Employer Based Immigration - Family & Medical Leave - Retaliation - Workplace Discrimination - Sexual Harassment - Whistle Blower Protection
Employment law is a wide-ranging area which deals with the employer/employee relationship. Whether you are a small business owner with just a handful of employees or part of a large corporation with hundreds of employees – there are thousands of Federal and state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions that can impact this relationship.
We work with employees to defend their rights and we work with businesses to ensure they work within the law.
CONTACT US to schedule a confidential review of your concerns and needs.
Employment Law In Texas
Texas law permits private employers and nonprofit organizations to offer at-will employment – a term used to refer to an employment arrangement in which either party may terminate the relationship at any time without cause. At-will employment agreements do not give an employer the right to discharge an employee on the basis of protected class such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, etc. A business can face serious consequences if an employee can prove that she or he was fired solely for being classified in one or more of these groups. Employees also have certain rights with regards to unwelcome conduct in the workplace and retaliation by a business owner resulting from a previous charge of harassment or discrimination.
Texas is one of 22 states with “right-to-work” provisions. Right-to-work laws are state statutes that establish the legal right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union and provide employees with individual bargaining rights.
Texas courts have also very consistently announced decisions that favor properly drawn employment or independent contractor agreements which contain non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure clauses.
Our attorneys are well versed in Texas employment law. We work with both employees and businesses to ensure both are protected under the law.
Employment-Based Immigration
According to the U.S. Department of State—Bureau of Consular Affairs, approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available to qualified applicants under the provisions of U.S. Immigration law every fiscal year (October 1-September 30).
These visas are divided into five preferences:
- Priority Workers (28.6%)
- Advanced Degree Professions & Persons of Exceptional Ability in the Arts, Sciences or Business (28.6%)
- Skilled Workers, Professionals with Baccalaureate Degrees & Other Workers (28.6%)
- Special Immigrants (7.1%)
- Employment Creation Investors (7.1%)
Choosing the right category, determining your qualifications and successfully completing each step of the process can prove challenging without an experienced attorney.