As the end of the year approaches, employers across Texas are bringing on extra help. Retailers, warehouses, delivery companies, and event venues hire thousands of temporary and seasonal workers to get through the holiday rush, many of them through staffing agencies. Too many of these workers assume that because the job is short-term, the usual…

Summary: The law separates the wages your employer cost you from the harm your employer did to you. The duty to mitigate has always applied to the first. In July 2026, the Fifth Circuit answered for the first time whether it also reaches the second, and held that it does not. This blog explains what…

You stayed late to finish that mandatory compliance training. You answered emails on your day off. You spent 20 minutes after your shift entering data into the company system. None of it showed up on your paycheck.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be a victim of wage theft — and you’re far…

Wage theft occurs when employees are not fully paid as required by law or contract. It includes unpaid overtime, withheld tips, misclassification to avoid benefits, and illegal paycheck deductions. These practices breach workers’ rights, violate the Fair Labor Standards Act, and can cause financial problems for those affected.

Wage theft is expressly prohibited under the…

It was October 31st, and the office halls were darkened with cobwebs, glowing jack-o’-lanterns, and a fog machine that hissed ominously in the corner. Spirits were high. Costumes were bold. Laughter echoed. Pranks abound. But what no one realized was that hidden beneath the masks and makeup lurked something far more sinister than ghosts or…

Paige Melendez
Dallas Employment Lawyer Paige Melendez

Sometimes the holidays are filled with holiday cheer, but then other times they are filled with the gnawing anxiety over empty pockets. This is a common issue and thankfully, a lot of stores have seasonal work that allows the opportunity to make some money heading into and during the holiday…

Kalandra Wheeler
Texas Employment Lawyer Kalandra Wheeler

As the holiday season approaches, many employees find themselves working extra hours to meet year-end deadlines or accommodate increased consumer activity. This is especially true in the retail and hospitality industries.

Various industries experience a significant increase in demand during the holiday season. For example, retailers see an uptick in…