Dallas Employment Trail Lawyer Ellie Johnston As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is in the air, but it’s essential to strike a balance between romance and professionalism in the workplace. For employees navigating relationships at work, understanding the implications of Valentine’s Day festivities and workplace dynamics is crucial. In this blog…
Articles Posted in Sexual Harassment
Statute of Limitations Laws: The Clock is Always Ticking.
Time does not stop for anyone. There are time limits for filing claims against your employer. In fact, state and federal claims have different deadlines for different types of claims. When pursuing a claim against your employer, it is important to note the statute of limitations for the claim you…
Biden Signs into Law a Bill Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Harassment Claims – Key Takeaways
On March 3, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law new legislation banning the use of arbitration clauses in employment contracts that force victims of sexual assault and harassment to pursue their claims in private arbitration rather than in open court. The legislation passed Congress with bipartisan support and has…
Holiday Cheer and Termination Fear: Can I be fired for my behavior at a work holiday party?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Love them or hate them, this is the time of the year during which employers are finalizing holiday party plans. After a long pause on holiday parties due to Covid-19, many employers are gearing up for their first holiday party since the…
Everything’s Bigger in Texas and the laws are no exception: 666 new laws took effect in Texas on September 1, 2021, including a nearly absolute ban on abortion
Well folks, everything is bigger in Texas and our laws and penalties are certainly no exception. Despite the efforts of Texas Democrats to block a voting restriction bill, that bill and 665 additional bills were passed, many of which took effect on September 1, 2021. Here are some of the…
Valentine’s Day at work: Cupid or stupid?
Sexual harassment in the workplace is not a new phenomenon. It has always been an issue. In light of the #Metoo movement, employees nationwide are more willing to publicly condemn their harassers and hold employers accountable for their inaction. As Valentine’s Day approaches, this blog will highlight various examples of…
Secretly Recording in the Workplace: Can I do it? Should I do it?
Generally, you have the burden of proving if your employer’s actions toward you violate the law. Of course, sophisticated employers seldom admit to doing something that breaks the law, and often employment cases turn on a “he-said/she-said” moment, where the employee claims something was said and the employer later denies…
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What to do if your boss is a Harvey Weinstein?
Sexual harassment can happen to anyone regardless of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment in the workplace has always been an issue. However, in the wake of the #Metoo movement sparked by the Harvey Weinstein scandal, more and more victims of workplace sexual harassment are now speaking up…
How Can a Texas Employee Know If They Are Working in a Hostile Work Environment?
Last week we discussed Texas employers’ responsibilities after an employee reports discrimination, including instances involving hostile work environments. Here, we take a closer look at what constitutes a hostile work environment. Under state and federal civil rights laws, Texas employers are prohibited from engaging in discrimination based on an employee’s…
Texas Employers Cannot Engage in “Quid Pro Quo” Discrimination/Harassment
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sex. Courts have long held that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. Thus, employers who engage in sexual harassment or allow their employees to engage in such behavior without intervening violate Texas and federal…