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Texas

EEOC challenges gender bias at Irving transportation firm

02/28/2014
The EEOC has filed suit against NFI Roadrail and NFI Industries as a result of a pay disparity at its Irving facility. According to the complaint, the company pays men significantly more than women who perform the same work.

Appeals court sides with older Austin police officers

02/28/2014
A state appeals court has upheld a jury verdict awarding damages to a group that included about a dozen city marshals and police officers who had previously worked for the city’s park and airport police departments. The group demonstrated in court that the city’s consolidation of these departments resulted in a pay disparity between officers over age 40 and younger officers.

Military opens door to religious accommodation

02/28/2014
The Pentagon has indicated it will give troop commanders some flexibility in allowing religious-based exceptions to the military’s appearance requirements. Most notably, Sikhs, Muslims and Jews will now have an avenue to receive permission to wear beards and religious headwear.

12 Texas companies make Fortune’s ‘best’ list

02/28/2014
Fortune magazine has listed its 100 best companies to work for in 2014, and 12 Lone Star state firms made the cut—including four of the top 20.

Noncompete buried in benefit plan? Admin sets the terms

02/28/2014
Are some of your benefits—such as bonuses or other merit payments at retirement or departure—contingent on complying with a covenant-not-to-complete? Chances are the benefits plan administrator—not a federal court—will be interpreting the terms.

Merely transferring employee to same or similar position isn’t grounds for lawsuit

02/28/2014

Sometimes, the most sensible solution to an ongoing em­­ployee complaint is to transfer the em­­ployee. But some employees may see that as retaliation, especially if the “fresh start” turns out to be a false one. Such a retaliation claim is unlikely to succeed as long as there was no change in title, major job responsibilities, pay and benefits.

RIF results in less workforce diversity? Be ready to prove bias wasn’t the motive

02/28/2014
An employee who has lost his job may look at the resulting workforce and conclude that his race or other protected characteristic was why he was part of the reduction in force. Prepare for such potential charges with solid documentation showing you had a business reason for each position you cut—and that you didn’t consider who held the job.

Believe it or not, you still have to say it: Managers can’t express racial preferences

02/28/2014
By now, you might think no manager would be so stupid as to openly state their reluctance to hire someone of a particular race. Believe it or not, it still happens. When it does, that’s when expensive and time-consuming litigation begins.

Serial FMLA requests? Respond to every one

02/28/2014
Some employees seem to believe that every minor illness is grounds for FMLA leave. If it’s clear an absence is for an illness not covered by the FMLA, say so. That way, an employee can’t later argue that he was unfairly denied leave when you include the absence in the disciplinary process.

Develop process for extending FMLA leave

02/28/2014
Some employees aren’t quite ready to return from FMLA leave after their 12 weeks are up. How you handle their request can make the difference between winning and losing a discrimination lawsuit.