— Employee Rights Category Archives — Dallas Employment Lawyer Blog Published by Dallas, Texas Employment Lawyers

Did the EEOC Really Roll Back Workplace Protections? What Texas Employees Need to Know

March 9, 2026 | Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Ellie Johnston

You may have seen headlines saying the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has “rescinded” its workplace harassment guidance, especially guidance relating to LGBTQ+ employees. If that raised alarm bells for you, you’re not alone. Many Texas employees are wondering: Does this mean harassment is suddenly okay? Did my protections disappear?

The short answer is no. But the longer answer matters and understanding what actually changed (and what didn’t) can help you protect yourself at work.

Can You Be Fired for Alcoholism in Texas? What Employees Need to Know

March 6, 2026 | Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Ellie Johnston

Around St. Patrick’s Day, conversations about drinking are everywhere. But when alcohol use becomes a medical issue, the legal questions are anything but lighthearted. Many Texas employees quietly ask the same thing: Can I lose my job for being an alcoholic?

The answer is more nuanced than most people realize – and it depends on what actually happened at work.

When Caring Becomes Unsafe: Why Nurses Are Saying Enough is Enough

March 2, 2026 | Cassidy Monska

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Cassidy Monska

Across the country, nurses are taking action in ways the public has not seen in years. News headlines often describe these strikes as pay disputes, but nurses consistently tell a different story. The real issue is safety. Unsafe staffing. Unsafe patient loads. Unsafe working conditions that place both patients and employees at risk. Nurses are speaking out because caring has become unsafe, and they are being pushed past the point where quiet endurance is possible.

For years, nurses were told that chronic staffing shortages were temporary. They were asked to hold on until the next hiring wave or the next budget cycle. Instead, the environment inside many hospitals has grown even more strained. Nurses are regularly responsible for more patients than they can safely manage. Overtime becomes the rule rather than the exception. Breaks disappear. New nurses leave the profession within months, and experienced nurses shoulder more responsibilities with fewer resources. Many report working entire shifts without time to chart properly, hydrate, or use the restroom. This is not sustainable for anyone, and it certainly is not safe.

What is an Adverse Action, and should I only talk to a lawyer after experiencing one?

February 16, 2026 | Austin Campbell

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Austin Campbell

Summary: This blog briefly goes over the “adverse action” standard in Texas and some recent changes in the law in that area. It then focuses on the question of whether you should wait for an adverse action to happen before talking to a lawyer about your rights.

Roughly speaking, employment law in Texas is centered around what are called “adverse actions”: you can seek legal redress from your employer if you can identify some harm it caused to the terms or conditions of your employment. Of course, that is separate from the critical question of why the employer did what it did, and whether that why was illegal.

If HR Isn’t There to Help You, Who Is HR For?

February 9, 2026 | Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Ellie Johnston

This blog explains the role Human Resources actually plays in the workplace, why HR is not an employee advocate, and why Texas employees should still report workplace issues while protecting themselves through documentation and realistic expectations.

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“I Didn’t Do That!” – The Reality of Defamation Cases in Texas

February 2, 2026 | Cassidy Monska

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Cassidy Monska

“I Didn’t Do That!” – The Reality of Defamation Cases in Texas

When someone spreads false information about you, whether to potential employers, customers, or colleagues, it feels deeply personal and damaging. The instinctive reaction is often: “That’s defamation! I’ll sue!” But in Texas, defamation cases are far more complex than most people realize. What seems like a straightforward claim often turns into a legal uphill battle.

What Information Can an Employer Legally Request From an Employee?

January 26, 2026 | Riley Carter

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Riley Carter

Employees are often asked to provide personal information as part of the hiring process or during their employment. While employers do have the right to collect certain information, that right is not unlimited. Federal and state laws strictly regulate what employers may request, when they may request it, and how that information may be used.

Understanding these boundaries is critical for employees who want to protect their rights.

Honoring Dr. King: Employment Law, Civil Rights, and the Continuing Fight for Justice in Texas

January 19, 2026 | Robert J. Wiley

Dallas Senior Trial Attorney Deontae Wherry

Every year, we gather to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But to truly honor him, we cannot settle for speeches and ceremonies. Dr. King never asked us to be comfortable, he asked us to be courageous. He asked us to look honestly at the world around us and refuse to accept injustice as normal. Here, in Texas, that call still echoes loudly.

Dr. King understood something profound: the struggle for civil rights and the struggle for workplace justice are the same fight. He knew that a person cannot live free if they cannot work free from discrimination, free from retaliation, free from exploitation, free from the systems that suffocate opportunities. Dr. King often reminded us that laws limiting the rights of Black Americans also limited their ability to participate fully in the economy. Economic inequality and racial inequality, he insisted, were two sides of the same broken coin.

What Happens if I Get Sued for Violating a Non-Compete?

January 12, 2026 | Robert J. Wiley

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Harjeen Zibari

Despite the FTC ruling that non-competes are unenforceable, this ruling has been blocked by a judge in the Northern District of Texas and is tied up in continued litigation. Therefore, in Texas, noncompete agreements are enforceable. Read my other blog here to learn more about what makes a non-compete enforceable in Texas. Texas employers often move quickly when accusing a former worker of violating a noncompete, sometimes seeking emergency court orders that threaten your new job, your clients, and your livelihood. Understanding the process can help you protect your rights and respond strategically. Here’s what typically happens when you, the employee, are on the receiving end of a noncompete dispute in Texas.

1. The Accusation or Cease-and-Desist Letter

New Year, Same Tactics: How to Stay One Step Ahead of Your Employer Going Into 2026

January 5, 2026 | Ellen Johnston

Dallas Employment Trial Lawyer Ellie Johnston

For many Dallas employees, December feels like the worst time to deal with a work problem. Everyone is juggling holiday travel, office potlucks, and year-end deadlines, and it’s extremely tempting to tell yourself, “I’ll deal with that in January.” We hear this all the time. Employees want to rock around the Christmas tree, not rock the boat, and employers often count on that hesitation. Unfortunately, your workplace rights don’t take a holiday break, no matter how much we wish the law would let us hit “pause” until after New Year’s.

The truth is that waiting can have real consequences. Employment laws run on strict timelines, evidence can disappear quickly, and employers make major decisions in December that can shape your case long before the new year ever arrives. As cozy as it sounds to postpone everything until January, that delay can close doors you didn’t even know were closing.