Military Servicemember Employment Rights: Do You Know Them?
For those serving in the Armed Forces, change is just part of life. Military Service member Employment Rights: Do You Know Them? Whether it is preparing for deployment or packing for yet another cross-country move with your family, being in the military means being ready for anything. What about reservists and members of the National Guard? Well, just like active duty, reservists and Guard members must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Civilian employers, therefore, have strict requirements on how to handle deployments and activations. If you serve in the Reserves or the Guard, it is important that you know your rights and know how to fight for them, if necessary.
Reasons Why Employers Should Practice Good Documentation in the Office
When illegal termination cases and similar kinds of employment disputes reach the courts, the proceedings often turn into a parade of mutual recriminations. The employee believes there was unfair treatment by the employer. The employer feels it did everything it reasonably could to help the empl…
How to Know if You Were Illegally Fired from Your Job
Getting fired from a job is an unpleasant experience, particularly when an employer decides to terminate without warning. Abrupt termination not only means job loss, but frequently it may also mean little preparation for the newly acquired status of job seeker. It’s understandable for a terminat…
Are H-1B Work Visa Holders Eligible for FMLA Leave?
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a federal law that protects the employment rights of workers in the event they have to take time off to deal with a serious health condition, including many illnesses and pregnancy. Under the FMLA, workers generally have the right to take up to …
4 Steps You’ll Need to Take Before Pursuing a Wrongful Termination Suit
The only thing worse than losing your job is losing your job for no reason at all or for an unjust reason. Thankfully, there are employment laws that may allow workers to obtain redress in the event of an unlawful firing. If you have suffered wrongful termination, it’s important to contact a loc…
Learn About Work Pay Discrimination
The Equal Pay Act prohibits pay discrimination on the basis of gender. Signed into federal law in 1963, the Equal Pay Act was a big win for the women’s rights movement at the time. Unfortunately, pay discrimination continues to be an issue in today’s workplace, primarily for women who continue t…
What Employees and Employers Should Know About Overtime
In most hourly working arrangements, federal and state labor laws require that overtime (1.5 times the employee’s hourly rate) must be paid for any time worked in excess of 40 hours per week. This seems straightforward, but unfortunately, many employers are still getting it wrong.
Do I Qualify…
Understanding Whistlerblower Labor Laws in Georgia
Like employees in most states, Georgia employees are subject to “at-will” employment, which means they can be terminated at any time for any reason. Although there are a number of federal laws that may override the at-will doctrine, Georgia law generally offers very few employee protections beyo…
How to File a Complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
If you believe that you have been discriminated against at work, you should consult an employment lawyer as soon as possible. If your belief is correct, you may have a legitimate claim related to discriminatory harassment or termination.
The following information is a general overview about th…
Executive Compensation
In most occupations, it’s a fairly simple matter for job applicants to negotiate the salary they want. Typically, there is a reasonable salary range for a given position, and the negotiation takes place within that predetermined range. In some cases, the exact salary is calculated in advance and …
Disability Discrimination in the Workplace
Life can be difficult for individuals who live with a physical or mental disability, and a large part of their struggle are the issues they face in securing and maintaining gainful employment. Many business owners resist hiring disabled applicants because of their belief that disabled individuals…
Facts About Religious Discrimination and Harassment
In America, everyone has the right to worship freely according to his or her beliefs. Religious freedom is a constitutional right, and employers and co-workers are legally forbidden from discriminating against or harassing employees because of their religion.
Additionally, employers should try t…
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual harassment is a serious workplace issue for both employers and employees. When an employee is sexually harassed, it can affect his or her confidence and productivity, can make him or her uncomfortable at work, and can lead to stress, loss of sleep, and depression.
Employers should strive …
Georgia’s At-Will Employment Doctrine
At-will employment in Georgia is a two-way street. Employees who become dissatisfied with their job have the freedom to resign their position at any time for any reason or no reason whatsoever. Less popular with employees is the corollary that an employer who becomes dissatisfied with an employee…
To Complain or Not to Complain, That is the Question
When coworkers have different ideas about how to communicate or how to approach tasks at work, friction can result. Employees may take issue with the leadership style of their superiors, leaders may find the work ethic of their subordinates lacking, or coworkers may simply dislike one another for…
The Negative Effects of Gender Discrimination
According to a poll conducted by TNS Research Surveys, 68% of women in America say they believe gender discrimination is something that happens in the workplace. Despite the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay Act more than 50 years ago, millions of women across the country still fe…
When Does a Workplace Qualify as Being Hostile?
You’ve probably heard the phrase “hostile workplace,” but you might not be certain what that actually means. More than just a nebulous phrase describing a less-than-ideal workplace, “hostile workplace” is a very specific legal term that describes discriminatory working conditions so harmful to an…
Documenting Discrimination in the Workplace
Today’s workplace has never been more diverse, and this could mean employees are more likely than ever to face discrimination because of protected issues like religious beliefs, age, gender, race, or national origin. Although discrimination may be obvious, more often it may only be a feeling of h…
How Can Employers Avoid Illegal Harassment in the Work Place?
Illegal harassment can be a difficult situation for any employer to manage. Even exercising particular care during the hiring process may not be sufficient to filter our every employee who is capable of harassment. This is one situation where an ounce of prevention may truly be worth pound of cu…
Veterans’ Rights in the Workplace
Disabled veterans seeking civilian jobs may face discrimination and exclusion, especially if they have service-related injuries or PTSD. Fortunately, veterans are a federally protected class, which means there are laws in place to promote fair treatment by employers and prospective employers.
Ca…
How to Spot Workplace Retaliation – Part 2
If you’ve recently taken part in a protected activity at your workplace (such as reporting or objecting to discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, age, or pregnancy, for example), you should be on the lookout for signs of retaliation.
State an…
Your Rights as a Disabled Employee in the Workplace
If you are a disabled person, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may protect you from workplace discrimination related to your disability. If you feel you have been treated unfairly because of your condition, Atlanta’s foremost employment attorneys at Barrett & Farahany, LLP are here to he…
Your Rights as a Pregnant Woman in the Workplace
Pregnancy can be a happy event in a woman’s life, but it can also be a source of stress, worry, and fear about continued employment. Employers may react to pregnant employees with open hostility or may pressure pregnant employees to forego leave or quit the job rather than make accommodations tha…
LGBT Athletes Still Experience Harassment and Discrimination
Even with the recent number of LGBT professional athletes “coming out,” and becoming actively and openly gay in their respective sports, there is still much progress to be made. Most LGBT athletes find it challenging to be open about their sexual orientation, largely due the potential of being ha…