The Equal Pay Act: What Employers Need to Know

According to a 2016 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings for men age 16 and older who were full-time wage and salary workers were $915, while the median for female workers was $749 — an 18 percent difference. Passed in 1963 and enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Equal Pay […]

Study: Age Discrimination Still a Problem

Older workers, particularly women, still encounter discrimination in hiring, according to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Due to the aging U.S. population and the resulting burden on the Social Security system, new federal programs are encouraging workers to stay in the workforce longer. “However,” the study states, “hiring discrimination against […]

Ex-Oiler Files Concussion Lawsuit Against NFL and Its Teams

An attorney representing three former NFL players, including former Oilers tight end Jimmie Giles, said Friday that he and his colleagues are taking a different legal tack to pursue their clients’ claims against the NFL and its teams for what they believe to be the league’s failure to inform players about the dangers of multiple concussions. […]

“At Will” Employment in Texas: What Employers Need to Know

Texas is an “employment at will” state, and it’s important that employers understand exactly what that means, both for themselves and for their employees. “At will” employment means that if there is no employment contract, either the employer or the employee may terminate the working relationship for any reason, at any time, with or without […]

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 […]