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Employment Law

Employee just got religion: Must we accommodate?

12/27/2011
Q. Our company requires employees to work on weekends because those are our busiest days. When we hire, we ask applicants about their weekend availability. Now a few employees claim their religious beliefs have changed and they need time off on Saturdays or Sundays to attend church. Can we turn down the requests based on their original applications?

Politics around the watercooler: Can you discipline ‘overly political’ workers?

12/26/2011

While today’s Iowa caucuses feel like the end of a long campaign season, it’s really just the beginning of a heated political year … one that could spill over into your workplace. Follow these tips for handling political activity in your workplace and employees’ political advocacy outside of work.

Small businesses: Check to see if you’re too small to be sued

12/26/2011
Here’s an important note for small employers looking to avoid unnecessary hassles and lawsuits: If you receive a complaint from the EEOC or local employment discrimination agency, don’t assume or admit that you have enough employees to be covered by the law. If you have fewer than 15 em­­ployees, you could win instant dismissal.

How to: Conduct your annual HR policy review

12/23/2011
We’re already a month into 2012. It’s time to review your employment policies and practices in light of the government’s aggressive efforts to enforce employment laws. The EEOC, the DOL and a host of other agencies are all cracking down on employers. Good, up-to-date policies are your best defense against the fed’s stepped up scrutiny.

How much FMLA left? It’s your job to track it

12/22/2011
Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave during each 12-month period. But lawsuits often hinge on one question: Which 12 months? It’s the employer’s duty to let employees know how much leave they’re entitled to or have al­­ready taken.

Can we tamp down political discussions?

12/21/2011
Q. The sexual harassment accusations brought against presidential candidate Herman Cain have been generating quite a bit of controversy in our office. What can we do to ensure that our employees do not use these conversations as the basis upon which to bring a sexual harassment claim?

Faster union elections on the way following NLRB action

12/21/2011

On Nov. 30, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board voted 2-1 in favor of changing the union election rules to speed up the process of securing union representation in workplaces nationwide. The new rule shortens the time be­­tween the filing of an election petition and actual voting, making it easier for unions to win elections and more difficult for employers to communicate with employees before the vote.

Lovejoy girls hoops coach sues for discrimination

12/21/2011
A former Lovejoy High School girls basketball coach has filed a lawsuit against the Lovejoy Independent School District alleging that administrators discriminated against her on the basis of her age, race and gender.

What are they drinking at the TABC?

12/21/2011
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission—already rocked by allegations of gay-bashing and sexual assault against underage, undercover agents—now faces a sexual harassment lawsuit from one of its officers.

Mandatory retirement policy costs manufacturer $60,000

12/21/2011

A Houston manufacturer will pay $60,000 and provide other relief to settle an EEOC age discrimination lawsuit. According to the EEOC, Metallic Products Corp. had an unlawful mandatory policy that required em­­ployees to retire when they reached age 70.