Treaty Oak Employers’ Law Blog

Employee discrimination claims can have significant consequences to employers. Employees may have legal claims against employers who illegally discriminate against them. Employers are required to investigate claims of illegal discrimination. This duty exists even if the employee does not make a formal complaint and even if the employee does not

Periodically, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will release harassment enforcement guides that address ongoing issues and cite best policies to avoid employment claims of harassment. The release provides optimal reminders for employers and human resource managers to review and update their harassment enforcement policies.  Establishing a Complaint System One of

Businesses may hire independent contractors and employees, and it is important that they understand the differences between these two classifications. Independent contractors do not get the same legal protections as employees do, such as being eligible for unemployment benefits or being protected by labor laws. Independent contractors often do not

Employee handbooks contain pivotal information about the business and expectations of employees. Handbooks that contain outdated information may contain illegal provisions or lack best practices. This can expose the business to unnecessary civil liability or a backlash by the public for perceived slights or biases. By reviewing employee handbooks on a

Workplace investigations may be initiated after the employer is accused of wrongful conduct, such as permitting unlawful harassment or discrimination. While an employer may want to reach out to various employees including the alleged victim, doing so can negatively impact the ongoing workplace investigations. Understanding the importance of objectivity while

When employees report wrongful conduct in the workplace such as harassment or discrimination, it is important to conduct a thorough investigation. However, even if the report is determined to be unfounded, an employer may still be held liable if the company takes adverse action against the employee. Before conducting an

Dog trainers, behavior consultants, behaviorists, sitters and other dog professionals face an enormous amount of legal risk at their business. By learning about differing types of entity formation options, these professionals can look into different ways of protecting their business and avoiding personal liability. Risks Dog Professionals Face Dog professionals

Claims of workplace discrimination are fraught—fraught with legal risk, the danger that employee harm is occurring, and possibly hard costs associated with employee turnover, lost productivity, and damage to the organization’s reputation. Becoming skilled at managing such claims, of course, takes experience, but it also requires the investigator to take

During the course of employment, there are many important transactions and events to document. Having formal documentation in place can help provide clarity, protect employers from liability and provide an objective source to refer to if a dispute arises. Some important formal documents to retain include: Employment Contract The employment