Employers Should Review the EEOC’s New Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates and Requests for Religious Accommodations

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Most HR professionals are aware that Title VII prohibits religious discrimination. And many know that employers covered by Title VII are required to affirmatively accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs or practices so long as doing so does not impose an undue hardship. Even so, until recently, most employers had little experience evaluating requests for religious …read more »

What is the Status of Texas Executive Order 40, Which Bans Vaccine Mandates by Private Employers?

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On October 11, 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made headlines by issuing Executive Order 40, which prohibits any “entity” from compelling receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine by any objecting individual, including “an employee,” for “any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.” Many commentators …read more »

Muskat Devine Partner Mike Muskat Featured in Law360 Article on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Vaccine Mandate Executive Order

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Muskat Devine partner Mike Muskat has been featured in Law360 discussing Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The article, “Employers Advised To Heed Texas Vax Mandate Ban, For Now” (subscription required) discusses what the new executive order means for Texas businesses that currently have or are planning to implement a COVID-19 …read more »

Muskat Devine Partners Featured in Texas Lawyer Magazine Answering Common Employer Questions about Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

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Texas Lawyer magazine has published an article by Muskat Devine partners Mike Muskat, Michelle Mahony and Corey Devine about the latest COVID-19 guidance from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “COVID-19’s Not Going Away and Neither are Workplace Safety Concerns” (subscription required) answers the most common questions employers have about the new guidance …read more »

Muskat Devine Partner Corey Devine Featured in The Dallas Morning News and Law360 Articles on Texas’ New Sexual Harassment Laws

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Muskat Devine partner Corey Devine has been featured in The Dallas Morning News and Law360 discussing Texas’ new sexual harassment laws that went into effect September 1. The Dallas Morning News article, “Texas small businesses are no longer immune from sexual harassment claims” and Law360’s “What to Know About Texas’ New Sexual Harassment Laws” (subscription …read more »

Five Reminders for Employers (Re)Considering COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

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Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve spent substantial time discussing workplace vaccine mandates with employers. Even before vaccines were available, employers were interested in mandates as a tool to ensure safe working conditions. But even as recently as a month ago, many employers outside of healthcare settings continued to feel uncomfortable about the …read more »

FAIR Game? What Employers Need to Know About the New Proposed Legislation Banning Mandatory Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements

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Many of our clients have implemented mandatory employment arbitration programs and believe that they are an efficient and effective way to resolve potential disputes, including putative class-action cases. For years, however, employees and their advocates have pushed to amend the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) to prohibit mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements. Previous proposed bills have failed …read more »

Changes To Sexual Harassment Laws In Texas Go Into Effect On September 1, 2021

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While the ongoing pandemic and vaccine mandates have grabbed the employment law headlines this summer, Texas employers should be aware that Senate Bill 45 and House Bill 21, which amend the Texas Labor Code and expand employee protections and employer liability for sexual harassment claims, go into effect on September 1, 2021.  Together, these bills …read more »