I read a thought provoking article by Colin Turner in Business Review Europe about the importance of rewarding employees at Christmas and how those rewards can motivate employees. The article emphasized the importance of rewarding employees not only for the service they have provided, but to reward them prospectively for the service the employer expects to receive. This
Interesting Pilot Program for Employment Disputes from the Federal Courts
The Federal Judicial Center has announced a new pilot program to streamline discovery in employment disputes filed in federal court. The program, announced in November, would compel initial discovery for certain employment cases where an adverse action is alleged. Under the program, parties would have to produce, as part of initial disclosures, commons discovery items that are
Iphone App Helps Track Settlement Negotiations
If you attend many EEOC meditations or the meditations of lawsuits, you know it is important to keep an accurate record of the parties’ respective settlement offers. This is useful in trying to glean where the parties are going and whether there may be an overlap in their respective settlement positions. Picture it Settled recently released a new
For Clear HR Blunders, Own Up Immediately
Last weekend, the Dallas Cowboys lost a close game to the Arizona Cardinals. If you watched the game, you know how it ended (and probably have a bad taste in your mouth). For those of you who didn’t see the game, here is a summary of what occurred.
With two minutes left it the
Happy Thanksgiving from the Texas Employment Law Update
I want to thank my clients and other readers of the Texas Employment Law Update for your loyalty and support. More importantly, I hope that you and your families have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. For my part, our family will be spending a traditional Thanksgiving (traditional for us) with extended family and friends
New and Enhanced Tax Credits Available to Employers Hiring Unemployed Veterans
Yesterday, the President signed a bill that is good for veterans and employers. The law provides new and enhanced tax credits for employers hiring veterans. The law, effective immediately, allows employers to claim certain tax credits for hiring unemployed veterans ($2,400 in the case of a veteran unemployed at least 1 month; $5,600 for a veteran unemployed at least
Penn State’s Selection of Independent Investigator is First Step in Right Direction
Penn State announced that it selected former federal judge and FBI Director Louise Freeh to lead an independent investigation of all aspects of the University’s actions related to the child sexual abuse allegations that have been reported. While federal and state (two states) authorities are investigating the allegations, Penn State’s investigation is likely to be
Supreme Court of Texas Considering Important Issue of Privileged Communications Between Employer and its Insurance Company
Recently, the Supreme Court of Texas heard oral arguments in an interesting case regarding the outer limits of the attorney-client privilege with respect to a workers’ compensation insurance carrier attorney’s communications with its insured. The communications at issue were made between the carriers and the insured/employer during the administrative proceeding before the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission over
Texas is a Right to Work State! What the Heck Does that Mean?
Several years ago I took the deposition of the business owner who hired several employees from a competitor in violation of a noncompetition agreement the employees had with the competitor. As part of enforcing the agreements against the former employees, the competitor sued the new employer for tortious interference with contract because the new employer/business owner was aware of the noncompetition agreements and
EEOC Charge Filings Hit Record Number for FY 2010
If you have not experienced it already, the EEOC is very active under the Obama administration. Proof of this heightened activity is evident in the most recent statistics released by the EEOC for the fiscal year ending September 20, 2011.
Here is a summary of some of the highlights from the EEOC FY 2010 statistics (the Commission’s