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Texas

State Supreme Court won’t say probable sexual harassment violated Texas law

05/07/2018
In the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, the Texas Supreme Court just refused to broadly define sexual harassment in the workplace. Instead, the court found that generalized harassment at work—even if it’s morally reprehensible—doesn’t necessarily violate the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act.

Rule requiring employees to speak only English at work may be race discrimination

05/07/2018
Take note if you have rules against speaking languages other than English at work: That could constitute race discrimination under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

You can’t dodge FLSA by forming 2nd company

05/07/2018
Ever thought you might be able to skirt the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime provisions by arranging for related entities to “share” the same employees? Courts aren’t likely to buy the arrangement.

Beaumont, Texas firm sued for firings based on costly medical risk

05/07/2018
Signature Industrial Services, a refinery services company in Beaumont, faces an EEOC lawsuit after it fired three brothers, allegedly because they have hemophilia.

Policy alone won’t fend off harassment suit

05/03/2018
You may think having a solid sexual harassment policy is all it takes to thwart a sexual harassment lawsuit. Not if the policy isn’t being followed!

Document all details about employee discipline

04/16/2018
It’s impossible to predict which employee will sue and why. That’s why you must carefully document every disciplinary action, including enough specific information to later justify those decisions.

4 questions about Austin’s new sick leave law

03/28/2018
Answers to four reader questions about the new law.

Texas state agencies immune from ADEA

03/28/2018
A federal court has refused to overturn earlier decisions holding that, in Texas, state agencies are exempt from the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Detail successful candidate’s superior qualifications

03/28/2018
When hiring or promoting from within, make sure you document why the chosen candidate is better qualified than others.

Similar offenses, different discipline? Be sure to justify with critical details

03/28/2018
When it comes to disciplining employees, details make a big difference. Be sure you include enough information in your investigation reports so you can later explain, for example, why one employee deserved harsher punishment than another who made a similar mistake.