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Employment Law

Report EEOC claims or lose insurance coverage

05/01/2007

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has dismissed a lawsuit filed by an employer against its employment practices liability insurance company because the employer didn’t tell the insurer about an EEOC complaint right away …

$18.9 million awarded to widow of welder killed in 2003 blast

05/01/2007

A Dallas jury recently returned a unanimous verdict awarding $18.9 million to the widow of Gordon Rutherford. The negligence and recklessness suit resulted from a January 2003 explosion at TXI Inc. …

Noncompete pacts in Texas: New ruling brings clarity … and questions

05/01/2007

Last October, the Texas Supreme Court ruled employers may require new and existing employees to sign covenants not to compete, even if they are “at will” employees. As long as the employees get something in return for agreeing to the restrictions their employers want, the agreements are legal …

Can we make smokers pay higher premiums?

05/01/2007

Q. I have to admit I am not a fan of smokers, but what really concerns me is the cost they are adding to our benefits programs. I don’t think it is fair to the nonsmokers that their costs should keep going up year after year when it’s likely smokers are fueling a part of that cost. Can I make smokers pay more in premiums?—S.S.

A genuine child-Support court order?

05/01/2007

Q. In this morning’s mail I received a letter from some group I have never heard of, asking for payroll information on an employee. The letter said, “This information is necessary to enforce court-ordered child support.” It does not say that it is a subpoena or a garnishment, and there is no court order or any kind of a waiver from the employee. I have already tossed it in the trash, but I don’t want to do something wrong. Do I need to dig it out?—S.W.

Employ ‘Casual’ Workers? Stem Discrimination Lawsuits by Tracking Assignments You Offer

05/01/2007

If you regularly hire “casual” workers for short assignments, it’s a good idea to keep careful track of the assignments you offer. You should monitor and record how many assignments each worker accepts and rejects …

Good-Faith Discrimination Complaints Under the LAD

05/01/2007
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Set clear rules on office romance

05/01/2007

Have a no-dating policy at your workplace? If the answer is “no,” it may be time to consider one. While some office romances may seem innocent enough, trouble can follow an ugly breakup between co-workers. That’s why it pays to have clear rules in place …

Pregnant Employees: Answers to Your 20 Toughest Legal Questions

04/26/2007
White Paper published by The HR Specialist ______________________ Not many years ago, pregnant women were subject to poor treatment from employers and company insurance plans as well. But the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), enacted in 1978, prohibits discrimination on the basis of “pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions.” The PDA required most employers to make […]

Pregnant Employees: Answers to 7 Questions on Hiring and Employment Status

04/26/2007

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act has important implications for how employers treat pregnant women during the hiring process and after, once they become employees. Here are the EEOC’s answers to some of the most common questions employers face.