Proposed EEOC-OFCCP Merger Faces Opposition From Employers and Civil Rights Groups
As the 2018 fiscal budget begins to take shape, the Trump administration is proposing a merger between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a subagency of the Labor Department that monitors affirmative action and nondiscrimination compliance for federal contractors. According to the president’s proposed budget, the two agencies […]
Texas Employer Incentives to Hire Veterans
The state of Texas is home to the second-largest population of U.S. military veterans in the country, with nearly 20,000 service members transitioning from Texas military facilities to civilian life every year. Close to 40,000 veterans are currently seeking employment, and employers are discovering the benefits of adding vets to their employee rosters. Here are just […]
OSHA’s New Electronic Reporting System: What Employers Need to Know
On August 1, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) introduced a new reporting system for submitting injury and illness data electronically. While use of the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) will not be mandatory until later this year, covered employers are advised to be aware of the system, how it works, and how their information will […]
Hurricane-Related Layoffs and Unemployment Claims: What Employers Need to Know
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many businesses have fallen on hard times, some to the point where layoffs have been unavoidable. If your business has had to lay off employees due to the storm and the flooding that ensued, here’s what you need to know about employees filing unemployment claims. Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) […]
New Study Ranks Houston Among Best Cities for Small Businesses
In a study sponsored by online review company Yelp, Houston has ranked No. 10 among the best cities in the United States for small businesses. The Yelp Local Economic Outlook highlights cities where small businesses have the greatest chances of success. According to Yelp’s blog post announcing the program, it is “an ongoing effort to surface insights […]
Is Your Employee Handbook Due for an Update?
With the end of the year insight, this is a perfect time to review your employee policies and procedures manual and identify portions that may be outdated so you start 2018 with a handbook that is up to date. We’ve seen some recent court decisions that had a significant impact on employer/employee relations, as did […]
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): What Employers Need to Know
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted in 1993 with the goal of helping employees strike a balance between family and work life. With a new administration coming into power in Washington, we may see some changes to the law in the months and years to come. Here’s an overview of what employers should […]
Are Employers in Texas Responsible for Injuries to Temporary Employees Assigned by Staffing Companies?
In most cases, Texas employers are not required to participate in workers’ compensation insurance. Employers who opt out of workers’ comp are not immune from personal injury suits filed by their employees … but what about temporary workers from temp agencies and staffing companies? Recently a worker at a Tractor Supply distribution center in Waco […]
Study: Workplace Bullying on the Rise
As the issue of bullying in schools continues to occupy the national spotlight, researchers are discovering another environment where bullying behavior is having negative impact: the workplace. In a 2017 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI), more than 60 million U.S. workers reported having been affected by workplace bullying, which the WBI defines as “repeated harmful […]
Employee Dating Policies in the #MeToo Era
The recent #MeToo movement has shone a spotlight on widespread sexual harassment in the workplace, leading many employers to reevaluate their employee dating policies. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) advises that while an employer should not necessarily try to limit any and all on- or off-duty contact or relationships between employees, it may certainly impose reasonable limits […]