Employment Law Problems

In this episode, I discuss the recent union organizing drive at Amazon including some of the reasons that employees may have voted for a union and why the employees ultimately voted down the union.

I also explore how organizing drives typically begin and the differences between the two types of organizing drives: union driven and employee driven. I analyze what causes these two different types of campaigns to start and what employers can do before a campaign begins.

Finally, I discuss what an employer can do during a union organizing campaign. I also review the concept of TIPS (threaten, interrogate, promise, or spy) so that employers can learn the basics of what they cannot do in a union organizing drive.

You can learn more about this issue from my blog post on the topic: https://texaslaborlawblog.com/respond-union-organizing/
 
Disclaimer: Nothing on the episode is legal advice. 

Workplace investigations are one of the most critical steps to respond to any employment law or other workplace problem. Unfortunately many companies are ill prepared to conduct an investigation or do so in a haphazard manner. In this episode, I review how companies can successfully conduct investigations in the workplace. 

The first part of the episode covers what companies  should do before an investigation occurs including training managers, having a handbook, and having procedures in place for employees to raise complaints.

The second part of the episode concerns how to conduct an investigation including the biggest problems with investigations, how to interview witnesses, and how to gather evidence.

The third part of the episode reviews how to conclude an investigation including how to tell whether a witness is reliable and other factors that should be considered in making a determination.

For more information on this and other topics you can go to my labor and employment blog at
https://texaslaborlawblog.com. The posts on workplace investigations (https://texaslaborlawblog.com/how-to-conduct-effective-workplace-investigations/ and https://texaslaborlawblog.com/remote-investigations-in-the-workplace/) cover much of the content that was discussed in this episode. 

In this episode, I discuss Governor Abbott's executive order GA-34, which ended Texas's mask mandate. The podcast reviews what this means for Texas businesses and whether they can continue to require employees and customers to wear masks. Listeners will also discover what accommodations should be considered for individuals with a religious objection to COVID vaccines or a particular COVID-19  vaccine and individuals that may not be able to take the COVID vaccine because of a disability. Finally, the podcast reviews potential accommodations for workers that are pregnant or may become pregnant and request an accommodation. 

Disclaimer: This podcast is not legal advice. For legal advice you need to talk to a lawyer.