Deborah Whaley describes the morning she was fired as frustrating and confusing.
"I said, 'I think what you're doing is unfair. And she said I'm not going to argue with you, we no longer need you.' Click, hung up the phone," said Whaley.
That's not the way most people like to start their day.
When Whaley arrived for work this morning at Dixie Pig Restaurant, she learned she was being fired.
The reason? Bad handwriting.
"She explained to me that I was writing too small. I said okay fine, and I started to write bigger. After the second day I didn't hear a word about my tickets," Said Whaley.
The state of Texas, along with every state except Montana, is an "At-Will Employment" state.
In Texas that means your employer can fire you for any reason, no reason, or even unfair reasons.
Whaley says this is wrong.
"Some things need to be changed on them. Yes, some things are right, but some things need to be changed. You shouldn't be allowed to be fired for no reason," She says.
She has even gone as far as writing a letter on Texas' employment rights to Senator Randy Neugebauer.
His response, she says, was not a positive one.
"You can't be fired for just, handwriting. That's crazy," She says.
Unfortunately, according to state law, you can.
But, the frustrated waitress says she must now look for another job to support herself through the holidays.
"It's right before Christmas, so I don't think it will happen anytime soon," Whaley says. "I know how that goes. Right after Christmas is kind of hard to find a job too usually."
The owners of Dixie Pig Restaurant declined to comment on the situation.
"I said, 'I think what you're doing is unfair. And she said I'm not going to argue with you, we no longer need you.' Click, hung up the phone," said Whaley.
That's not the way most people like to start their day.
When Whaley arrived for work this morning at Dixie Pig Restaurant, she learned she was being fired.
The reason? Bad handwriting.
"She explained to me that I was writing too small. I said okay fine, and I started to write bigger. After the second day I didn't hear a word about my tickets," Said Whaley.
The state of Texas, along with every state except Montana, is an "At-Will Employment" state.
In Texas that means your employer can fire you for any reason, no reason, or even unfair reasons.
Whaley says this is wrong.
"Some things need to be changed on them. Yes, some things are right, but some things need to be changed. You shouldn't be allowed to be fired for no reason," She says.
She has even gone as far as writing a letter on Texas' employment rights to Senator Randy Neugebauer.
His response, she says, was not a positive one.
"You can't be fired for just, handwriting. That's crazy," She says.
Unfortunately, according to state law, you can.
But, the frustrated waitress says she must now look for another job to support herself through the holidays.
"It's right before Christmas, so I don't think it will happen anytime soon," Whaley says. "I know how that goes. Right after Christmas is kind of hard to find a job too usually."
The owners of Dixie Pig Restaurant declined to comment on the situation.
