Richard Alaniz

Richard D. Alaniz is senior partner at Alaniz and Schraeder, a national labor and employment firm based in Houston. He has been at the forefront of labor and employment law for over thirty years, including stints with the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. He is a prolific writer on labor and employment law and conducts frequent seminars to client companies and trade associations across the country. For more information, call Alaniz at 281-833-2200.

OSHA Inspections - What Roofers Should Expect

Never been the subject of an OSHA inspection? Planning and preparing for such an inspection is critical.

Richard Alaniz

June 14, 2019

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Proper planning for an eventual OSHA inspection can mean the difference between a clean bill of health or multiple citations and their attendant fines.

"Just Cause" Employee Termination in Roofing

Proving just or good cause involves more than whether misconduct occurred.

Richard Alaniz

May 22, 2019

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You're fired! Those are words that no employee ever wants to hear and that employers hope they rarely have to utter.

Social Security Administration's No-Match Letters Making a Comeback

Unfortunately, no-match letters are soon to again be in the mail to many employers.

Richard Alaniz

April 15, 2019

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Many employers still recall opening letters from the Social Security Administration about mismatched Social Security numbers on wage reports.

Job Descriptions - An Essential Tool for Your Roofing Company

Mundane? Maybe, but laying out expectations shouldn't be ignored

Richard Alaniz

March 18, 2019

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There is no federal or state law, rule, or regulation that mandates job descriptions.

Are Your Salaried Employees at Your Roofing Company Truly Exempt?

It might be quite beneficial for employers to carefully review the job functions of all their salaried employees.

Richard Alaniz

February 20, 2019

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There are individuals in every workplace in the United States who are paid a salary and considered exempt from pay for overtime after 40 hours in a work week.

Lewd Language in the Age of #MeToo

Employers must be especially aware of how cultures may clas and cause hostile work environments.

Richard Alaniz

January 14, 2019

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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.

ICE Enforcement — Coming Soon to Your Roofing Workplace

Continued and even increased ICE enforcement activity, especially focusing on the workplace, is expected.

Richard Alaniz

December 12, 2018

One Comment

In the first seven months of this year, there have been over 5,000 I-9 audits of U.S. workplaces.

Roofing Contactors Need to Meet the Millennial Challenge

Millennials have become the largest age group in today’s workforce.

Richard Alaniz

November 19, 2018

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Millennials, generally acknowledged to be those born between 1981 and 1999, have become the largest age group in today’s workforce.

Profanity in the Roofing Workplace

You may curse the day you didn't set workplace guidelines about swearing.

Richard Alaniz

October 15, 2018

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The use of profanity in everyday conversation has become pervasive, especially with Generation Xers and Millennials.

Impact of Increased Use of Prescription Drugs on Roofing Contractors

'Best Practices' recommended as the legal landscape evolves regarding prescribed medications, medical marijuana.

Richard Alaniz

August 20, 2018

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With the increasing use of prescribed opioids, the likelihood that the issue will arise in either the hiring context or involving a current employee is significant.