MAY LOCATION: IN-PERSON

300 W. Davis Street, Conroe, Texas - Council Chambers, 1st Floor

#MeToo (& Managers Too!): Recent Changes to Texas Sexual Harassment Laws

Program 1 - MC-SHRM Members Only Special Topic (MOST)    10:15*AM-11:20AM (*Registration 10:00AM-10:15AM)

Presented by:  Haley E. Kurisky, Attorney - Jackson Lewis P.C.

Just recently, the Texas legislature passed several new laws that completely change the way sexual harassment claims can be brought in Texas. Whereas before, harassment on the part of a manager or supervisor was the company's burden, now managers and supervisors can also be individually liable for sex harassment claims brought by employees. The new laws also place a heightened duty on supervisors and managers to identify and correct potential sex harassment situations or complaints. Further, an employer is now anyone with one or more employees, meaning small business owners can be liable under the new laws, among other changes.

These new laws, have not yet been through the court system - are set to be a hugely litigated subject:

- What does individual manager liability mean for the company?
- What does "immediate and appropriate corrective action" to harassment complaints entail?
- Wait, I only have two employees now... This could apply to me?

We plan to discuss the intricacies behind these laws and how we expect the changes to affect sexual harassment litigation as we know it. 

Participants Learning Objectives:

• Discuss recent changes to Texas laws surrounding sexual harassment    
• Review ideas for handbook changes employers may need to make in light of the new rules
• Provide participants with material for training managers about new updates    

HALEY KURISKY is an associate in the Houston office of Jackson Lewis P.C., a full service labor and employment firm with offices across the country.  Haley is a native Houstonian, having attended Rice University for her undergraduate degree and the University of Houston Law Center for her juris doctorate.  She gained an interest in employment law after interning for the Honorable Judge Lynn Hughes in the Southern District of Texas and for the Houston office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Speeches:

“#MeToo (and Managers Too!)”

“Anticipated Changes in Employment Law Under the Biden Administration”

To Learn more about Haley E. Kurisky, visit: www.jacksonlewis.com