Effective September 1, 2021, employers that hire minors or individuals with a mental or intellectual disability will need to have their parent’s or guardian’s consent to obtain personal identifying information according to the Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act, HB 3529. Personal identifying information includes in combination, a person's name, Social Security Number, date of birth, government-issued identification number, mother's maiden name, and biometric data (fingerprint, voice samples and retinal imaging). Employer’s need to be aware of this requirement as New Hire Forms and benefit information often requests personal identifying information upon hire. 

With limited or no holiday celebrations in 2020, employees are looking forward to company parties this holiday season. As parties and celebrations are planned, employers need to consider the following guidelines;

• Make attendance strictly voluntary
  • If attendance is required, hourly employees must be paid for their time spent at the party
  • Depending on the religious nature of the party or celebration, requiring attendance could be considered religious discrimination
• Do not serve alcohol or limit the number of drinks per person
  • Consider serving “mocktails” – recent trends have developed more sophisticated flavors, minus the alcohol
  • Hire a professional bartender that is trained to recognize if an employee or guest has had too much to drink
  • Ask managers to be on the lookout if an employee or guest appears intoxicated and arrange transportation for them. Let employees know that the company will pay for an Uber, Lyft or taxi if needed

• Consider having the holiday party at a place that involves an activity such as bowling, or Escape rooms. Employees can then focus on the activity, instead of drinking.
• Serve food throughout the party; stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends.

Happy Holidays!
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On November 23rd, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced that employers would not incur an Unemployment Tax Rate increase for 2022, stating that it will help “Texas employers to better focus on innovations that create more jobs”. An increase in the Unemployment Tax Rate could burden businesses that are still recouping from pandemic-related issues that have been outside their control.

More information can be found at Texas Workforce Commission Adopts No New Increases to Employer Tax Rates for 2022 | Texas Workforce Commission