Texas employees who work in conditions that are unsafe and unhealthy have a legal right to report their employers to federal agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. At least 22 statutes protect whistleblowers from retaliation initiated by their employers after filing a complaint about illegal activity. Prohibitions against retaliation encompass many forms of adverse actions, such as job termination, demotion, cut in hours, cut in pay, harassment, intimidation and denial of benefits.
Firing employees who report unsafe working conditions is illegal
Are you experiencing workplace retaliation?
Working in a hostile work environment can make it difficult to do your job and have peace of mind while you are trying to earn a living. There are many different types of behaviors and issues that can lead to a discriminatory or hostile work environment, and one of these issues is retaliation.
City workers sue for overtime pay
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees in Texas and around the country must be compensated for all overtime hours worked. This may include time spent sending emails, replying to text messages or taking calls on a cell phone. Furthermore, this may be the case even if the employer has a policy that forbids an employee from working overtime by using email or a cell phone to complete an assignment.
Officer fired after 18 years; files wrongful termination lawsuit
When different personalities and expectations merge in the work place, conflicts may arise. Unfortunately, not all conflicts can be resolved peacefully, which can sometimes result in accusations and hostile work environments. For example, one Texas police officer has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against his superiors after he was suspended indefinitely.
Rights of youthful workers under wage and hour laws
Teenagers and minors in Texas are protected under federal and state wage and hour laws. These laws establish a minimum wage for youth and establish standards for their working conditions in order to protect their health and safety. These laws are meant to also protect the educational opportunities that are available to young people.
Ensuring you have a valid non-compete agreement
Your business is doing well enough that you are ready to begin expanding your staff. This is a difficult decision because more people on board means you have to rely on others, delegate duties and promote your workers. However, if you want your business to grow, you have to place a certain amount of trust in employees.
Age discrimination alleged at Google, other tech companies
Workers in Texas technology companies who are older may be more likely to face age discrimination on the job than workers in other industries. Google is facing an age discrimination lawsuit that has been joined by 269 people, and it is not the first time the company has been sued for this. In 2004, it settled a case out of court. The company claims that it has policies in place to protect against age discrimination, but a judge said that this was not enough to protect it from a lawuit.
