Violating wage and hour laws can invalidate non-compete agreements
When taking a new job, many employees are required to sign “non-compete” agreements, which set forth certain requirements should the relationship end. Non-competes may set forth that an employee cannot work for a competitor within a certain number of years, or compete for the same clients. Often new hires are reluctant to read the fine…
Read MoreNon-Compete Agreements vs. Non-Solicit Agreements
The terms of non-compete and non-solicit agreements are often misunderstood. Whether you’re running a small business or a high-powered startup, you should understand the differences between these covenants. Here’s what you need to know to help you protect your business. The Key Differences Non-Compete Agreement: A restrictive covenant that prevents an employee from quitting their…
Read MoreWhistleblower laws protect employees who report wrongful conduct
In a recent whistleblower case, a city fire inspector was awarded $1.5M after she was allegedly fired from her job after complaining about the safety of renovations at the facility where she was to work. The fire inspector asserted that her complaints led to her termination, while the city argued that she was terminated due…
Read MoreTGI Fridays agrees to settle one of the nation’s largest wage and hour lawsuits
Reports indicate that the restaurant chain, TGI Fridays has agreed to settle a wage and hour class action suit for $19.1 million. The lawsuit asserts that the chain underpaid many of its employees in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for many years. Included in the settlement are bussers, wait staff, runners and…
Read MoreHow to File a USERRA Complaint
According to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), members of the military are entitled to return to their jobs after deployment without any changes to their position. USERRA is intended to shield service members from being fired from their positions for being called to active-duty. If your employer does not comply with…
Read MoreImportant Questions to Ask Your Employment Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer to represent you in an employment law case can feel like a daunting task. It can be a challenge to know what to ask to learn what you should know. Here are five important questions you should ask your employment attorney during your initial meeting. What Experience Do You Have With…
Read MoreThe Importance of Keeping track of All Time Worked
Two of the main provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is that all non-exempt workers be paid at least minimum wage and that they receive overtime pay for all time worked over 40 hours in any one work week. An employer’s failure to pay for all time worked may violate the law, and…
Read MoreFormer employee sues Atlanta Hawks for race discrimination
Recently, a former employee of the Atlanta Hawks filed a wrongful termination/racial discrimination lawsuit against the basketball team. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits various forms of race discrimination, including discrimination based on race, sex, religion or national origin. Further, to encourage employees to speak out against discrimination, Title VII also…
Read MoreWhat is USERRA?
Those who choose to serve in our Armed Forces could find themselves called into the line of duty at nearly any time, should something catastrophic happen. Often these service members have lives and careers that they’ve been working to expand and grow in order to live a fulfilling life, and they must put these things…
Read MoreA single act of harassment may be sufficient to bring a race discrimination case
In a recent race harassment lawsuit, a federal district court determined that a supervisor’s single use of the “n” word was sufficient to constitute a hostile work environment, and allowed he race discrimination case to proceed. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes race discrimination/race harassment illegal. Further, according to the Equal…
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