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On May 13, 2021, the CDC issued new guidelines and recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated persons. Fully vaccinated persons no longer need to wear a mask or socially distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, and except in accordance with any rules and regulations adopted byRead more

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that it will be withdrawing its Independent Contractor Rule, effective May 6, 2021. Read below to find out how this affects Texas employers. Why does it matter whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor? Under employment statutes, a worker is either categorized as anRead more

On March 2, 2021, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-34, which goes into effect on March 10, 2021. The Executive Order will lift all state and local mask mandates and operating limits for all but a few Texas businesses. How does this order affect Texas employers’ obligations? Read below to find out more. Executive OrderRead more

As Election Day approaches, Texas employers may face a number of different questions regarding employees taking time off to vote. Here, we answer some frequently asked questions in this area. 1.  Are Texas employers required to provide employees time off to vote? Yes, in certain circumstances. Under Texas law, an employer must allow an employeeRead more

By Justin Markel and Clayton Hearn Over the last few weeks on RMWBH’s LinkedIn page, we have been sharing updates to frequently asked questions concerning employers, employees, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These updates were designed to quickly address topics of concern employers are facing. In this article, we will take a more in-depth look atRead more

On June 17, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, that employers with at least 15 employees cannot discriminate against employees on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. The Ruling in Bostock Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers with 15 orRead more

Monday, May 18th, Governor Abbott announced Phase 2 of his plan to open Texas. This announcement included new guidelines for office-based employers, which takes immediate effect. The most notable changes are: Employers can open the office to the greater of 10 people or 25% of the total office workforce (previously the greater of 5 peopleRead more

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), a law which affects most employers with fewer than 500 employees. The new law has two statutes of immediate importance to employers: (i) the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (“EPSLA”), which requires employers to provide 80 hours of paidRead more