At-will employees can quit at any time, due to any circumstance — although two weeks' advance notice is usually the expectation. Employers of at-will staff can terminate the employee for any reason at any time (besides those protected by law).
California employment law strictly prohibits employers from engaging in coercive tactics to force an employee to resign.
The Texas Work Commission (TWC) recognizes that two weeks' notice is standard in most industries. However, employees can resign with or without giving notice to their employer. In Texas, employees may become eligible for certain benefits if they provide notice before resigning.
Because Texas is an “employment at-will” state, an employer can fire an employee at any time for any lawful reason. Any lawful reason for termination may include a bad reason or no reason at all.
"Pink slip" or work separation notice - optional in most states - not required in Texas (however, giving at least a simple work separation notice can help prevent ex-employees from filing wage claims based upon "work" they allegedly did after your company thought they were gone - see comment 5 under "Work Separations - ...
Contrary to popular belief, employers generally do not have to give a reason or explanation to employees who are being fired. In nearly all states, employment is presumed to be “at will,” meaning you or your employer can end the employment relationship at any time, and for whatever lawful reason.
25 Feb From the HR Support Center: Do We Have to Honor an Employee's Two-Week Notice Period? Assuming there is no contract or agreement to the contrary, you're not required to keep an employee on during their resignation notice period or compensate them for the duration of that period.
These laws require employers to provide former employees with certain basic information, in writing, about their employment. In Texas, an employee may ask an employer to provide a service letter. If the employee was discharged, the employer must provide a written statement of the reasons for the termination.
For instance, it would be illegal for an employer to terminate an employee because of race, religion, age or disability discrimination or retaliation. Other examples would include terminating an employee because the employee disclosed she was pregnant, or because the employee made a workplace safety complaint.
The rule followed by the Commission recognizes that two weeks' notice is standard in most industries. If the employee gives notice of intent to resign by a definite date two weeks or less in the future and you accept the notice early at your convenience, it will be regarded as a resignation, not a discharge.