HOUSTON (AP) - A lawyer with the Texas Workforce Commission has been reassigned after apparently offering tips on ways for companies to avoid paying unemployment benefits to departing employees.

The Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that Jonathan Babiak, at the time of a June 25 conference, was overseeing appeals involving decisions to grant or deny unemployment benefits.

Babiak's comments, quoted July 8 by the newspaper, suggested that employers give workers they intend to terminate the option to resign. Babiak said the workers might assume they are not eligible for benefits if they leave voluntarily and "chances are they won't file a claim."

Babiak, formerly deputy director of appellate services, referred questions to the commission. Spokeswoman Ann Hatchitt says Babiak has been reassigned to human resources.