Employment Law
Common Mistakes that Lead to Employment Law Problems
The relationship between an employer and their employees is heavily regulated. Employees are guaranteed lots of different protections and rights, and the laws creating these protections aren’t always clear or easy to understand. Therefore, it’s fairly easy to find yourself in violation of one, which can leave you subject to a lawsuit from a disgruntled…
Read MoreLegal Protections Against Workplace Discrimination
Just because it’s illegal to engage in workplace discrimination doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist. In fact, it’s prevalent in workplaces throughout Georgia, across the nation, and globally. While it’s true that, historically, we’ve made significant strides when it comes to protections against workplace discrimination, the battle isn’t over. We must continue upholding the laws…
Read MoreIllegal Job Interview Questions You’re Probably Asking Applicants
As an interviewer for your business, it is your job to get to know potential new hires before offering them a position at your company. After all, in order to keep everyone happy and your business healthy, the right team members need to be a part of it. Learning who is a right or wrong…
Read MoreCan I Be Fired While on FMLA Approved Leave?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) extends a variety of protections and rights to many employees, salaried or hourly. It can grant a total of 12 months of unpaid leave after an employee or a close family member suffers a serious health condition or injury, or to care for a newborn. The concept behind the…
Read MoreCan an Employer Deduct Pay from a Salaried Employee?
An employee paid an hourly rate must be paid for every minute worked and at their hourly rate; there are very few exceptions to this employment law requirement. But what about employees that are paid a predetermined salaried amount each week or each month? Is it permissible for employers to dock their pay for one…
Read MoreKnowing Your Workplace Rights If You’re Pregnant
In 1978, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which made it illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee if she became pregnant. This means that employees cannot use terminations, wage or hour cuts, medical leave denials, and more to penalize a woman just because of her pregnancy. And yet, in 2013, more than 5,000…
Read MoreAppellate Court Decision May Lead to Discriminatory Hiring Practices
A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit concerning federal age discrimination law is drawing sharp criticism. In Villarreal v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a Georgia man sued R.J. Reynolds and two job search companies alleging unlawful age discrimination based on the tobacco company’s hiring policy which gave preference to…
Read MoreCommon FLSA Workplace Violations
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides the majority of workers certain protections such as the right to make at least minimum wage and to earn overtime pay, typically at a rate of one and one half times a worker’s standard rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a week. However,…
Read MoreEmployee or Independent Contractor?
A recently filed lawsuit against Amazon, Inc. has highlighted an issue that is a growing concern for workers across America – employment misclassification. Pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), whether you are classified as an employee or independent contractor can have a significant impact on both the benefits you are entitled to and…
Read MoreCan I Get Fired for What I Say on Social Media?
While having your parents on social media following your accounts might be widely considered as embarrassing, having your employer or boss do the same can be far worse. Everything you say on Facebook, Twitter, and other popular websites and applications can come back to bite you, especially if it directly insults your workplace or is…
Read More