Rick Alaniz, of Alaniz Associates, has been at the forefront of labor and employment law for over forty years. He began his legal career as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor, served on the President's Cost of Living Council during the Nixon Administration and also held prominent posts within the National Labor Relations Board, first in Washington D.C. and later in Minneapolis where he coordinated the NLRB's enforcement actions in the five-state Midwestern region. A Partner in private practice since 1985, his experience has only deepened Rick's enthusiasm for labor and employment law and his drive for continued excellence in the field. He is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Rick contributes dozens of articles per year on labor and employment law to trade journals and conducts numerous seminars each month to client companies and trade associations across the country.
March 19, 2019
Many employers still recall opening a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing them that the name or Social Security number (SSN) reported on a recent wage report does not match a name or SSN in the SSA’s records. At times the ...
February 11, 2019
There is no federal or state law, rule, or regulation that mandates job descriptions. However, well-written job descriptions that clearly set out the “essential functions” of each job can help avoid or at least help successfully defend some legal ...
January 17, 2019
There are individuals in every workplace in the United States who are paid a salary and considered exempt from pay for overtime after forty hours in a work week. While the issue of whether employees are properly classified as exempt is always an issue ...
December 17, 2018
The old axiom that “words can never harm me” may have been true at some point, but that is certainly no longer the case in this age of #MeToo. Words spoken today, especially if they are lewd, profane, sexually explicit, or sexual innuendo can and ...
November 12, 2018
The roar of churning helicopter blades, the flashing of lights on the vehicles of armed local and federal law enforcement agents, blocked roads surrounding the plant, and panicked employees running in all directions, this was the scene recently at the ...
October 15, 2018
Millennials, generally acknowledged to be those born between 1981 and 1999, have become the largest age group in today’s workforce. This is understandable since there are an estimated 92 million of them – the largest generation in our country’s history.
September 10, 2018
Often, when profanity is used in the workplace, managers and supervisors are reluctant to address it for fear that they will be seen as prudish or part of the speech police. However, employers need to carefully consider their response to profane or ...
August 22, 2018
One of the most important steps in conducting effective interviews is the preparation before the interview is even conducted. Interviews can be a time intensive process for businesses. If the wrong person is hired, then additional interviews ...
July 11, 2018
With the increasing use of prescribed opioids, reportedly one out of every three persons took such a prescription in 2015, the likelihood that the issue will arise in either the hiring context or involving a current employee is significant.
June 20, 2018
One of the more significant election promises made by then-candidate Trump was his promise to reduce the regulatory burden on American businesses. With his “two regulations withdrawn for every one proposed” approach, he has been largely ...
May 21, 2018
Given that many workers’ compensation claims involve injuries that could be considered a “disability” under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, (ADAAA), there is a likelihood that it may apply at least in some ...
March 29, 2018
So how does a small business owner, plant or department manager, or even a supervisor create that employee goodwill and a caring workplace culture? Trite as it may seem, an occasional “Good morning,” or “Thank you for staying late yesterday” or ...
