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Texas

Unemployment insurance tax rates to decrease in 2008

01/01/2008

Many Texas employers will see lower unemployment insurance (UI) taxes this year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. The minimum tax rate, which 62% of Texas employers pay, decreased to 0.22% from 0.29% for the 2008 calendar year …

Texas partnership offers job search assistance to veterans

01/01/2008

On Dec. 4, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced the creation of Texas Workforce Solutions, a partnership between the TWC and 28 local work force development boards designed to assist Texans returning to civilian life from military service …

Grocery clerk stops shoplifter, loses job for breaking rule

01/01/2008

File this one under “no good deed goes unpunished.” Michigan grocery clerk John Schultz says he lost his job after trying to thwart the getaway of an alleged shoplifter. The firing offense? Touching a customer …

Workplace bullying emerges as new employment law issue

01/01/2008

While workplace bullying certainly has existed for as long as mean people have worked alongside others, only recently has it emerged as an issue for the courts to handle. As awareness of “workplace bullying” arises, so does potential litigation and liability for employers …

USERRA reinstatement requirements following military leave

01/01/2008

Q. When a manager takes an extended military leave of absence and I am forced to hire a replacement out of business necessity, am I still required to reinstate the manager upon his or her return to work? …

What are ADA requirements for accommodating depression and psychiatric disabilities?

01/01/2008
Q. If a worker complains that he or she is depressed and needs time off, do I have a duty under the ADA to give the worker leave?

Go ahead and discipline, even when considering FMLA leave

12/01/2007

Employees who ask for FMLA leave often act as if they are immune from any sort of discipline. But that’s simply not the case. Even if an employee has applied for or is actually on FMLA leave, you can and should punish rule breaking. Just make sure you aren’t treating an employee who takes FMLA leave more harshly than any other employee. Equitable discipline is the rule …

Document problems caused by ‘Difficult personalities’

12/01/2007

Difficult employees may be sensitive to perceived discrimination—especially if they also happen to be members of a protected class such as race, sex or national origin. They may think they have to work harder and appear smarter than others. If they lose a plum assignment, that may be enough to spur a discrimination lawsuit. That’s one reason you should carefully document how you handle easily bruised egos …

Got wind of harassment? Fast action can cut liability

12/01/2007

We all would like to believe harassment and discrimination can’t happen where we work. Of course, we’re dreaming if we do. Ordinary people sometimes fall back on old stereotypes or react strongly to newly perceived dangers by inappropriately striking out at a group or nationality. Fortunately for employers, isolated acts of harassment, if stopped dead in their tracks, won’t come back to haunt them years later …

Be prepared to cite skills to explain wage disparity

12/01/2007

Because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that employees must make wage discrimination claims right away, it’s more likely than ever that employees who find out they are making less than a newcomer of a different race, sex or national origin will seek legal counsel. That’s why you must be prepared to explain each and every wage difference with solid business-related reasons …