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Employment Law

Alert managers to new personal liability risks

05/29/2014
No longer are lawyers filing lawsuits containing one simple claim. Instead, you’re more likely these days to face a complaint with several claims, including charges that target executives and supervisors separately and personally.

Employers and SOX retaliation: Prepare for a legal long haul

05/28/2014
Employers defending against Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) whistle-blower retaliation claims should be prepared for a long and tough litigation process. A recent district court decision out of Texas vividly illustrates how long a haul it might be.

Age bias charges filed in wake of academic split

05/28/2014
When Texas Southmost College and the University of Texas-Brownsville ended their affiliation, administrators faced some tough decisions. According to three new lawsuits, they didn’t choose wisely.

San Antonio fast food franchisee hit with OT suit

05/28/2014
A San Antonio area franchisee faces charges he failed to pay proper overtime to his employees. Wessam “Sammie” Aldeeb operate eight restaurants, including Subway, Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery stores. A recently filed suit seeks class-action status for at least 125 current or former employees of Aldeeb’s franchises.

Former university accountant represents self in bias suit

05/28/2014
A former accounting manager at Texas Southern University is seeking $500,000 in damages and reinstatement, claiming the university fired him because of his Nigerian heritage.

Houston law firm faces pregnancy discrimination suit

05/28/2014
Wayne Wright, a personal injury law firm in Houston, faces charges it fired an employee after she told them she was expecting a child.

NLRB, OSHA pact gives longer life to whistle-blower claims

05/28/2014
Employers can expect more whistle-blower cases to be heard as unfair labor practices charges now that the National Labor Relations Board and OSHA have agreed to cooperate when employees file late safety-related complaints.

Proposed model COBRA notice pushes health insurance exchanges

05/28/2014
The Department of Labor has issued a new proposed model notice of continuation coverage rights under COBRA. It’s similar to previous versions you may have used, but emphasizes that separated workers might be better off seeking health insurance from state or federal Health Insurance Marketplaces than purchasing COBRA coverage through your plan.

Part-time schedule may not be ADA solution

05/28/2014
Employees who have used up all available leave may want to return to work part time while they are still healing from an injury or illness. Whether part-time work is a reasonable accommodation under the ADA depends on whether all essential functions of the job can be performed part time.

Employee can’t sue customer for retaliation

05/28/2014

An employee recently tried to claim that a customer had retaliated against her for griping on the job. It didn’t work.