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Michael Fox

What are the payday rules in Texas?

07/15/2015
Q. What payment and deduction requirements does the Texas Payday Law include?

Are employers liable for negligence if they hire employees with prior criminal convictions?

07/15/2015
Q. I am considering hiring a few job applicants who have prior criminal convictions on their records. Can I be liable for negligence if one of these individuals breaks the rules again?

What happens if we bounce a paycheck?

07/15/2015
Q. What are the penalties for failing to make timely payments or for issuing a paycheck that bounces under the Texas Payday Law?

What kinds of wellness programs exist?

05/29/2015
Q. What should I look for in a workplace wellness program for our company?

How could pre-employment test be discriminatory?

05/29/2015
Q. I am looking to hire new employees. Some applicants who did not qualify for the open positions are now threatening to sue, claiming that my pre-employment tests are discriminatory. What should I know about pre-employment tests?

How can we structure a policy that lets us search employees’ belongings?

05/04/2015
Q. I am worried that some of my employees are storing illicit or illegal items at work. Is there a way for me to legally search their belongings?

Which laws cover military leave?

05/04/2015
Q. Some of the employees at my construction company are members of the military and scheduled for active duty in the near future. What laws and regulations apply to me and my employees who are in the military?

Can smokers claim an ADA disability to justify taking lengthy smoke breaks?

05/04/2015
Q. I own and run a paper company in Texas. Some of my employees who are cigarette smokers regularly take more breaks than the two, 15-minute breaks that are allowed under their employment contract—and some of the nonsmokers in the office are getting angry. When I confront the smokers about this conduct, I am increasingly hearing them make an unusual claim—that they have a “disability” and are protected by law. What should I do?

What are we up against? We’re being sued for misappropriation of trade secrets!

04/13/2015
Q. I recently hired someone who previously worked at a competitor’s company for some time. When she began working for me, she made some great suggestions regarding new business strategies, processes and products for us to implement. Now, a few months later, her former company is suing me for misappropriation of trade secrets. What does this mean?

Employee has to miss work for jury duty: Am I allowed to terminate him?

04/13/2015
Q. One of my employees has informed me that she received a jury duty summons and must be absent from work to serve. Can I discharge my employee for being absent from work while serving as a juror?