Employment Law i i
Manual
for Texas Cities
i i
2019i Editor:i
Laurai
Muelleri
Associate
BojorqueziLawiFirm,iP.C.i
www.texasmunicipallawyers.com
Updatedi Februaryi 2020
i
,Thei followingi questionsi andi answersi providei ai layperson’si explanationi ofi statei andi federali
employmenti lawsi asi theyi applyi toi Texasi municipali officialsi andi arei intendedi toi providei
generali guidancei oni thei issues.i Thei Texasi Municipali Leaguei Legali Departmenti isi alwaysi
availablei toi answeri questionsi fromi cityi officials.i Youi cani contacti usi ati (512)i 231-7400i ori
emaili usi ati .i Whilei manyi peoplei workedi oni thisi document,i twoi attorneysi
contributedi greatlyi toi thei substancei ofi thisi handbook.i Kathryni Hoang,i whoi isi nowi ai
municipali judgei ini Dallas,i Texas,i andi Evelyni (Njuguna)i Kimeu,i bothi originallyi preparedi
muchi ofi thei materiali ini thisi book.i Corii (Eggeling)i Webb,i formeri TMLi lawi clerk,i
contributedi thei Affordablei Healthi Carei Act.i Heatheri Ford,i TMLi Legali andi Legislativei
Assistant,i helpedi update,i edit,i andi formati thisi documenti fori 2019.
ii
,CHAPTERi 1—Hiringi andi Termination ............................................................................................ 1
Whoi isi responsiblei fori hiringi cityi employees? .............................................................................. 1
Doi Ii havei toi posti noticei ofi ori advertisei ai cityi jobi opening?...................................................... 1
Whati isi discriminationi ini hiring? ..................................................................................................... 3
Shouldi ai cityi adopti ai hiringi policy? ............................................................................................... 3
Cani ai cityi requirei ani applicanti fori employmenti takei ai drugi testi beforei hiringi thei applicant? . 3
Whati cani ai cityi aski abouti priori criminali activityi oni ai jobi applicationi ori ini ani interview? .... 4
Cani ai personi relatedi toi ai councilmemberi ori mayori bei hiredi byi thei city? ................................ 5
Cani wei terminatei ani employeei ifi thei employeei isi oni workersi compensationi leavei ori otheri
injuryi leave? ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Cani ai cityi terminatei ani employeei whoi appliesi fori publici officei ori otherwisei participatesi ini
politicali matters? ............................................................................................................................... 7
CHAPTERi 2—Independenti Contractors ............................................................................................ 9
Whati isi thei differencei betweeni ani independenti contractori andi ani employee? ........................... 9
Cani ani employeei worki bothi asi ani employeei andi ani independenti contractori fori thei samei city?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Shouldi ai cityi givei ani independenti contractori ai W-2? ................................................................ 11
Whati happensi ifi ani employeei isi misclassifiedi asi ani independenti contractor? .......................... 11
Whati cani ai cityi doi toi ensurei iti isi classifyingi itsi employeesi andi independenti
contractorsi correctly? ...................................................................................................................... 12
Isi ai cityi liablei fori thei actsi ofi ani independenti contractori whilei oni cityi business? .................. 12
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTERi 3—Compensationi andi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act.............................................. 15
Whati isi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act?......................................................................................... 15
Isi myi cityi requiredi toi complyi withi thei FLSA?........................................................................... 15
Whati isi thei minimumi wage? ......................................................................................................... 15
Whichi employeesi arei requiredi toi bei paidi overtime? ................................................................... 15
Howi cani thei cityi differentiatei betweeni exempti andi nonexempti employees? ............................ 15
Doi wei havei toi payi overtimei ifi ani employeei worksi morei thani eighti hoursi ini ai day? ........... 16
Doi wei havei toi payi overtimei ori doublei timei ifi ani employeei worksi oni ai statei ori federali
holiday?............................................................................................................................................. 16
Cani wei payi ouri employeesi ini compensatoryi timei insteadi ofi overtime? ................................... 17
Wheni doesi thei cityi havei toi payi compensatoryi time? ................................................................. 17
Howi manyi hoursi ofi compensatoryi timei cani ani employeei earn? ............................................... 17
Doesi thei cityi havei toi givei employeesi ai certaini amounti ofi sick,i vacation,i ori otheri paidi timei
off? .................................................................................................................................................... 17
Doesi thei cityi havei toi givei employeesi breaks?............................................................................. 18
Whati isi thei differencei betweeni ai part-timei andi ai full-timei employee? .................................... 18
Doi wei havei toi payi employeesi fori thei timei theyi spendi waitingi “oni call”? ............................. 18
Cani ai cityi deducti fromi ani employee’si salaryi ori requirei ani employeei toi reimbursei thei cityi
fori damagei toi ori lossi ofi cityi equipment,i suchi asi ai laptopi computeri ori cellulari phone? ....... 19
Cani ai cityi officiali bei heldi individuallyi liablei fori violationsi ofi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Arei cityi officialsi protectedi byi anyi immunityi wheni ani FLSAi claimi isi filedi againsti them? ... 20
Isi ai cityi councili authorizedi toi givei ani employeei ai bonus?........................................................ 20
iii
, Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTERi 4—Compensationi fori Publici Safety ........................................................................... 23
Arei therei speciali FLSAi rulesi thati applyi toi policei officersi andi firei fighters? .......................... 23
Cani ai cityi everi havei ai totali exemptioni fromi overtimei fori firei andi policei personnel? ........... 23
Whichi firei andi policei employeesi arei countedi towardsi thei fivei employeesi usedi toi calculatei
thei exemption?................................................................................................................................. 23
Howi doesi thei 207(k)i exemptioni work? ........................................................................................ 24
Whichi lawi enforcementi andi firei protectioni employeesi cani bei coveredi byi thei 7(k)i exemption?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 24
Arei therei anyi employeesi whoi engagei ini lawi enforcementi activitiesi thati arei noti coveredi byi
thei 7(k)i exemption? ....................................................................................................................... 25
Doi “firei activities”i includei employeesi whoi arei paramedicsi andi firei fighters? ......................... 25
Doesi thei 7(k)i exemptioni applyi toi volunteeri firei departments? .................................................. 25
Cani ai statei lawi ori ordinancei givei morei overtimei benefitsi thani thei FLSAi requires? .............. 25
Isi ai policei chiefi consideredi exempti underi thei executivei ori administrativei test? ..................... 26
Doi wei havei toi payi ouri policei andi firei fightersi ai minimumi amount? ...................................... 26
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 27
CHAPTERi 5—Leavei includingi Familyi andi Medicali Leavei Act ................................................ 29
Whati isi thei Familyi andi Medicali Leavei Act? ............................................................................... 29
Isi myi cityi coveredi byi thei FMLA?................................................................................................ 29
Whichi employeesi arei eligiblei fori leavei underi thei FMLA? ........................................................ 29
Whati isi ai cityi requiredi toi doi ifi iti isi coveredi byi thei FMLAi buti doesi noti havei
anyi employeesi whoi arei eligiblei fori FMLAi leave? .................................................................... 29
Whati typesi ofi eventsi qualifyi fori leavei underi thei FMLA? ......................................................... 30
Whati benefitsi doi eligiblei employeesi enjoyi underi thei FMLAi fori qualifyingi events?............... 30
Whati intermittenti leavei benefitsi doesi ani employeei receivei underi thei FMLA? ........................ 30
Whati happensi wheni ani employeei returnsi fromi FMLAi leave? ................................................... 31
Ami Ii requiredi toi payi ani employeei whoi isi oni leavei underi thei FMLA? .................................. 31
Whati noticei requirementsi musti ai cityi providei toi employeesi underi thei FMLA?...................... 31
Whati happensi ifi ai cityi violatesi ani employee’si FMLAi rights?................................................... 32
Cani ai cityi officiali bei personallyi liablei fori violationsi ofi thei Familyi Medicali Leavei Act? ..... 32
Arei cityi officialsi protectedi byi anyi immunityi wheni ani FMLAi claimi isi filedi againsti them? .. 32
Mayi ani eligiblei pregnanti employeei ori eligiblei employeei familyi memberi takei
FMLAi whilei expectingi ai child? .................................................................................................. 32
Mayi ani eligiblei employeei takei FMLAi toi takei carei ofi ai newborn? .......................................... 33
Arei employersi requiredi toi providei speciali accommodationsi fori employeesi whoi arei
breasti feedingi mothers? .................................................................................................................. 33
Howi ofteni doi employersi havei toi allowi nursingi employeesi toi takei ai break?........................... 33
Doesi ai nursingi employeei needi toi bei paidi fori breaksi usedi fori expressingi breasti milk?......... 33
Otheri thani breaki times,i whati otheri typesi ofi speciali accommodationsi musti bei
providedi toi nursingi employees? ................................................................................................... 33
Arei therei anyi exceptionsi toi thisi requirement? ............................................................................. 34
Doesi ai cityi havei toi allowi ai customeri ori otheri useri ofi cityi facilitiesi toi
breastfeedi ini cityi facilitiesi ori oni cityi property? ....................................................................... 34
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 34
iv
Manual
for Texas Cities
i i
2019i Editor:i
Laurai
Muelleri
Associate
BojorqueziLawiFirm,iP.C.i
www.texasmunicipallawyers.com
Updatedi Februaryi 2020
i
,Thei followingi questionsi andi answersi providei ai layperson’si explanationi ofi statei andi federali
employmenti lawsi asi theyi applyi toi Texasi municipali officialsi andi arei intendedi toi providei
generali guidancei oni thei issues.i Thei Texasi Municipali Leaguei Legali Departmenti isi alwaysi
availablei toi answeri questionsi fromi cityi officials.i Youi cani contacti usi ati (512)i 231-7400i ori
emaili usi ati .i Whilei manyi peoplei workedi oni thisi document,i twoi attorneysi
contributedi greatlyi toi thei substancei ofi thisi handbook.i Kathryni Hoang,i whoi isi nowi ai
municipali judgei ini Dallas,i Texas,i andi Evelyni (Njuguna)i Kimeu,i bothi originallyi preparedi
muchi ofi thei materiali ini thisi book.i Corii (Eggeling)i Webb,i formeri TMLi lawi clerk,i
contributedi thei Affordablei Healthi Carei Act.i Heatheri Ford,i TMLi Legali andi Legislativei
Assistant,i helpedi update,i edit,i andi formati thisi documenti fori 2019.
ii
,CHAPTERi 1—Hiringi andi Termination ............................................................................................ 1
Whoi isi responsiblei fori hiringi cityi employees? .............................................................................. 1
Doi Ii havei toi posti noticei ofi ori advertisei ai cityi jobi opening?...................................................... 1
Whati isi discriminationi ini hiring? ..................................................................................................... 3
Shouldi ai cityi adopti ai hiringi policy? ............................................................................................... 3
Cani ai cityi requirei ani applicanti fori employmenti takei ai drugi testi beforei hiringi thei applicant? . 3
Whati cani ai cityi aski abouti priori criminali activityi oni ai jobi applicationi ori ini ani interview? .... 4
Cani ai personi relatedi toi ai councilmemberi ori mayori bei hiredi byi thei city? ................................ 5
Cani wei terminatei ani employeei ifi thei employeei isi oni workersi compensationi leavei ori otheri
injuryi leave? ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Cani ai cityi terminatei ani employeei whoi appliesi fori publici officei ori otherwisei participatesi ini
politicali matters? ............................................................................................................................... 7
CHAPTERi 2—Independenti Contractors ............................................................................................ 9
Whati isi thei differencei betweeni ani independenti contractori andi ani employee? ........................... 9
Cani ani employeei worki bothi asi ani employeei andi ani independenti contractori fori thei samei city?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Shouldi ai cityi givei ani independenti contractori ai W-2? ................................................................ 11
Whati happensi ifi ani employeei isi misclassifiedi asi ani independenti contractor? .......................... 11
Whati cani ai cityi doi toi ensurei iti isi classifyingi itsi employeesi andi independenti
contractorsi correctly? ...................................................................................................................... 12
Isi ai cityi liablei fori thei actsi ofi ani independenti contractori whilei oni cityi business? .................. 12
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTERi 3—Compensationi andi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act.............................................. 15
Whati isi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act?......................................................................................... 15
Isi myi cityi requiredi toi complyi withi thei FLSA?........................................................................... 15
Whati isi thei minimumi wage? ......................................................................................................... 15
Whichi employeesi arei requiredi toi bei paidi overtime? ................................................................... 15
Howi cani thei cityi differentiatei betweeni exempti andi nonexempti employees? ............................ 15
Doi wei havei toi payi overtimei ifi ani employeei worksi morei thani eighti hoursi ini ai day? ........... 16
Doi wei havei toi payi overtimei ori doublei timei ifi ani employeei worksi oni ai statei ori federali
holiday?............................................................................................................................................. 16
Cani wei payi ouri employeesi ini compensatoryi timei insteadi ofi overtime? ................................... 17
Wheni doesi thei cityi havei toi payi compensatoryi time? ................................................................. 17
Howi manyi hoursi ofi compensatoryi timei cani ani employeei earn? ............................................... 17
Doesi thei cityi havei toi givei employeesi ai certaini amounti ofi sick,i vacation,i ori otheri paidi timei
off? .................................................................................................................................................... 17
Doesi thei cityi havei toi givei employeesi breaks?............................................................................. 18
Whati isi thei differencei betweeni ai part-timei andi ai full-timei employee? .................................... 18
Doi wei havei toi payi employeesi fori thei timei theyi spendi waitingi “oni call”? ............................. 18
Cani ai cityi deducti fromi ani employee’si salaryi ori requirei ani employeei toi reimbursei thei cityi
fori damagei toi ori lossi ofi cityi equipment,i suchi asi ai laptopi computeri ori cellulari phone? ....... 19
Cani ai cityi officiali bei heldi individuallyi liablei fori violationsi ofi thei Fairi Labori Standardsi Act?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Arei cityi officialsi protectedi byi anyi immunityi wheni ani FLSAi claimi isi filedi againsti them? ... 20
Isi ai cityi councili authorizedi toi givei ani employeei ai bonus?........................................................ 20
iii
, Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTERi 4—Compensationi fori Publici Safety ........................................................................... 23
Arei therei speciali FLSAi rulesi thati applyi toi policei officersi andi firei fighters? .......................... 23
Cani ai cityi everi havei ai totali exemptioni fromi overtimei fori firei andi policei personnel? ........... 23
Whichi firei andi policei employeesi arei countedi towardsi thei fivei employeesi usedi toi calculatei
thei exemption?................................................................................................................................. 23
Howi doesi thei 207(k)i exemptioni work? ........................................................................................ 24
Whichi lawi enforcementi andi firei protectioni employeesi cani bei coveredi byi thei 7(k)i exemption?
.......................................................................................................................................................... 24
Arei therei anyi employeesi whoi engagei ini lawi enforcementi activitiesi thati arei noti coveredi byi
thei 7(k)i exemption? ....................................................................................................................... 25
Doi “firei activities”i includei employeesi whoi arei paramedicsi andi firei fighters? ......................... 25
Doesi thei 7(k)i exemptioni applyi toi volunteeri firei departments? .................................................. 25
Cani ai statei lawi ori ordinancei givei morei overtimei benefitsi thani thei FLSAi requires? .............. 25
Isi ai policei chiefi consideredi exempti underi thei executivei ori administrativei test? ..................... 26
Doi wei havei toi payi ouri policei andi firei fightersi ai minimumi amount? ...................................... 26
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 27
CHAPTERi 5—Leavei includingi Familyi andi Medicali Leavei Act ................................................ 29
Whati isi thei Familyi andi Medicali Leavei Act? ............................................................................... 29
Isi myi cityi coveredi byi thei FMLA?................................................................................................ 29
Whichi employeesi arei eligiblei fori leavei underi thei FMLA? ........................................................ 29
Whati isi ai cityi requiredi toi doi ifi iti isi coveredi byi thei FMLAi buti doesi noti havei
anyi employeesi whoi arei eligiblei fori FMLAi leave? .................................................................... 29
Whati typesi ofi eventsi qualifyi fori leavei underi thei FMLA? ......................................................... 30
Whati benefitsi doi eligiblei employeesi enjoyi underi thei FMLAi fori qualifyingi events?............... 30
Whati intermittenti leavei benefitsi doesi ani employeei receivei underi thei FMLA? ........................ 30
Whati happensi wheni ani employeei returnsi fromi FMLAi leave? ................................................... 31
Ami Ii requiredi toi payi ani employeei whoi isi oni leavei underi thei FMLA? .................................. 31
Whati noticei requirementsi musti ai cityi providei toi employeesi underi thei FMLA?...................... 31
Whati happensi ifi ai cityi violatesi ani employee’si FMLAi rights?................................................... 32
Cani ai cityi officiali bei personallyi liablei fori violationsi ofi thei Familyi Medicali Leavei Act? ..... 32
Arei cityi officialsi protectedi byi anyi immunityi wheni ani FMLAi claimi isi filedi againsti them? .. 32
Mayi ani eligiblei pregnanti employeei ori eligiblei employeei familyi memberi takei
FMLAi whilei expectingi ai child? .................................................................................................. 32
Mayi ani eligiblei employeei takei FMLAi toi takei carei ofi ai newborn? .......................................... 33
Arei employersi requiredi toi providei speciali accommodationsi fori employeesi whoi arei
breasti feedingi mothers? .................................................................................................................. 33
Howi ofteni doi employersi havei toi allowi nursingi employeesi toi takei ai break?........................... 33
Doesi ai nursingi employeei needi toi bei paidi fori breaksi usedi fori expressingi breasti milk?......... 33
Otheri thani breaki times,i whati otheri typesi ofi speciali accommodationsi musti bei
providedi toi nursingi employees? ................................................................................................... 33
Arei therei anyi exceptionsi toi thisi requirement? ............................................................................. 34
Doesi ai cityi havei toi allowi ai customeri ori otheri useri ofi cityi facilitiesi toi
breastfeedi ini cityi facilitiesi ori oni cityi property? ....................................................................... 34
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 34
iv
