• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly
Connection failed: SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] No such file or directory

Texas

Union seeks voice in Austin firefighter settlement

05/28/2014
The Austin Firefighters Association wants to be part of the city’s negotiation with the U.S. Department of Justice to settle long-smoldering claims that the city fire department’s hiring process discriminates against black and Hispanic applicants.

Warn hiring committee: Never discuss decision-making process with candidates

05/28/2014

If you haven’t already, warn everyone who serves on hiring committees or is otherwise involved in hiring-related decisions to keep their thoughts to themselves. For example, they should never discuss the inner workings of the ­hiring process with candidates.

Follow 6 steps to set up alternative dispute resolution process

05/07/2014
So, you’re thinking about creating a program to help settle employee conflicts in-house. That’s smart. A successful alternative dispute-resolution (ADR) program lets you identify and address problems while they’re still manageable and before they land in court. Here’s a six-step process for establishing an ADR program.

Survive most lawsuits by being able to cite solid, documented reasons for termination

05/07/2014

Courts like to see that ­employers pause before firing an employee accused of breaking a rule and then document their investigation carefully. Interviewing the employee should be routine in most disciplinary cases. Temporarily suspending an employee before making a final decision also shows the court that the process was fair.

Is ‘stress’ an FMLA serious condition?

05/01/2014
Q. One of our employees is complaining of “stress and anxiety.” Is that enough to put us on notice of a serious health condition under the FMLA?

Is the government moving to address restrictions on employee discussion of wages?

05/01/2014
Q. We heard that the president recently took action on whether employees are permitted to discuss compensation. Are there any new requirements on employers with regard to these kinds of conversations?

How to regulate employee use of personal tech

05/01/2014
It’s hard for even the most sophisticated of companies to deal with all the risks of instant communications and increased access via personal and company-owned tech devices.

Supreme Court rules severance payments taxable

05/01/2014

The U.S. Supreme Court has resolved a split among circuit courts with a late-March ruling that employer severance payments to employees are FICA-taxable as wages. Employers must, therefore, remit their portion of Federal Insurance Contri­­bu­­tions Act (FICA) withholding taxes for those payments.

Texas town loses final appeal on immigration statute

05/01/2014
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals of rulings that declared two of the nation’s most far-reaching anti-­immigrant statutes unconstitutional. The towns of Farmer’s Branch, Texas, and Hazleton, Pa., had adopted ordinances punishing landlords who rented to “illegal immigrants.” The Hazle­­ton ordinance also targeted employers that hired illegals.

McAllen, TX moves to put harassment case behind it

05/01/2014
The city of McAllen seems to be turning a page with the departure of an assistant city manager. The official had previously filed a sexual harassment complaint against a former city manager who retired in March.