Over the last few months I’ve started following Formula 1 Racing.  There are fast cars with interesting personalities and races all over the world including Austin, Texas in October.  It is also a very expensive sport backed by big brands and wealthy people.  Without getting into the nuances of race car driving (I couldn’t tell you what they are anyway) each team has 2 cars with of course 2 drivers.  There are 10 teams…

Texas non-compete law has changed very little over the last few years.  There have not been any seminal Texas Supreme Court cases construing the Texas non-compete statute and little instructive case law from our intermediate appellate courts providing guidance.  The reality is Texas trial judge are construing non-competes at the temporary restraining order/temporary injunction stages all the time but Texas trial judges don’t issue published opinions and we don’t see many appeals from those decisions.…

We’ve now been in the midst of this global pandemic since March (give or take a few weeks) and we have a little more runway to look at the state of employee movement.  It seems that most folks fall in three categories in terms of the Coivd impact on their job: (1) looking for a job; (2) in a precarious spot and not looking to make a move; or (3) looking to make a move. …

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of speaking to the Executive Search Owners Association. Over the years I have had the privilege of representing placement professionals in a number of circumstances. Some tips: Make sure your engagement agreements/contracts make sense and are enforceable; Remember that non-competes and non-solicitation agreements in Texas can be enforceable; Screen your candidates to determine if they have entered into a non-compete or non-solicit; Remember that if someone you placed is…

  Yesterday Judge Jenkins entered a revised stay at home order –  March 29 Dallas County Order – that impacts the way construction companies in Dallas County do business.  Some highlights: If a worker has a temperature above 99.6 degrees they have to stay at home; Employer must check worker’s temperature; Shift work mandatory – basically split crews by 50%; No gatherings during breaks/meals; Requirements for hand washing, soap and hand sanitizer, and 1 toilet…

More regulations are to follow, but here is a link to the FAQ from the Department of Labor. Some highlights: In effect on April 1 – Not April 2 as originally calculated; Applies to employers with less than 500 employees – Integrated Employer Test used just like traditional FMLA; There is an exemption for those with less than 50 employees that can’t afford it and can justify it (still no details on this); Discusses how…

    Last night County Judge Clay Jenkins went over the contents of a shelter in place order that goes into effect tonight (3/23/20) at 11:59 pm.  The basis for the order is to prevent an overrun of North Texas hospitals and the projections are here.  Hopefully we never get there.  The complete text of the order can be found here – Dallas County Shelter in Place (thanks to Texas Tribune) and covers a…