Question: Can an employer fire me if I take time off work?

Hi, I'm leaving in March to Paris, France to visit my boyfriend who is studying abroad. I told my employer about 5 months in advance that I would be gone a week. She said it was fine. It turns out my boyfriend purchased my ticket for two weeks. I let my employer know and she said she had agreed on letting me go one week. She said she didn't know if I would have a job when I came back. I work part time only three days a week from 8 to 5. Is it okay for her to fire me because of this? Am I able to defend myself in any way?

Answer:

Texas is an "at will" state that means an employer does not have to give a reason to let an employee go. Your employer does not have to hold your position open. She already made that clear and now it is up to you to either forgo the trip or to come home and look for another job.

Employers can dismiss employees for most anything now of days. I would sit down and discuss the issue with your employer and see if something can be worked out. Can someone take on your workload for the additional week. If so, make a suggestion to that effect. I don't think that missing a total of 3 days will be that dramatic. Let them know you value your position, but you have a life as well and this trip is the only time you can go abroad. If push comes to shove, the employer may be in a position to replace you. Like I said, I don't think this is as dramatic as you think.
Good Luck

Yes, your employer can fire you since Texas is "at-will employment" state. meaning any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is equally free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease work.

Further, you are not likely to be eligible for unemployment since you are essentially abandoning your job.