Close to half of my practice consists of employment law matters. As a small firm attorney, I represent employees and employers, at companies of different sizes. Many small business owners find themselves in a position where they have enough employees to face personnel issues but not enough to warrant hiring in-house counsel. I answer many questions for them about the daily operation of their businesses, as well as specific inquiries about the laws that are applicable to the business and its employees, such as:
• Are my employees entitled to the Family and Medical Leave Act?
• Can I terminate an employee if he or she doesn’t show up to work today?
• What is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and does it apply to me at all?
• What do I do if I find out an employee has filed a charge of discrimination with the Texas Workforce Commission’s Civil Rights Division or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
The list goes on. I field phone calls and emails, and when requested, provide written summaries of law applicable to the problem du jour.