Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A recent decision by the Texas Supreme Court provides a valuable lesson for employers on how to draft employee discipline. Let’s start by examining law theory and then move on to look at how to put theory into practice. Legal Theory An important concept in Texas employment law is causation in a retaliation claim. For […]
During ‘The Great Resignation,’ 4.4 million people left jobs in September and another 4.2 million left in October, according to the U.S. Labor Department. Most of these employees are quitting because they are finding better work environments and higher pay. Therefore, every manager and HR professional is focused right now on employee retention – especially […]
It seems that every day the news is full of stories about employees (whether they are NFL players or Hollywood starlets) protesting unfair treatment. Usually, when an employee complains about discrimination, harassment, equal pay, or other work-related topics, he or she is protected from discipline or termination because the conduct is considered “protected activity” under […]
by Barbara J. Koenig Implicit bias is an unconscious preference for or an aversion to a person or a group of people. In other words, we may have an attitude toward others or stereotype them without conscious knowledge of what we’re doing. If we act in accordance with our implicit bias, we may be discriminating […]
Recently, Ben Affleck stepped down from directing the new Batman movie to focus on his recovery following recent treatment for alcoholism. His reason for stepping down was due to his belief that he was unable to give the directing role the focus and passion it requires. Alcoholism and drug addiction present complicated issues under the […]
I’m sure you all watched or heard about the Super Bowl on Sunday night: Despite the fact that his team was trailing by 25 points, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led New England on the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Brady’s season began with a four-game suspension for his involvement in the “deflategate” scandal and […]
by Connor Beatty While enjoying a scenic drive along the Maine coast recently, I was startled to come across a giant Confederate flag prominently displayed in a house’s front yard. Less than a week later, a client contacted our firm to ask for advice in responding to an employee’s claim that a vehicle with a […]
By Kelly Smith-Haley, Fox, Swibel, Levin & Carroll LLP The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows eligible employees to take unpaid job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons. The FMLA also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who exercise their rights under the Act. But employees have certain obligations to meet before being […]
by Mark I. Schickman Brian Williams was NBC’s news superstar, appearing on programs ranging from 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, and The Tonight Show. He was a beloved regular on the talk show circuit. Since 2004, he was heir to a line of NBC news chiefs flowing from Chet Huntley and David Brinkley through John […]
The short answer to your question is “Yes, it is generally legal to reduce an employee’s pay in order to account for unsatisfactory performance.” Just as employers may increase employee wages for exemplary performance, an employee’s paycheck can also be a viable method for deterring or improving poor performance.