In many states, an employee’s accrued, but unused vacation time must be paid on termination of employment. However, under longstanding Texas law, an employee is not entitled to be paid for accrued, but unused vacation, on termination of employment unless the employee has a written agreement with the employee to do so or employer has a specific
Wage & Hour
Minimum Wage Set to Increase
By Russell Cawyer on
Posted in Wage & Hour
On July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 per hour. All Texas employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act —i.e., employers engaged in any industry affecting commerce, must pay at least the new minimum wage beginning on July 24, 2009.
Severance Payments to Texas Employees Should Deduct for Child and Spousal Support Orders
By Russell Cawyer on
Posted in Human Resources, Wage & Hour
With the increased number of layoffs and reductions in force, many Texas employers are paying out large amounts of severance payments and wages in lieu of notice. Employers making these payments must not forget to comply with any court orders they have received regarding the deductions or garnishments from employee wages on these payments. A Texas employer…
Texas Employers May be Required to Give Employees Paid Time Off to Vote
By Russell Cawyer on
As we approach local elections, it is good to remember that Texas law may require an employer to provide an employee with paid time off to vote. The Texas Election Code makes it a Class C misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to allow an employee to be absent from work on election day for purpose…
Houston Jury Finds Restaurant Tip Pool was Unlawful
By Russell Cawyer on
Posted in Wage & Hour
Most wage and hour lawsuits in Texas focus on an employer’s alleged misclassification of an employee as exempt from overtime. However, a recent jury verdict from a federal court in Houston teaches that even in a highly unregulated wage and hour state like Texas, there are other wage and hour provisions employers must comply with and that can lead…
DOL Announces Intent to Hire 250 Additional Wage & Hour Investigators
By Russell Cawyer on
Posted in Wage & Hour
Following a GAO report that concluded that the Department of Labor inadequately investigated complaints from low-wage and minimum wage workers who claimed that their employers failed to pay the federal minimum wage, required overtime, and failed to pay employees their last paycheck the DOL has reacted.
This week, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced that the…