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.
December 7, 2016
Over the course of the last eight years, the Obama administration has made a series of changes that have led to more economic and regulatory burdens for businesses, while often strengthening unions. Many of those changes could be undone, rolled back ...
November 14, 2016
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), passed in 1938, guarantees a minimum wage to almost all employees in the United States, and requires employers to pay overtime when employees work more than 40 hours in any workweek.
October 7, 2016
Elections often stir up passionate feelings—and that seems to be particularly true this year. As politicians and voters gear up for Tuesday, November 8, employers may not know that their workers have certain rights when it comes to elections, and ...
September 13, 2016
Election years often bring a flurry of legislative and regulatory activity that could significantly impact employers. And, as we mentioned in the first part of this two-part series, this election cycle is no different, as Pres. Barack Obama prepares t...
August 19, 2016
Election years often bring a flurry of legislative and regulatory activity. And this presidential election year is no different, as President Barack Obama tries to push through his final agenda items before leaving the White House.
July 14, 2016
Most employers prefer that employees not discuss their wages with people they know. They definitely prefer that employees not complain about their pay on Twitter. So when a Chipotle employee at a Haverford, Pa., restaurant did exactly that, the ...
May 24, 2016
As more politicians and union-affiliated groups push for higher minimum wages, employers need to prepare now for the significant financial, compliance, and regulatory challenges these changes bring.
April 20, 2016
Although federal anti-discrimination laws have long required that women and men are paid equally for the same work, the new law in California not only expands what may constitute a similar job, but also places the burden of demonstrating that any ...
April 14, 2016
For employers, any increase in OSHA fines could be a costly problem, underscoring the importance of a robust and effective workplace safety policy. However, OSHA’s recent enforcement positions only create confusion over how to implement an effective ...
March 4, 2016
Many different state and federal laws govern which records companies need to create, how long records need to be kept, and even how those records must be disposed of.
February 4, 2016
Well-written employment agreements, which can include non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, can help companies and employees alike by clarifying expectations and decreasing the chances of disputes.
October 1, 2015
In recent years, unions and politicians alike have increasingly questioned the use of temporary workers, contract employees, and independent contractors. For example, Uber has been in the news recently over whether its drivers are employees of the ...
