Lorna Griffin on Getting Fired in Texas, What You Give Up When You Sign a Severance Agreement cover art

Lorna Griffin on Getting Fired in Texas, What You Give Up When You Sign a Severance Agreement

Lorna Griffin on Getting Fired in Texas, What You Give Up When You Sign a Severance Agreement

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 What happens when someone who spent 16 years inside corporate HR — watching how companies document, how they protect themselves, and how they quietly push employees out after pregnancy leave — decides she has seen enough and goes to law school to take all of that insider knowledge to the other side of the table? In this episode of the Trustcast Show, Zane Myers speaks with Lorna Griffin, founder of L. Griffin Law in South Central Texas, about what at-will employment actually means and what it does not mean, why the first 48 hours after a termination can either protect or permanently destroy a legal claim, and what employees almost always get wrong about severance agreements — signing away every right they have, including a non-compete that bars them from their entire industry for two years, in exchange for a check they needed to cash anyway. Lorna explains why you have to file through the EEOC before you can ever get to court, what the difference is between plain vanilla retaliation and legally protected retaliation in Texas, and why the phrase legitimate non-discriminatory reason for termination immediately makes her suspicious. They also discuss what happens when an employee comes back from FMLA leave and gets put on a performance improvement plan two months later — and why that is not a coincidence to an employee-side employment attorney — how to negotiate a neutral reference so a former employer cannot torpedo your next job offer, what the severe and pervasive standard for harassment actually requires in Texas courts, why employers with attorney's fees exposure perk up and pay attention in ways they otherwise would not, and what proper medical leave administration under the ADA actually looks like versus what most HR departments are actually doing. Lorna Griffin is the founder of L. Griffin Law in San Antonio, Texas, serving employees in South Central Texas in employment discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and severance matters. Connect with Lorna Griffin: info@lgriffinlaw.com lgriffinlaw.com San Antonio, Texas Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lorna Griffin 00:38 Watching an employee get pushed out after pregnancy leave — the moment that changed everything 01:25 What 16 years in HR taught her about how employers actually think that law school never could 02:14 I just got fired and have no idea if it was legal — what do I do first 03:00 Texas is an at-will state — what that actually means and what it absolutely does not 03:50 How long do I have before I lose my right to do something — 60 days, 180 days, 300 days 04:42 Employees who are afraid to even call a lawyer because they think it will get back to the employer 05:57 Attorney-client privilege and why consulting an attorney while still employed is protected 06:50 Free consultations — what that process actually looks like at L. Griffin Law 07:02 Why you have to file through the EEOC before you can ever go to court 07:43 The fear that filing an EEOC charge will ruin your reputation with future employers 08:32 How to negotiate a neutral reference so a former employer can only confirm position and length of employment 09:38 The single most damaging thing employees do in the first 48 hours — resigning 10:20 Why taking company property or posting on social media can destroy a legal claim 10:53 I reported my boss to HR three months ago and now everything is different — is that retaliation 11:39 The difference between legally protected retaliation and plain vanilla retaliation in Texas 12:33 Hostile work environment claims in Texas — what qualifies and what does not 13:56 Is there such a thing as a hostile work environment in Texas — yes, but only in specific circumstances 14:39 My harasser is a peer and not my boss — does the company have to do anything about it 15:50 Rapid fire — Sunday mornings, Rottweilers and Pitbulls, the Griffin household on a loud weekend 17:07 The one phrase employers use that immediately makes Lorna suspicious 17:20 Severance agreement or wrongful termination lawsuit — which one to fight for 17:50 My employer said I have to sign by Friday — do I really have to decide that fast 18:17 Why employees over 40 get 21 days to consider a severance agreement under the ADEA 18:47 What you are actually giving up when you sign a severance agreement — every right, forever 19:32 Can a severance agreement actually waive rights for illegal termination — yes it can 20:11 The hidden non-compete buried in a severance agreement that bars you from your industry 20:53 How to ask for more time when an employer is pressing you to sign immediately 22:13 I took FMLA leave for a health issue, came back, and got put on a PIP — is that a coincidence #LornaGriffin #LGriffinLaw #EmploymentLaw #TrustcastShow #WrongfulTermination #TexasEmploymentLaw #SeveranceAgreement #EEOCFiling #WorkplaceDiscrimination #EmployeeRights
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