Dallas partner Rasha Zeyadeh recently achieved a significant victory for a family-owned sheet metal manufacturer in North Texas. After presenting a rebuttal and engaging in discussions with the Texas Workforce Commission regarding a former employee’s claim for unemployment benefits, she successfully secured a denial of the claim based on the employee’s underperformance and her voluntary resignation from the position.
Unemployment benefits can pose a challenge for employers as they lead to higher state unemployment insurance (SUTA) tax rates. These rates are influenced by the number of former employees who receive benefits, and while employers do not directly pay the benefits, the expenses ultimately impact their SUTA tax obligations. The long-term repercussions, particularly for smaller businesses, can be significant.
Rasha is actively involved in SBSB Eastham’s growing Labor and Employment practice group, and her victory comes on the heels of Houston partner James McInerny securing a favorable resolution with OSHA for a local client. The firm assists clients in navigating a variety of administrative issues including unemployment claims and discrimination or retaliation charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Texas Workforce Commission.
