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Texas

Is national origin in ‘eye of the beholder’?

03/03/2009

Employees can sue if they believe they have been discriminated against based on their national origin. But what if the employee’s family has been in the United States for generations, and she speaks without any discernable accent or speech pattern common to another nationality and looks all-American? Can she still claim national-origin discrimination?

Don’t be fooled: ‘Quit or be fired’ won’t stop employee from filing lawsuit

03/03/2009

Some companies mistakenly believe that offering an employee the option of quitting or being fired can save them from a later lawsuit. That isn’t always the case even if the employee decides to resign. In fact, an employee who quits to avoid being fired may have been “constructively discharged” and can still sue …

Warn managers: False claim that employee lied can lead to defamation lawsuit

03/03/2009

Here’s a warning for managers or supervisors being investigated for sexual or other harassment: If they falsely accuse an alleged victim of lying, the victim may be able to sue the manager or supervisor for defamation. And that could mean personal liability for the boss if a jury believes the alleged victim.

Courts grow impatient with employees’ frivolous cases

03/03/2009

As the economy slumps, expect more lawsuits from employees who lose their jobs. Many won’t find lawyers because their cases are flimsy. They may then file the lawsuit themselves. Fortunately, courts are beginning to lose patience with such cases …

Let applicants review their online applications, résumés

03/03/2009

If you accept applications online and have potential employees provide their résumés electronically, let applicants review their submissions. You’ll avoid unnecessary lawsuits.

Double duty: Regulating moonlighting and following the law

03/03/2009

As the economy heads south, many of your employees have probably considered—or already found—second jobs to supplement their incomes. Most of the time, moonlighting poses no conflict with your organization’s work. But an employee’s second job could lower productivity and morale. It could create liability for you.

Study cites Texas as a hotbed of wage-and-hour claims

03/03/2009

A recent report offers some ominous news for Texas employers. Texas is one of eight states that saw an increase in class-action wage-and-hour cases filed in state court last year, according to the Seyfarth Shaw law firm’s new Workplace Class Action Litigation Report.

14 Texas employers make Fortune ‘best’ list

03/03/2009

Fourteen companies based in Texas have made Fortune magazine’s 2009 “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Five Dallas/Fort Worth area firms made the list …

Beaumont police officer wins $150,000 gender bias award

03/03/2009

Clearly, there is no fury like that of a woman scorned—especially one unfairly passed over for promotion. Officer Tina Lewallen filed a complaint with the Beaumont Police Department after two men were promoted to the narcotics unit ahead of her. When the department failed to investigate the complaint, Lewallen sued …

Will county auditor get to review his own settlement check?

03/03/2009

Back in 2004, Grimes County Auditor Sidney “Buck” LaQuey took a shine to Bridgette Massey, whom he hired to work in his office—even though she had no auditing experience. Eventually, Massey filed an EEOC complaint in 2006, followed by a lawsuit in 2007, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation …