Over the past few decades, government regulators have begun to keep a much closer eye on the conduct of those in charge at large corporations. However, regulators may not be privy to all the inner-workings of a corporation, and given the number of corporations and lack of available resources to…
Articles Posted in Workers’ Rights
The Intersection Between Title VII and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Rules Regarding Accent Discrimination
Those who have immigrated to the United States have played a pivotal role in our nation’s success. Indeed, the goal of encouraging immigrants to assist in growing the United States’ economy was one of the reasons that Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Title VII. Similarly, the…
The National Defense Authorization Act and the Protections It Provides to Texas Contractors and Employees
The federal government has certain laws ultimately designed to prevent the misuse or waste of federal funds. Thus, to encourage federal employees to “blow the whistle” on those engaging in misconduct, lawmakers passed the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). Under the WPA, government employees who report certain acts of misconduct are…
When Must Texas Employers Offer Light Duty as a Reasonable Accommodation
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are required to offer employees with disabilities reasonable accommodations that will provide them with the ability to apply for or perform the necessary functions of their positions. Employers will often attempt to shrug off this responsibility by claiming that providing the employee…
Are All Texas Employment Contracts Enforceable?
When an employee begins work for a new employer, it is likely the employee will be asked to sign an employment agreement. A Texas employment contract acts as a guide to inform both the employee and employer of the other’s rights and obligations. Typically, an employment contract will include the…
What Is First Amendment Retaliation and How Can an Employee Bring a Claim of Retaliation?
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects citizens’ right to free speech, assembly, and religion, among other things. However, not only does the First Amendment require people to be able to freely express themselves without fear of criminal repercussions, it also prohibits the government from taking other actions…
Employment Protections for Texas Veterans with Disabilities
Veterans returning to the United States may face many challenges while trying to adjust to civilian life. Unfortunately, many veterans face employment discrimination, and they may have difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment. Often, employers are reluctant to hire individuals who suffer from disabilities related to their deployment. This can have…
Employee or Independent Contractor: What’s the Difference and How Do You Know?
Traditionally, a company would arrange to have most of the services needed to run the business performed in-house, meaning necessary services would be provided by employees of the company. However, over the past several decades, the use of independent contractors has skyrocketed. Thus, while independent contractors were historically only found…
What Is the NLRB and How Does It Affect Texas Employees?
Most Texas employees have heard of the National Labor Review Board, or NLRB as it’s more commonly referred to. However, surprisingly few know what the NLRB is or how important the agency is to employees. Very generally, the NLRB protects the rights of employees to organize in pursuit of better…
Are Arbitration Clauses in Texas Employment Contracts Enforceable?
When an employee is hired, in many, if not most instances, he or she is required to sign some form of employment agreement. These contracts outline the duties and expectations of both the employer and the employee. Frequently, Texas employment contracts include an arbitration clause, which is an agreement between…