In a previous blog post I wrote about arbitration. As a reminder, arbitration is essentially an alternative venue to litigate claims – a private venue companies are often willing to pay a lot for because it keeps disputes out of the public record and tends to be more favorable to employers. In this blog I will talk about how some companies go even further by requiring employees to not only agree to arbitration, but to agree to an entire alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process/procedure.

Theoretically, an ADR process can require, or at least attempt to require, an employee to jump through all kinds of hoops to preserve their right to pursue a claim. In reality, companies that have full ADR procedures in place tend to have similar steps. Typically, the process is a four-step process with the first two steps being entirely internal and which can be used for any issue the employee has, even issues that are not violations of the law. Then, the final two steps are reserved for only those issues that involve a violation of a legally protected right – a right the employee could seek remedy for despite the ADR procedure, likely by filing with an external administrative agency and/or filing a lawsuit in court. These final two steps are typically mediation and then arbitration.

At first glance, an ADR process might sound good to employees because it provides an opportunity to dispute issues that may be wrong or unethical even if they are not illegal. Moreover, it provides for mediation prior to arbitration where an impartial, third-party professional attempts to help both sides work together to resolve the dispute early on. Certainly, the company will sell the ADR process to its employees as a wonderful thing put in place for the benefit of its employees.

However, all too often these sometimes extremely convoluted ADR procedures do the exact opposite of helping workers facilitate a resolution by creating strict deadlines and causing procedural confusion. Meanwhile, while the company forces strict deadlines on the employee, the company often provides itself with a get out of jail free card by writing into the policy that its failure to respond to an employee’s claim within a certain timeframe will simply be considered a denial of the claim. Quite frankly, this dual standard is absurd.

To further illustrate the issue with procedural confusion, let’s think about the following example. Employee X works for a private company that is violating required health and safety protocols and creating an unsafe work environment for its workers. Employee X complains about these violations to her supervisor and reports it to the company’s compliance department. In retaliation for making health and safety complaints, the company fires Employee X.

Now, Employee X knows she would normally go to OSHA and file a whistleblower retaliation claim. However, she also knows the company has an ADR procedure which she agreed to follow when she was hired. In fact, the company even gave her another copy of it at the time it terminated her just as a friendly reminder. So now what does she do? Does she go ahead and file her complaint with OSHA? Does she file her complaint internally to initiate the ADR process? Should she file with both? Can she file with both? And also, when should she file? These are all extremely important questions because one wrong move and she could lose her ability to pursue her whistleblower claim entirely.

The safest strategy would be to file both internally to initiate the ADR process and externally with OSHA within whatever the shortest statute of limitations is. However, what happens if the employee only files externally (OSHA, EEOC, TWC, etc.)  or only files internally? The answer to that question is even more complicated and will likely depend on two things: (1) what type of claim you have, and therefore which external agency you are dealing with, and (2) what the terms of your company’s ADR procedure are.

Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. If you find yourself in a position where you think you have a claim, you should consult with a Texas Employment Lawyer as soon as possible to ensure any and all deadlines are met.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Julie St. John Julie St. John

We asked Julie L. St. John, an experienced Trial Attorney in the Houston office of Wiley Wheeler, P.C., to impart her candid answers to a range of questions. After reading, you will be more more informed on the well-respected reputation that Ms.

We asked Julie L. St. John, an experienced Trial Attorney in the Houston office of Wiley Wheeler, P.C., to impart her candid answers to a range of questions. After reading, you will be more more informed on the well-respected reputation that Ms. St. John carries.

1. Why did you start practicing labor and employment law?

Because I care about the rights of employees and believe all workers should be treated fairly. 

2. If you could write a new law, what would it do?

Guarantee a living wage for all workers.

 3. Besides Rob Wiley, P.C., what is the most interesting job that you have had?

I worked as the beer cart girl at a golf course in college. 

4. What’s the best part of living in Houston?

Houston is clearly the best city in Texas, way better than Austin or Dallas. The people are wonderful, and the food is delicious. The only downside is the traffic, which is why I refuse to go outside of the loop (with a key exception for Ikea).

 5. If you were not practicing labor and employment law what would you be?

I would start a gardening/landscaping company with animals that do the work. The goats would eat the weeds, the pigs would till the ground, and the chickens would keep the bugs away.

6. Why did you decide to become a lawyer?

To have another tool to use to fight for things I believe in. I’ve always wanted to change the world.

7. What do you do when you’re not practicing law?

Travel, watch Ohio State football, and work to make my cat instafamous.

8. What’s your favorite legal movie

The Pelican Brief because it features Tulane Law!

9. Have you ever learned something from one of your clients?

I learn something from almost all of my clients. Most importantly, courage.

10. Who do you most admire as a lawyer?

Kalandra Wheeler

Julie L. St. John is a Trial Attorney in the Houston office of Wiley Wheeler, P.C. She graduated from Ohio State University with her bachelor’s degree in 2007. Ms. St. John then graduated from Tulane University School of Law in 2017.