Finding just the right person to fill a job is tricky. Sometimes, employers struggle with a dearth of suitable candidates. Other times, too many applicants make vetting overwhelming. Of course, artificial intelligence...
Employment Law Letter
Q Our company wants to implement a policy to limit personal cell phone usage only to break times. Can we ask workers to put their phones in their work lockers or on their supervisors’ desks? A You can definitely require...
A famous doctor went up against a famous Dallas hospital and, for now, came out on top. How she did so offers insights into the nuances of employment discrimination law, which is where winning or losing is decided. The...
The reader might identify with this dilemma: You’re asked to take on a project, give a speech, or just lend a hand to a colleague. We’re socialized to cooperate, so our default answer is usually, “Of course, glad to lend...
If employees engage in “protected activity,” they’re shielded from retaliation by employers. The following Texas case explores what activity is protected under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). First, the facts...
The Texas Supreme Court recently looked at how individuals can prove discrimination claims. Two key issues: What does it mean for one person to “replace” another, and does mentioning retirement to an employee assist in...
Q If a pay date lands on a holiday, when do we need to pay our employees—before the holiday or on the next business day after it? A Although it doesn’t happen often, there are certain times during a calendar year when...
An Ohio court of appeals recently enforced an employment application provision requiring any claims for employment law violations to be filed within six months of their occurrence. Facts Amanda Fayak worked for the...
Many employers now know the New York State Quarantine Paid Sick Leave Law’s (NYS Q-Law) benefits continued even after the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s (FFCRA) emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) benefits...
The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) recently issued its fiscal year (FY) 2020 annual report. Although the number of charges filed declined, the backlog of cases increased. The report suggests delays will continue...
When President Joe Biden made it a day-one priority to eliminate Donald Trump's high-level appointees to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), he sent a strong signal that employers should brace themselves for the...
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently proposed new rules about the incentives you can provide to employees to participate in wellness programs without violating the law. The key is to ensure the...
Employers have met the approval of two—and potentially more—COVID-19 vaccines by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with optimism that their coronavirus-related, safe-workplace woes are at long last coming to...
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued a sweeping COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) effective November 30, 2020, which caught California employers off-guard (for more on the...
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the federal law the mandates minimum wage and overtime compensation for most employees, overtime is payable for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek at the rate of 1.5 times...