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Texas

CNBC ranks Texas nation’s top state for business

08/04/2008
A recent study conducted by CNBC concluded that Texas is “America’s Top State For Business.” The cable TV news study scored each state on 40 measures of competitiveness covering 10 categories … Texas’ highest rankings were in economy, technology and innovation, transportation and cost of living.

New bill gives unemployed Texans 13 more weeks of benefits

08/04/2008
The Texas Workforce Commission recently announced that federally funded unemployment insurance (UI) benefits will be extended for 13 weeks. On June 30, President Bush signed legislation authorizing Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation …

Plant owners—And managers—Charged with employing illegals

08/04/2008
The owners and three managers of Action Rags USA, a used clothing plant in Houston, have been charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants and inducing illegal immigrants to come to the United States …

Rep. Green asks for investigation into fatal Goodyear explosion

08/04/2008
U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, in a letter to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), called for an investigation into the fatal explosion that occurred June 11 at a Houston Goodyear facility that makes synthetic rubber for tires …

Bryan-Based MIWU sued for mismanagement of health fund

08/04/2008
The U.S. Department of Labor has sued an employer association, a health fund trustee and the fund’s consultant over allegedly imprudent management of the Manufacturing and Industrial Workers Union (MIWU) Benefit Fund of Bryan, Texas …

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act finally becomes law

08/04/2008
President Bush recently signed into law H.R. 493, also known as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits employers from using genetic tests or information to discriminate against applicants and employees …

Is time off for voting required? Paid?

08/04/2008
Q. Must an employer give employees time off to vote? If so, must we pay employees for the time they spend voting? …

Volunteer services and FLSA compliance

08/04/2008
Q. We are a for-profit health care facility licensed by the state of Texas. Can we use volunteers to perform services at our facility without compensation? For example,  the wife of one of our clients wants to volunteer her services in exchange for us waiving the daily-use fee we charge her husband. Are these volunteer services exempt from the wage-and-hour requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)? … 

Can we ban guns in the workplace?

08/04/2008
Q. May an employer prohibit employees who are licensed by the state of Texas to carry a concealed firearm from bringing firearms onto the employer’s property? …

Employees don’t get to set work standards—You do!

07/07/2008
It’s far too easy to lose control over your workforce. All you have to do is let employees dictate how supervisors measure their performance. Don’t let it happen to your organization. Instead, let employees know how you will judge how well they’re performing and then stick with those measures …