On June 7, a Texas appellate court issued a grant of summary judgment regarding a man who had made a whistleblower complaint regarding the safety of a vessel. The man told investigators he had warned his employer that the vessel was unsafe with its surveying equipment, and an accident that occurred afterward left one crew member dead and six more injured. When the man was fired two years later, he alleged it was whistleblower retaliation.
Federal appeals court sides with Texas employer in FMLA dispute
After a lower court ruled in favor of a steel company, a federal appeals court affirmed the decision that the employer had not broken the law when terminating a salesman's job. The employee had alleged that the company fired him because he took time off under the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Highly regarded businesses often fare better in court
When prestigious companies in Texas face legal action related to employment discrimination, they tend to have better odds of obtaining a favorable resolution. This is according to research done by the Kellogg School. In many cases, the company's status helps it to get the benefit of the doubt from a jury. However, if a highly regarded company is found liable, it could be punished more severely than others.
Excessive information sharing can put employers at risk
Employers in Texas should pay close attention to recent developments regarding employee communication with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC. Employees have a right under federal law to communicate freely with the EEOC about allegations of discrimination or violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. How an employer responds to such a complaint can have a major impact on the ensuing impact of the filing, and employers can take action to protect themselves from being at risk of further charges.
Texas company loses appeal in wrongful termination case
A Texas-based company has lost an appeal involving an arbitration award. The man who received the award sold his business to the other company and was then subsequently terminated. An appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling in the case although the man was denied a motion for filed sanctions. The transaction between the two businesses involved two contracts, an interest purchase agreement and an employment agreement.
Caution is needed when terminating certain employees
Most employers realize that an employee cannot be terminated or penalized for making a Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) request. Making a leave request does not prohibit termination if the reasons are independent and unrelated to the FMLA. Employers in Texas should pay attention to a recent Missouri federal court case that illustrates how appearances can lead to actionable lawsuits.
Does the fired Google memo writer have a wrongful discharge case?
You've heard the story. A Google software engineer recently made headlines by sending out a 10-page memo to other employees decrying the company's left-leaning bias and perpetuation of gender stereotypes as Google attempts to bring more women into tech and leadership roles. He argued that the company, a unit of Alphabet Inc., is hostile to conservative viewpoints and argued that the lack of women in leadership positions likely reflects biological differences instead of discrimination.
Wells Fargo claims unit bidder violated no staff-poaching clause
Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc., or WFIS, is suing Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., a company that submitted a failed bid to buy the Wells Fargo unit. WFIS claims that Alliant gained insider knowledge while bidding to buy the unit and is using it in an "aggressive campaign" to poach top sales executives for its own benefit -- and much to the detriment of WFIS.
What is inappropriate behavior in the workplace?
As an employer in Houston, it’s important to ensure that your place of work is welcoming for everyone. In this case, certain inappropriate behavior in the workplace can be extremely problematic, especially when supervisory personnel fail to intervene. To this end, your business could be subject to a damaging lawsuit, which can have a wide range of harmful effects.
3 common myths about non-compete agreements
Working is unavoidable for just about everyone. Whether you work for nothing more than a paycheck, or you truly love the work you do, your job is crucial to your well-being and financial stability.
