Employment Discrimination Blog

Whenever you work with others, there’s always a chance that you may not get along. However, despite feeling like a toxic work environment, it doesn’t automatically mean that you are in a hostile work situation. There is a difference between working in an environment that you don’t enjoy and working in an environment that is considered legally hostile. So what makes a Read more . . .

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S., all non-essential businesses were forced to close in-person offices in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. As time has gone by many businesses have chosen to continue working remotely, while others have cautiously returned to office life. But with the approval of the COVID-19 vaccines, going back to working around others has become safer (for those who have been fully vaccinated).

Despite being considered a civic duty, few people are pleased to receive notification that they must serve on jury duty. The last thing you want to imagine is that doing so could cost you your job. That’s why under Georgia law it is illegal to fire an employee over his or her absence from work due to jury duty.
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You saw something at work that wasn’t right and reported it, but the next thing you know you have been disciplined or fired because of it. You are probably thinking that this is unfair – and you would be right. That’s why you may have the basis for a wrongful termination claim.

Employers across the United States have relied on non-compete agreements to protect their business interests for a long time. Each state takes a different stance on non-competes, with some favoring employers and others the employees. As such, the enforceability of a non-compete, and the extent to which it will be enforced, is dependent on the state.
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Non-compete agreements have become a hot topic as social media and 24-hour news coverage frequently turn the spotlight on employers abusing non-compete agreements to the detriment of their employees. Non-compete agreements are intended to protect a company’s intellectual property (“IP”). If an employee with specific, non-public knowledge about the way a business or its products operate were to leave for a competitor, they would naturally take their knowledge with them to the new competitor and it would jeopardise their original employer’s IP.

To protect employer’s IP, non-compete agreements limit the ability of employees to freely move to competitors. While non-competes can serve a legitimate purpose, they are often a tool of abuse for employers to gain leverage over their employees.
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The Families First Coronavirus Response Act protects certain employees through guaranteeing paid sick leave and expanding paid family and medical leave for those impacted by COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted Georgians, with lockdowns and health concerns that have limited the ability of many to work. If you’ve been denied employee benefits you believe you’re entitled to, please contact our office today for a free consultation.
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Did you know that federal and state laws protect workers from an employer failing to pay proper overtime wages. It’s true. The rules governing overtime pay in the State of Georgia include both state and federal laws. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a federal law, protected and provides a minimum standard for employees across the U.S.

Most private sector employee benefit plans are subject to the provisions set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). ERISA is a complex federal law that establishes minimum standards with regards to employer-sponsored benefit plans. These benefit plans include 401(k)s as well as Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Profit-Sharing Plans.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provided much need protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of such fundamental things such as a person’s race, national origin, sex, and religion. In 1978, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act amended Title VII to include discrimination on the basis of pregnancy in the prohibition on sex discrimination.

What is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act?

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition.

Before you start a new job, you will likely need to review and complete a substantial amount of paperwork. While it can be tempting to rush through this process, both to get through the red tape and in the excitement at starting a new job, it is important to take your time to review the contents of these documents and the potential impact they can have on you and your future. For instance, you may be presented with a non-compete agreement your employer wants you to sign. Before you do so, look into what a non-compete agreement is and what it could mean for you.

What is a Non-Compete Agreement?

A non-compete agreement, also referred to as a noncompete clause, noncompete covenant, or covenant not to compete, is a legal contract between an employer and an employee that restricts the employee on his or her ability to enter into competition with the employer during or after the period of employment.