Were you sexually harassed at work in Texas?
The Texas Labor Code Chapter 21, "Employment Discrimination" may protect employees from workplace sexual harassment and retaliation. Deadlines, filing routes, and available remedies depend on what happened and which law applies.
You can request a review even if you are not sure whether the conduct legally qualifies, never reported it to HR, or still work for the employer.
Updated August 2026
- Sexual comments, messages, images, advances, or unwanted touching
- Pressure for dates, sex, or other sexual conduct
- Pay, scheduling, promotion, or job security tied to sexual conduct
- Retaliation after objecting or reporting
Texas Labor Code Chapter 21 covers sexual harassment at employers with just ONE employee (since 2021), but the filing windows are short: 180 days for general harassment, 300 for sexual harassment, and untimely complaints must be dismissed. Damages are capped by employer size ($50,000-$300,000). Administrative exhaustion is required before suing.
Sexual-harassment information by city in Texas
Select your city for locally relevant filing information, agency routes, and a case review with your state already selected.
- AustinWorkplace sexual-harassment information
- DallasWorkplace sexual-harassment information
- El PasoWorkplace sexual-harassment information
- Fort WorthWorkplace sexual-harassment information
- HoustonWorkplace sexual-harassment information
- San AntonioWorkplace sexual-harassment information
Texas at a glance.
- Statute
- Texas Labor Code Chapter 21, "Employment Discrimination" (commonly known as the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act / TCHRA), Tex. Lab. Code Ann. ch. 21
- Harassment covered at
- Sexual harassment: 1 or more employees (Sec. 21.141(1), effective Sept.
More detail
1, 2021). Clause (B), 'acts directly in the interests of an employer', has been read to expose individuals such as managers, owners, and HR to potential liability. - Discrimination covered at
- 15+ employees for general harassment/discrimination claims (Sec. 21.002(8)(A))
More detail
counties, municipalities, and state agencies covered regardless of size (Sec. 21.002(8)(D)) - State agency deadline
- 180 days for general discrimination and harassment (Sec. 21.202(a)); 300 days for sexual harassment (Sec. 21.202(a-1), effective Sept.
More detail
1, 2021). Untimely complaints must be dismissed (Sec. 21.202(b)). - Federal EEOC deadline
- 300 days for Title VII claims (Texas is a deferral state, TWC Civil Rights Division is the state FEPA)
- Civil suit
- No direct suit, administrative exhaustion required.
More detail
60 days to sue after right-to-sue notice (Sec. 21.254); no civil action later than 2 years after the complaint was filed (Sec. 21.256). - After right-to-sue
- 60 days from right-to-sue notice (Sec. 21.254)
More detail
TWC must notify complainant if unresolved at 180 days (Sec. 21.208) - Damages
- $50,000 (fewer than 101 employees)
More detail
$100,000 (101-200); $200,000 (201-500); $300,000 (more than 500), per complainant, combined compensatory + punitive (Sec. 21.2585) - State agency
- Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC CRD)
What may be available under the Texas Labor Code Chapter 21, "Employment Discrimination".
- Combined compensatory + punitive damages capped by employer size (Sec. 21.2585)
- Back pay, interest on back pay, and equitable relief NOT subject to caps
- Punitive damages unavailable against governmental entities (Sec. 21.2585(b)); require malice or reckless indifference
- Sexual harassment (Subchapter C-1, Secs. 21.141-21.142, SB 45 2021): 1-employee threshold, covers even the smallest employers
- Employer duty: 'immediate and appropriate corrective action' once employer/agents/supervisors know or should have known (Sec. 21.142), stricter than the federal 'prompt remedial action' standard
- Potential individual liability for those who 'act directly in the interests of an employer' (Sec. 21.141(1)(B))
Where to file in Texas.
Civil Rights Division (mailing)
101 E 15th StreetAustin, TX 78778
(888) 452-4778
Deadlines are shorter than most people expect. Share what happened in about two minutes. The firm will review your submission and contact you about possible options and next steps. There is no cost or obligation to request a review.
Guides for Texas sexual harassment.
The same conduct can break more than one law.
What happened to you in Texas may also amount to a separate claim, with its own protections and its own deadlines. Each of these is worth checking before anything lapses.