested, and the employer's motive was to avoid paying the pension, this may violate ERISA (federal pension law) — an exception to at-will applies.
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