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Employment Law

Note firing for straw that broke camel’s back

02/07/2018

Former employees who sue over their discharge sometimes try to use their employers’ shifting explanations for the termination as evidence that they were fired for discriminatory reasons.

Ensure job descriptions include enough detail

02/07/2018

What you designate as essential functions in a job description can make all the difference when faced with an employee who is demanding reasonable accommodations for a disability.

Snapshot: Employers react to #MeToo, #TimesUp

02/06/2018

Since sexual harassment emerged last fall as a central cultural and workplace issue, employers have responded in these three ways.

Anti-harassment policies a mystery for many

02/06/2018

Ninety-four percent of surveyed HR professionals told the Society for Human Resource Management that their organizations have anti-harassment policies. Yet, 22% of nonmanagement employees did not know for sure that these policies existed.

EEOC may want more than money to settle

02/01/2018

In an indication that the agency is getting tougher on employers that violate religious freedom and discrimination rules, the EEOC appears to be squeezing greater concessions from employers before agreeing to settle cases.

Tax reform stifles #MeToo settlement deductions

01/31/2018

While motivation for this new provision was a well-intentioned nod to the #MeToo movement, it may have unforeseen consequences. 

After settlement disclosure, Farenthold won’t run again

01/31/2018

Rep. Blake Farenthold, who represents the Corpus Christi area in the U.S. House of Representatives, has announced he will retire from Congress at the end of his current term after it was revealed that taxpayers footed the bill for a 2014 settlement paid to a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment.

Filing deadline begins with accommodation denial

01/31/2018

Workers have just 300 days following an alleged violation to file an EEOC complaint claiming ADA disability discrimination. The clock starts ticking when the reasonable accommodation the employee requested is turned down, even if the employer then provided a different accommodation instead of the requested one.

Talk to your lawyer before switching to commissions

01/31/2018

If you are thinking of establishing a system of commissions to create new sales incentives, consult your attorney first. Errors are common.

Guard against retaliation any time employee makes internal complaint about pay

01/31/2018

When a worker complains about being underpaid, that may be protected activity and punishing the worker for complaining may be retaliation. Advice: Take all compensation complaints seriously. Make sure supervisors don’t retaliate.