Election Season Considerations
2020 is the year that everything that could possibly happen…happened. It seems only normal, then, that 2020 is also the year of a U.S. Presidential election. No matter where you stand as an HR professional on the political spectrum, you must navigate the election season in the workplace. With that in mind, let’s discuss just […]
Supreme Court Update
While many of us were focused on COVID-19 over the summer, the United States Supreme Court issued three major decisions affecting the workplace. Here is what you need to know. LGBTQ Protections The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion in which the Court extended Title VII’s anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ workers. The majority decided the […]
COVID-19 Update
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout the country, employers have continued to adapt and “change” has become the norm. Now is a good time to take stock of where we are and what employers need to know about COVID-19 in the workplace. Families First Coronavirus Response Act As a reminder, the Families First Coronavirus Response […]
Lawsuit Claims Violation of FFCRA
Employers in Texas should be aware of a recent lawsuit in which an employee alleged that her employer violated the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Even if you are an employer that is too large to be covered by the FFCRA, this lawsuit is particularly important for you to learn about in more detail. […]
Can Employers Require Employees to Self-Quarantine?
If you own a business and you are preparing to bring employees back to work in-person in the Dallas area, or if you already have employees working in-person at your business, you may have questions about your rights as an employer based on COVID-19 exposure and risks. In other words, you might be wondering whether […]
How Does Sabine Pilot Service v. Hauck Apply to Current Legal Issues?
In 1985, the Supreme Court of Texas decided the case of Sabine Pilot Service, Inc. v. Hauck. The ruling has become a significant one for employers in Texas because it concerns an employee who filed a claim against his employer after he refused to commit an illegal act. The Texas Supreme Court established a limited […]
Are Employers Required to Provide Appropriate PPE for Employees?
If you own a business in Dallas and have employees, you probably have a wide variety of questions about your responsibilities as an employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations for safe in-person workplaces that include personal protective equipment (PPE), depending upon the type of […]
California Attorney General Says Rideshare Drivers are Employees, Not Independent Contractors
If you are an employer in Texas who hires independent contractors with any frequency, or even on a temporary basis, you should be paying attention to the rideshare lawsuit in California. As outlined in a recent article in The New York Times, California sued Uber and Lyft, two prominent rideshare companies, alleging that they have […]
Are There Notice Requirements for Laying Off or Furloughing Employees?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers in Dallas and across Texas have had to contend with severe economic losses. As a result of business closures and lost revenue, many employers in Dallas have had to furlough or lay off employees. We know that this is an incredibly difficult process for many employers, and we also […]
How COVID-19 Affects Workers’ Compensation Claims
Many employers in Texas closed temporarily during the stay-at-home orders issued in March, leading to many employees working from home. At the same time, many businesses classified as “essential” remained open during the stay-home orders, continuing to employ workers. In the past weeks, Texas has begun opening up again, and many businesses have reopened and […]
