[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471981,"mediaKeyId","5777227-48fe61077fc9376fbe36d31d88a899c9","parentId",5777227,"title","Houston HR presents revised accommodation and civility policies; training planned for this year and early 2026","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",256000,"endMs",396000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777227-48fe61077fc9376fbe36d31d88a899c9&start=256&end=396","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777227-48fe61077fc9376fbe36d31d88a899c9/thumbnail_256000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471981/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-HR-presents-revised-accommodation-and-civility-policies-training-planned-for-this-year-and-early-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471981-9ca4b523e6b00cde73a2f0fadc7c6a6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674039&Signature=MnHceaisS2DFIRxtPA3qFjR2C1PQX2N6R4qK~C1yMoPsCloKxrHVpd3~bQUyoQq~trOwJxl1TjJjo0o1uNNDrECTMbHUX5UtvqPtfLqiMXkBk3h6jCq5vHkNXGAWaQlMsS2bhNJn-0T5DmSM-DUJcZhhzzPUoIPx202rQUiSEpdJKpNIPPXQ0NsuIcc2H---uKUdR82vnvqtfuOP7ZxXJmPZowifMptcjFcuBY46stAntzivagi2OQklldReU2rRUhUCc7uSyIuM7KyIQ8lIFYZKGEeG7yu8YZwiYnZ9yljiQSZF7I1K4Dx9qPRUmthXbM5dboVsaXO9odyfZG~tZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","Human resources officials for the City of Houston on Sept. 18 told the City Council Labor Committee they have revised the city's reasonable-accommodation procedure and issued a new standards-of-conduct executive order that centralizes accommodation work within HR and clarifies when discipline up to indefinite suspension may apply.

\"The policy statement shows the city's commitment to employees, applicants, job candidates with disabilities, limitations due to pregnancy, and our sincerely held religious beliefs by ensuring they have equal access to all employment opportunities,\" said Alisa Franklin Brocks, chief of staff for the Human Resources Department, as she summarized Administrative Procedure (AP) 3-34 during the committee briefing.

The changes, HR said, align city practice with federal requirements including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA/ADAAA), the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. HR also described operational changes intended to standardize how accommodation requests are handled and where medical records are stored.

Under the revised AP 3-34, HR reorganized named roles: a citywide accommodations coordinator position will be housed in HR's civil service and EEO division, and the departmental accommodations coordinator role will now be filled by an HR employee-relations staffer who facilitates the interactive process. HR stressed that the ultimate decision on any accommodation remains with the relevant department director or their designee. Examples listed in the presentation of potential reasonable accommodations included adjusted breaks, reduced-noise work areas, flexible hours, redistribution of nonessential duties, temporary exceptions to dress code, extended unpaid leave or intermittent leave, and providing materials in alternative formats such as large print or braille.

HR said the revisions also introduce standardized forms and a central repository for accommodation types and associated medical documentation to streamline handling across departments.

The committee also received an overview of Executive Order 1-20, \"Standards of Conduct, Professionalism and Civility,\" which HR described as an enhancement to the city's existing positive corrective action program (AP 3-7) and a consolidation of elements from prior mayor's policies that the executive order rescinds. \"All employees will conduct themselves in a positive, cooperative, respectful, and professional manner at any location where city business is conducted,\" Brocks said. The policy, HR said, applies to conduct on-duty and off-duty and covers expectations for communication, customer service, professional conduct, cooperation in investigations, compliance with lawful orders, and confidentiality.

Council staff and members asked clarifying questions. Councilmember Davis asked, \"What's the difference between indefinite suspension and termination?\" Brocks explained: \"An indefinite suspension is the way we separate our employees who are civil service protected... For those employees who are not civil service, we call those terminations.\" Director Cheeks added that the city reviews potential disciplinary matters with the legal department and the Office of Inspector General when complaints arise.

Committee members also asked whether remote-work rules had changed. Director Cheeks said the city's previous remote-work policy was repealed by the administration and is not currently available to employees, but noted that telework can still be considered as a reasonable accommodation when supported by appropriate medical documentation and processed under AP 3-34.

HR told the committee it is preparing training materials to help directors, supervisors and employees apply both policies. The Office of Talent and Organizational Development is developing e-learning and instructor-led training that HR expects to release \"at the end of this year and in early 2026,\" the presentation said.

There were no formal votes or motions related to the policies during the Labor Committee meeting. Committee members thanked HR for the overview and asked for follow-up materials and a list of rescinded policies so employees and managers can see what changed.

The HR presenters recommended that departments route accommodation requests through the new HR-managed coordinator roles and that department directors continue to document essential job functions when evaluating requests. The committee requested that HR share the final forms and the planned training schedule with council offices when available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Labor Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Human resources officials for the City of Houston on Sept. 18 told the City Council Labor Committee they have revised the city's reasonable-accommodation procedure and issued a new standards-of-conduct executive order that centralizes accommodation work within HR and clarifies when discipline up to indefinite suspension may apply.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471976,"Harris County ARPA grants expanded Houston union apprenticeship facilities; unions report increased training and local hiring",1372,1657000,3029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5777227-48fe61077fc9376fbe36d31d88a899c9&start=1657&end=3029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5777227-48fe61077fc9376fbe36d31d88a899c9/thumbnail_1657000.jpg","/articles/6471976/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Harris-County-ARPA-grants-expanded-Houston-union-apprenticeship-facilities-unions-report-increased-training-and-local-hiring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471976-03359de45b4b466dbab347b989f30e8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770674039&Signature=aTXNpTur9M2vZxchpHTmQC5NXLX1M9tfif2eaKhAkiTDYRPwtVia71O6WVejY0IpZp6lVttBw8nODa8echSg0nyddgX4tH6VHpEBL7UqvTNhuDWM6-KXqGbQLKYMQwdm2Sdx2XzcvempQ4JAWwfQuFXYkahspk7yboXvKyfaAC9j7br1ufLwXcu3nlUcW3Z2-nIv638OHxZDrkrz~IhU2hZiguAJ71uKf5DuFLHd7h8QAbyvEBxz8ASldD7ANH7NkWgb3-IVCpf5NrdQjXCl5ZyU8Zboldd2gWWSixbOVOdBdptxp5zZuS0nUztsxfuEIc2Mj4AJ6Tdre-rSf0iZxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harris County-funded ARPA investments in a local apprenticeship initiative have paid for facility upgrades, new equipment and expanded recruitment, union training directors told the City of Houston Labor Committee on Sept. 18.

\"It's been a little over 12,000,000 over 3 years,\" said Shelly Baker, partnerships and communications director for the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, describing the total ARPA investment that funded the Apprenticeship Advantage program. Baker said the program connects local residents to paid on-the-job training across 10 skilled trades, and that 62% of participants \"come from moderate to high vulnerability households.\" She added that the program has enrolled 908 participants to date and that the average starting hourly rate for new entrants is $22.98, excluding benefits.

Multiple local trade apprenticeship programs described how the ARPA funds were used. Jean Bringmire, training director for the Houston-area joint apprenticeship and training committee for electrical contracting, said grant money modernized hands-on training labs, added interactive smart boards and updated conduit-bending equipment to reflect technologies used on jobs. \"We've been able to update our hands on training lab to help apprentices, enhance the training they receive on the job,\" Bringmire said.

Mark Grady, business agent for IATSE Local 51, said his local used grant funds to purchase lighting, sound and video equipment so training can happen without relying on employers or rental gear; he said the local is finalizing paperwork with the U.S. Department of Labor to register a certified apprenticeship program. \"As of yesterday, we met with the Department of Labor to final to work on finalizing our paperwork... we're missing just a few small documents and we will be ready to sign that document and move forward completely,\" Grady said.

Blanca Rios of IUEC Local 31 described a mobile welding facility with four welding stations, vent hoods and climate control that can be moved to communities so trainees need not travel long distances. Rios said the mobile unit can produce certified welders in about 10 weeks and that the equipment was provided at no cost to local members through the partnership funded in part by Harris County and other contributors.

Derek Perry, who helps run the Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee, said plumbing apprenticeships are five-year programs combining classroom and hands-on training and that graduates work across the city's hospitals, schools and pump stations. \"When storms hit, we can't import skills overnight. So we need homegrown talent and people able to respond immediately,\" Perry said.

Shelly Baker told the committee that about 84% of the ARPA funding went directly to subawardees, and that much of the capital spending purchased durable training equipment and facility upgrades intended to serve future cohorts beyond the three-year grant term. Baker also said the program has exceeded initial enrollment goals.

Councilmembers pressed presenters on long-term sustainability and how the city could support apprenticeship utilization on municipal projects. Baker confirmed the program is in its third and final funded year under the county ARPA award: \"So we're in our last year. We're in year 3.\" Councilmember Martinez and labor presenters urged the city to use procurement and contract terms to create work opportunities for registered apprentices and to consider labor standards clauses that include apprenticeship utilization.

Mark Grady and other union representatives also raised concerns about lowest-bid contracting on some city-owned venues and urged greater use of responsible-bid practices to ensure projects are completed safely and by trained workers.

There were no formal votes taken on the presentations. Presenters invited council members and staff to tour training facilities; HR and presenters said presentation slides and a video are posted on the committee web page and HTV.

Contact information and links were provided during the presentation for organizers and several locals; presenters asked council staff to encourage apprenticeship utilization in future city projects to expand employment pathways for Houston residents.","Presenters told the Labor Committee that the Apprenticeship Advantage program, co-led by Harris County and the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation and funded with ARPA dollars, invested more than $12 million over three years in local training facilities, equipment and outreach to increase apprenticeship access across multiple trades.","actionData","errors"]

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Houston HR presents revised accommodation and civility policies; training planned for this year and early 2026

Harris County ARPA grants expanded Houston union apprenticeship facilities; unions report increased training and local hiring