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Texas

Instant response to harassment complaint cuts liability risk

07/08/2009

Here’s another reason to act fast when an employee says a co-worker has sexually harassed her: Employers that act quickly seldom lose sexual harassment lawsuits if their action stops the harassment.

Texas law school professor alleges age and gender bias

07/08/2009

Rosanne Piatt, an instructor at St. Mary’s University School of Law, recently filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC and the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division. She claims the university discriminated against her on the basis of her age and gender.

Court orders foundation chief to give up $5.3 million in comp

07/08/2009

Texas’ Third Court of Appeals in Austin recently upheld a jury’s order that Carl Yeckel, the former president of the board of directors at the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation, give up $5.3 million in excess compensation that he and other board members allegedly authorized for themselves.

Houston business owner sentenced for harboring illegals

07/08/2009

The owner and two managers of a Houston-based used clothing exporting business were recently sentenced to prison for conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants. During a raid at Action Rags USA Inc. last year, ICE agents arrested 166 undocumented workers from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

EEOC offers new guidance to avoid bias against employee/caregivers

07/08/2009

In 2007, the EEOC released a set of guidelines advising employers on issues related to caregiver bias. Following up on that issue, the commission has supplemented those guidelines with recommendations designed to help employers “reduce the chance of EEO violations against caregivers.” It’s imperative that companies begin to train managers and supervisors on the content of this most recent guidance.

Just-departed worker owes us money: Can we dock (or withhold) his final paycheck?

07/08/2009

Q. One of my employees who recently quit has failed to pay back a personal charge he made on our corporate credit card. Can I simply deduct the amount of the charge from his last paycheck or withhold his final paycheck until he pays for the charge?

Under Texas law, do fired employees have a legal right to see their personnel files?

07/08/2009

Q. I recently fired an employee for performance problems. At the end of the termination meeting, he asked for a copy of his personnel file. Do I have to give discharged employees copies of their personnel files?

Flextime, early-out Fridays top employee summer wish list

07/06/2009

The luxury of time was on the minds of most employees who were surveyed by Robert Half International about the summer perks they most value. Leading the list was flextime, the choice of 38% of respondents. Next was shortened Fridays.

Choosing employees for promotion: A 6-step legal process

07/06/2009
HR people and managers are aware of the legal dangers in hiring outside applicants. But many forget that internal promotions also carry risks.

Competition for job openings heats up to record high

07/06/2009

Those few employers that are adding staff are sifting through more résumés than ever. Employers, on average, are evaluating 5.4 candidates for each of their openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.