Religious Discrimination Cases That Shook the Workplace in 2013
We assume that as society has evolved, Americans have become more accepting of different religions and value sets. However, in the workplace, it appears that biases still exist when it comes to what an employee or coworker believes. And surprisingly, it touches on even the most mainstream religio…
Retaliation Cases in Georgia
Court Makes It Harder for Employees to Prove Retaliation
If you file a discrimination claim against your employer and are retaliated against for your actions, how do you prove the reason behind the retaliation? In 2013, after a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, it has become more difficult to…
Is 2014 the Year of the Minimum Wage Increase?
Each day, millions of Americans go to work in low wage jobs in order to keep the nation running. The majority of these employees – up to 60 percent – work in the service industry at fast food restaurants, hotels and retail stores to provide the services all of us need to make our own day-to-day l…
Social Media Becomes a New Avenue for Workplace Discrimination
When you interview for a position, your interviewer is prohibited in most instances by law from asking you any questions regarding your family situation, religious beliefs or medical history. The goal of the law, of course, is to protect you against discrimination in the hiring process. But did …
Is My Employer Required to Pay My Salary During My FMLA Leave?
If you’re considering taking leave from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) for maternity leave, to take care of a loved one, or to recover from a surgery or accident, there’s a good chance you may have to save up or dip into your savings.
Under the FMLA, your company is…
Who Does the Working Family Flexibility Act Truly Benefit?
Today, busy employees are striving for a work/life balance. They’re craving flexibility in their jobs that allows them to find the time to spend with family, focus on their goals and take time off to relax if they’re sick. According to US News and World Report, 75 percent of women would choose mo…
Breach of Contract Lawsuit Against SEE Baby, LLC
The Barrett & Farahany, LLP law firm filed a Complaint for Damages on December 18th, 2013, against SEE Baby, LLC in The Superior Court of Fulton County State of Georgia for Breach of Contract under Georgia state law on behalf of their client (Plaintiff).
The Plaintiff worked for SEE Baby as a ph…
How to Prove Defamation
Imagine you’re a contractor. A homeowner who hired you to perform work at his house turns around and criticizes your work on a review site. In turn, other customers you’ve spoken with decide to go with your competitors.
Since the homeowner’s review affected your business, can you sue for defamat…
Understanding Severance Packages
In the event of a merger, acquisition or layoff, your position at work could be in jeopardy. If the axe falls, your company may offer you a severance package to take the sting out of your termination, giving you a financial safety net as you pursue other employment. But more important to your com…
Working and Pregnant? Know Your Rights Under the FMLA
If you are pregnant and planning yourmaternity leave, it’s important to understand your company’s leave policy. In some cases, an employer may offer its employees paid maternity leave, but the employer is not required to do so. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 is often a viable option…
Hooters Waitress Fired for Hair Color, Sues for Racial Discrimination
Many women today no longer have what could be called their “natural” hair color. Whether it’s subtle highlights or a bright, bold color, women use their hair to express themselves and stay fashionable.
When Farryn Johnson, an African-American woman, put blond highlights in her hair, she didn’t …
Rise in Pregnancy Discrimination Cases
When a worker finds out she is pregnant, she shouldn’t worry about whether or not her job will be safe. Yet, for thousands of women each year, their happy news means bad news for their careers.
According to the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), an amendment to Title VII of the Civil Righ…
Make Sure You Fully Understand Your Employer’s FMLA Process Before Taking Leave
You ask your supervisor if you can take leave under theFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and he or she grants you permission. Only after taking your leave, your employer tells you that you’re ineligible for FMLA, and as a result, punishes you for being away from work.
That was the case thi…
Defamation of Character in the Workplace And Beyond
Employment Related Defamation of Character
Whether you’re a public figure or a private citizen, at some time in your life, someone is likely going to say something negative about you. Although it might be offensive or upsetting, there’s often little you can do about the situation legally. Howeve…
Sexual Harassment Claim Filed Against Atlanta West Women’s Center
A civil action submitted in Douglas County, Georgia indicates the Plaintiff has filed charges against Atlanta West Women’s Center, P.C. and owner Dr. Jaswant Chaddha. Charges include negligent retention and supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress and battery. A jury trial has be…
How Whistleblowing and Retaliation Claims Differ
We’ve seen it over and over in the news – an employee witnesses his supervisor or coworker committing an illegal act and reports it to upper management or a government agency. Instead of being hailed as a hero, the employee is considered a traitor and pays for the disclosure with his job, thereby…
Key Elements to Your Workplace Sexual Harassment Policy
Many companies don’t think they need a sexual harassment policy – maybe their office is too small, or it’s an all-male or all-female office, or simply “something like that would never happen here.”
As with any company policy, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Sexual harassment can happen at an…
Collecting Evidence for Your Retaliation Case
Each year, thousands of American workers are demoted, denied benefits or even lose their jobs because they refuse to let discrimination or harassment undermine their self-worth in the workplace. Instead of rewarding these employees for reporting injustices and illegal activities that could snowba…
The Rapid Rise of Same-Sex Harassment Cases
Taunting, joking and teasing are part of the workplace experience, especially among colleagues of the same gender. But there’s a point where that taunting goes over the line, especially when the behavior is sexual in nature.
In October 2013, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans …
Race Discrimination and Racial Harassment
Is There a Difference Between Race Discrimination and Racial Harassment?
This summer, the issue of race in the workplace hit the mainstream when beloved chef and TV personality Paula Deen was sued by a former employee for her use of the “n” word and her admittance to planning a “plantation-styl…
Race Discrimination Continues to Affect American Workers
Race Discrimination Continues to Affect American Workers
As a society that’s become more accepting of different races and cultures, it’s naturally assumed that the corporate world has followed the trend, giving everyone equal footing when it comes to hiring, promotion and compensation.
Yet, studi…
Latest Release of Our Recent Study On Dismissed Discrimination Cases in Georgia
When an employee is harassed at work because of his or her race or gender, it is assumed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that the individual will have the chance to confront the harasser in a courtroom of his or her peers. Yet in the Northern District of Georgia, the victim of ha…
Do Working Mothers Face a Glass Ceiling?
When a professional woman becomes a mother, her time management, organization and problem-solving skills all become heightened so that she can tackle her busy days at home and at the office. These skills, combined with her professional experience, should make her a coveted colleague in the workpl…
Disclosing a Major Health Issue to Your Employer
You’re likely working alongside someone facing a serious health crisis. A coworker who is undergoing chemotherapy to treat her cancer. An officemate with a mental illness who requires medication to continue working. Or perhaps even you yourself – about to undergo a heart surgery that requires wee…