Atlanta Employment Attorneys BlogMany individuals who have jobs are reluctant to report their employers’ wrongdoing or fraudulent activity because they fear that they might lose their job or suffer some other sort of adverse action. However, individuals should be aware that as employees, they enjoy certain protections against retaliation after engaging in protected activity under the False Claims Act.
Articles Posted in Employment Law
Are Employees Entitled to Payment for On-Call Time?
One of the most common questions in wage and hour cases is whether employees must be paid for “on-call” time . As business needs increase and customers demand more service at any given time of the day or night, many employers have found it necessary to have some of their employees remain “on-call” for a certain period of time or even 24-hours a day.
EEOC Finds No Age Discrimination In Not Hiring 71-Year-Old Applicant For Investigator Position
Individuals are turned down for jobs for a variety of reasons. Some job applicants are simply unqualified for the position sought, while others are over-qualified. However, there are occasions when job applicants are turned away for discriminatory reasons, such as race or age. Accordingly, it is important for business owners to work with a Georgia employment attorney to ensure that their policies and hiring practices are legal and nondiscriminatory in every way. An attorney can appropriately evaluate employment policies and make a determination with respect to the possibility or existence of discriminatory hiring practices that might subject a business to litigation.
The Working Families Flexibility Act and How It Will Affect You: A Report From Your Atlanta Employment Attorney
The Working Families Flexibility Act is a piece of federal legislation that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 8. The Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), and would give private sector workers the same type of “comp time” options that are available for public sector workers. Introduced by Republican U.S. Representative Martha Roby of Alabama, the bill passed with the support of many members of Congress, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other major industry groups. However, prior to its passage, the National Employment Lawyers Association, along with 160 other national and state bases organizations wrote a letter to the House members opposing the bill.
Sequestration Cuts Short Federal Extended Unemployment Benefits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the current federal government sequestration will begin adversely affecting federal extended unemployment benefits for unemployed workers in Georgia and across the United States. Regular state unemployment benefits will not be affected by the sequestration, but extended benefits funded by the federal government will be cut by 10.7%. Due to the financial impact that this cut may have, the Atlanta employment lawyers at Parks, Chesin & Walbert want to ensure that you are aware of this potential decrease in unemployment benefits before it begins to affect you and your family.
Clearwater Paper to Lay Off 150 Thomaston Workers
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Clearwater Paper Corp. has announced its plans to close a Thomaston tissue converting and distribution facility, a move which will affect approximately 150 workers, Georgia employment lawyers report. The Thomaston plant is located in Upson County, about an hour and a half south of Atlanta.
Department of Defense Security Clearance Denial Reversed
November began on a high note for Parks, Chesin & Walbert with the successful appeal of a security clearance denial. The client, a government contractor based in Washington, DC, was initially denied an industrial security clearance by the Department of Defense (DoD). The Statement of Reasons (SOR) issued by the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) in April cited financial considerations as grounds for revocation of security clearance by the DoD.
Individual Liability for Violations of the Minimum Wage and Overtime Laws
Business owners are well-advised to organize their businesses using one of the legal forms that provides for limited liability protection. These forms include the Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) , the Limited Liability Partnership (“LLP”), and the Corporation. The advantage of incorporating a business in this manner is that the owners and officers will generally be protected from liability if the business is sued. For example, if a customer slips and falls in the premises of a business set up as a LLC, then, in most cases, the owner will not be responsible for having to pay a judgment out of personal funds.
Workers’ Compensation
For those interested in Workers’ Compensation, check out atlantaworkerscompblog.com. Attorney Seth Bader has put together a blog for everyone from claimants to their attorneys, and I’m sure defense counsel could learn something too. Among other useful resources, the blog has a comprehensive list of forms published by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation, as well as some interesting posts answering common questions and recent news. The Bader Law Firm also provides exceptional representation, so tell your friends.