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Michael Fox

When is telecommuting considered a reasonable ADA accommodation?

08/03/2017
Q. Our organization rarely if ever lets employees work from home. An employee in our marketing department is struggling with a disability and has asked to work from home as an accommodation. Would that be a reasonable accommodation?

How should staff conducting employment interviews accommodate deaf applicants?

08/03/2017
Q. The recruiting manager of our company is interviewing a deaf applicant for an open position. What should she keep in mind during the interview?

How does the H-1B visa process work?

05/03/2017
Q. We have searched in the U.S. for a worker to fit a very specialized position at our company to no avail. We are considering using the H-1B program next year. How does the “lottery” process work?

Can we require seven straight days of work in Texas?

05/03/2017
Q. Can I schedule employees to work every day of the week during our accounting firm’s busy season, or must I give them Sundays off?

Is there any law that prohibits scheduling back-to-back closing and opening shifts in Texas?

05/03/2017
Q. When one of our two store managers goes on vacation, we want the other to cover both opening and closing shifts for a few days. However, this would give her only seven hours of rest between shifts. How much time between shifts must we give employees under Texas law?

What should happen if employee uses company credit card for personal purchases?

03/07/2017
Q. Several of our employees have been issued company credit cards, intended to be used for company-related business only. However, one employee has occasionally used his card for personal purchases. Each time he has reimbursed the company for his personal purchases over the course of several months. Naturally, we are uncomfortable with this practice. What should we do?

Is it legitimate to prohibit our employees from discussing their compensation?

03/07/2017
Q. Our policy prohibits employees from discussing their salaries and benefits with each other. This helps reduce untimely requests for raises, petty gossip and the inevitable questions about why one employee makes more than another. Is such a policy a good idea?

What rights do employers have under Texas’s Open Carry Law? Can we ban guns at work?

09/29/2016
Q. We are a private business that would like to prohibit our employees and customers from carrying firearms inside our corporate premises. May we do so?

Must we grant time off for drug rehab in Texas?

09/29/2016
Q. An employee recently tested positive for drugs during a random drug screening that we periodically administer to ensure that our employees are able to safely operate our systems. The employee admitted that he regularly used drugs, and would like to take several weeks off to participate in a rehabilitation program. Does Texas law require us to grant him time off?

Can we require e-pay in Texas?

09/06/2016
Q. Can a Texas employer require its employees to accept payment of wages through an electronic transfer of funds?