Thinking of starting a business? First of all, congratulations! As Business Attorneys, we know firsthand that while the idea of opening up your own shop is exciting, the steps necessary to make that dream a reality can be quite daunting. While you might not be sure what to do first (and then next), these are important steps necessary to ensure…
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently updated its COVID-19 technical assistance guidance to include more information about employer retaliation in pandemic-related employment situations. The updated guidelines provide clarification on the rights of employees and job applicants who believe they were retaliated against for engaging in protected activities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights…
Firm partner, Shellie Reyes has been elected a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Fellows of the foundation are selected because of their outstanding professional achievements and their commitment to the improvement of the justice system in Texas. About the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation Each year, one-third of 1% of Texas lawyers are invited to become Texas Bar…
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recently released its highly anticipated guidance for employers concerning Covid-19. The guidance from OSHA primarily focuses on healthcare workers, but it also addresses recommendations geared toward all types of employers. These recommendations come at a pivotal time as many employers have implemented back to work in-person strategies, or a hybrid thereof. As an…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is planning to bump up its audits of small businesses as well as their investors by around 50% this year. In part, this is due to years of consistently low rates of examination among small businesses. According to this story from Bloomberg, a surge in audits is expected and will be for “companies ranging from…
Recently, the EEOC (US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) updated its ongoing COVID-19 guidance with questions and answers that specifically address mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies within the workplace. In short, the guidance provided suggests that employers can implement and enforce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees. However, there are certain exceptions and caveats to be aware of. What to know about…
Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, all businesses have been forced to adjust how they operate. Given changes in resources, labor, and even the ability to travel, some businesses have been left struggling to fulfill their contractual obligations. Consequently, businesses are left wondering what relief they are entitled to as a result of the pandemic, as well as what…
During Monday night’s coronavirus briefing, County Judge Nelson Wolff said there have been more than 700 compliance checks around the county to ensure that businesses are requiring masks within their establishments – a mandate that went into effect early last week without opposition from Texas Governor, Greg Abbott. The governor had previously issued an executive order that banned local governments…
On Monday, in a ground-breaking decision, the Supreme Court ruled that federal law protects LGBT workers from discrimination. With this ruling, employers who fire workers for being gay or transgender will be violating civil rights laws. This decision comes just days after the Trump administration announced it was going to remove nondiscriminatory health-insurance and health-care protections for LGBTQ people. The…
On Wednesday evening, the Senate passed by voice vote a House-passed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reform bill. This brings Congress one step closer to enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which will give small businesses owners more flexibility in using PPP loan money. The PPP was enacted in order to help small businesses with an emergency loan as…
