When Should We Update Our Employment Handbook and Policies?
It is important for all Texas businesses to have employment handbooks and policies, and to ensure that these materials are updated regularly. You might initially assume that once your company’s employment handbook and workplace policies are created, they only need updating when there are obvious changes to be made. However, a smarter strategy is to […]
The NLRB in a Non-Union Setting
Many non-union employers fail to realize that the National Labor Relations Act still applies to them. While the NLRA is most often applied in the union setting, at its most basic level, the NLRA protects the right of employees to engage in protected concerted activity. Such protected concerted activity can occur in a union or […]
Simon | Paschal Says: A Time for HeaRt
This may seem like a funny thing to hear employment lawyers say, but now more than ever it is time for Human Resources to truly exhibit HeaRt. Our capitalization and bolding of the word heart are intentional because as the great Michael Scott would say, “HR is in the word.” 2020 has been a tough […]
Personnel Actions: Layoffs & PTO
As businesses and employers are getting a better handle on their staffing needs after several roller coaster months of COVID-19, the fortunate businesses are facing decisions about bringing people back to work who had previously been laid off and also addressing paid time off of employees that may not have utilized much of it. With […]
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 […]
US Supreme Court Issues LGBT Discrimination Decision
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion in which the Court extended Title VII’s anti-discrimination protections to LGBT workers. Justice Gorsuch authored the majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan. The majority decided the case on a very simple basis – […]
Employing Minors in Texas
Employing a person younger than the age of 18 requires adherence to a specific set of labor laws, referred to as Texas Child Labor Law. The law is not there to prohibit or impede the hiring of minors; rather, child labor laws protect the safety and rights of minors in the workplace. Learn Age- and […]
Handling Layoffs with Compassion
Proactive management is essential when a company faces the harsh reality of having to lay off members of its workforce. A transition process needs to consider the members who are separating from the team and those who are staying behind. Develop an Overall Strategy A comprehensive strategy should be developed as soon layoffs become necessary. […]
Employing Interns in Texas
This time of year, many organizations start interviewing potential candidates for summer internships. Internships can be valuable both for interns and business owners. In exchange for work, interns can acquire on the job skills In many organizations, questions will arise over issues such as the number of hours an intern will work and whether or […]
