Welcome to Texas Business Matters! Today we talk about another commonly-held myth that prevents employers from acting on a credible claim of sexual harassment—specifically, that of the “Superstar” harasser. The “Superstar” harasser is an employee believed to be too valuable to terminate. Think … [Read more...] about The Myth of the “Superstar” Harasser: What Employers Fail to Understand
Corporate Culture
Sandy Hook: a Litigator’s Thoughts
As a business and employment litigator, I am interested in conflict and its resolution. I was stunned when I heard about the Sandy Hook shooting. I asked myself: why did this happen? How could someone commit such atrocious acts? How can we prevent such atrocities in the future? I once worked with a … [Read more...] about Sandy Hook: a Litigator’s Thoughts
Sex, Religion, & Politics: Things I Learned from My Mother
My mother taught me never to talk about sex, politics, or religion in a social setting. You might ask: where’s the fun in that? But for employers, training employees to avoid these topics in the workplace is not only more fun than getting sued for discrimination or harassment, it is critical to … [Read more...] about Sex, Religion, & Politics: Things I Learned from My Mother
Can Corporate Culture Save Lives? A Case for Intentional Recruiting
What does it mean to be intentional? How can employers be more intentional about their corporate culture? In 2011, NPR published an article called “Heroes of the Taj Hotel: Why They Risked Their Lives.” The article tells the remarkable story of employees of the Taj Majal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, … [Read more...] about Can Corporate Culture Save Lives? A Case for Intentional Recruiting
No-Ho-Ho: Managing Risk from Holiday Party Is No Laughing Matter
Ah, the company holiday party. Some employees live for them, others dread them. Most would agree that memorable things happen at them, including some things we would rather forget. Holiday party–related activities that have resulted in a lawsuit against a Texas employer include: • A skit … [Read more...] about No-Ho-Ho: Managing Risk from Holiday Party Is No Laughing Matter