HR Law Update: Reviewing the latest employment law developments (2024 Edition)

Taylor E. White | Winstead PC

Taylor White partners with senior business leaders, HR professionals, corporate counsel, and decision-makers on employment decisions and litigation. He is a devoted resource and advocate for employers and managers facing workplace issues in the courts and conference rooms.

Taylor regularly advises employers on day-to-day issues, including requirements and best practices regarding discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under state and federal employment laws, and he often counsels clients on a myriad of litigation avoidance strategies. As a litigator, Taylor is a zealous advocate on behalf of his clients for claims of wage and hour violations; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues; breaches of employment agreements; breaches of covenants not to compete and not to solicit; misappropriation of trade secrets; breaches of fiduciary duty and other employment-related torts; and other state and federal law issues stemming from workplace disputes.

He has represented clients across the full spectrum of litigation, including dispute resolution and pre-litigation planning, temporary restraining orders and temporary injunction proceedings, hearings on discovery and dispositive motions, and trials and appeals.

Taylor further assists employers as they navigate government audits and investigations, including proceedings brought by employees before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and their state-level counterparts. Taylor recognizes that such proceedings require a great deal of commitment and attention, easing his clients’ burden with his professional and personable communication style and stalwart commitment to achieving their desired results.

Taylor is also experienced in representing executives on an individual basis in their negotiations for employment, separation agreements, severance, and retirement packages, as well as employers dealing with similar issues.

Taylor is a contributing writer for Winstead’s Employer Law Resource blog.

Alanna M. Maza | Winstead PC

Alanna Maza is a member of Winstead’s Business Litigation and Labor & Employment Practice Groups. She has experience assisting clients in employment litigation matters in both federal and state courts. She regularly advises employers on requirements and best practices regarding discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under state and federal employment laws. She has maintained a diverse practice and has litigation experience in matters involving high-value personal injury, commercial disputes, creditor’s rights, copyright disputes, wrongful death actions, and claims brought pursuant to the Texas DRAM Shop Act.

Alanna’s employment experience includes employment-related torts; wage and hour violations and collective actions; trade secrets misappropriation; restrictive covenant breaches; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation issues; and other state and federal law issues stemming from workplace disputes. She assists employers in navigating government audits and investigations, including proceedings brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health, Administration, and their state level counterparts. Alanna is passionate about representing her clients and she communicates effectively with clients to achieve the best outcome.

I. Managing employee relationships and workplace issues | 12:00pm – 12:40pm

• Non-competes and employee retention
  • Interplay of state and federal non-compete laws and initiatives
  • Alternatives to non-competes to protect employer interests
  • Legal considerations for employee retention
• Social media in the workplace: Risks, rewards, and best practices
  • Monitoring employee social media use: Legal risks and considerations
  • Creating a social media policy that works for your organization

II. Compliance and risk management (part I) | 12:40pm – 1:00pm

• Employee handbooks: What you need to know and do
  • Essential policies and procedures to include
  • Best practices for updating and revising handbooks
  • Common mistakes to avoid
• The interplay of the FMLA and the ADA
  • Understanding the overlap and intersection of these laws
  • Strategies for managing intermittent leave and accommodations
  • Case studies and examples

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

III. Compliance and risk management (part II) | 1:10pm – 1:30pm

• Anatomy of a separation
  • Differences between types of terminations
  • Key considerations for the termination meeting
  • Next steps following termination
  • State law considerations to factor into terminations

IV. Addressing sensitive issues and ethical considerations | 1:30pm – 2:10pm

• Addressing workplace violence: prevention, response, and liability
  • Identifying warning signs and risk factors
  • Creating a workplace violence prevention plan
  • Responding to incidents and managing liability
• Issues in employment law: Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
  • Understanding the latest developments and trends
  • Best practices for preventing and addressing these issues
  • Case studies and examples