Archive for July 2023

EMPLOYER Q AND A What are the most important laws I should be aware of right now? You should be aware of your legal obligations to your employees under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) and monetary relief available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. How long will PPP funds remain…

EMPLOYEE Q AND A What happens if I am making more money with unemployment than I was before, and my employer reopens for business and asks me to return? The Texas Workforce Commission appears to be giving employees the benefit of the doubt with respect to unemployment eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. TWC guidance indicates…

On June 15, 2020, a landmark United States Supreme Court decision—Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, 590 U.S. ___ (2020)—held that an “employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.” Prior to this decision, federal courts varied significantly on how, if at all, Title VII’s protections against sex discrimination protected…

During economic downturns or other unforeseen business disruptions (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), employers often need to reduce labor costs to ensure the continued viability of their businesses. To minimize risk and ensure the reduction in force (RIF) is cost-effective, it is often wise to have departing employees sign a release. For such a release…

COVID-19 has increased interest in voting by mail, which in turn has generated challenges to existing election law. Many voters are concerned about being safe while going to the polls and are wondering about the possibility of voting by mail. In the State of Texas, there are five ways a voter is eligible to vote…

Every Texas employer is legally required to protect data employees (and customers) provide. This article provides a list of Texas and federal laws employers are expected to know and follow. Each law will be briefly summarized. Texas Laws Confidentiality of Social Security numbers – Employers generally cannot print an individual’s social security number on any material…

The FDA recently authorized two COVID-19 vaccines on an emergency basis. Many employers and employees are wondering how vaccine rollout will impact the workplace. Mize PC has put together this Q and A to answer common questions about employer vaccination policies. Can employers require that all employees get vaccinated? Yes. The EEOC recently issued guidance regarding COVID-19…

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covered employees must be paid at least the minimum wage and not less than one and one-half times their regular rates of pay for overtime hours worked. What records are required by the FLSA? The FLSA requires covered employers to maintain certain records for each non-exempt worker. The…

By: Mike Meltser, Attorney Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), employers with more than 20 employees have a new obligation to provide subsidized COBRA coverage beginning April 1, 2021. What does COBRA require? The COBRA law requires an employer to offer continuation of coverage under group health plans when coverage is lost…