50 Years after the ADEA was enacted, age discrimination continues
It has been 50 years since the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was first enacted in an effort to address ageism in the workplace. The ADEA was enacted to remove age discrimination from the workplace, with its stated purpose to “to promote the employment of older workers based on ability rather than age, prevent…
Read MoreReport Finds Walmart Punishes Employees Who Take Leave
A recent study revealed a troubling finding – that the nation’s largest private employer may be punishing employees who lawfully take “sick days” or leave. Such actions may violate worker’s rights under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). According to the report, issued by A Better Balance, and referenced in…
Read MoreCommon Mistakes that Lead to Employment Law Problems
The relationship between an employer and their employees is heavily regulated. Employees are guaranteed lots of different protections and rights, and the laws creating these protections aren’t always clear or easy to understand. Therefore, it’s fairly easy to find yourself in violation of one, which can leave you subject to a lawsuit from a disgruntled…
Read MoreMore state and local governments are pursuing pro-employee legislation
As the passage and implementation of federal regulations benefiting workers has slowed, many states and localities are looking inward to determine what changes can be made at a local level. Two increasingly common efforts include campaigns to raise the minimum wage and efforts to enact equal pay legislation. Minimum wage efforts, such as Atlanta’s Fight for 15,…
Read MoreHow to combat sex discrimination
Despite efforts to educate employers about sex discrimination, and eliminate it from our workplaces, many subtle (and not so subtle) forms of discrimination still occur. A recent survey polled woman about discriminatory actions they encountered at work. In addition to sexually harassing and discriminatory actions, other subtler biases existed such as not being invited to…
Read MoreCommon FLSA Questions
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a very long and detailed law that provides employees several different and significant protections including earning at least federal minimum wage and for non-exempt workers, and earning overtime compensation for hours worked over 40 in any one work week. As an Atlanta wage and hour law firm, our…
Read MoreWhat is a “joint employer”?
What constitutes a “joint employer?” If you ask most workers who their employer is, the answer is simple. Typically, it’s the head of the firm, or the boss that signs your paycheck. However, in other situations, particularly in large organizations or construction settings, where an owner may contract with one party, and that party subcontracts…
Read MoreFormer Football Coach Files Claim for Age and Sex Discrimination
A former football coach from Fort Valley University in Fort Valley, Georgia, has filed a claim against the University of Georgia Board of Regents, as well as three university officials for alleged age and sex discrimination, resulting in his wrongful termination. According to the complaint, the coach was fired following an investigation of potential NCAA…
Read MoreWill Religious Freedom Order Allow Businesses to Discriminate?
President Trump has just signed an executive order that may allow businesses to discriminate. Called the “Religious Freedom” order, the order makes it okay for business owners to refuse to sell goods and services to people based on their “religious faith.” This controversial measure would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ groups, who in the past…
Read MoreNew Bill May Encourage Employees to Take Paid Time Off Instead of Receiving Overtime Pay
Congress has just passed a bill that would give non-exempt employees the options of choosing to receive either overtime compensation, paid at the rate of one and one-half an employee’s standard rate of pay or to allow those employees to use the time as paid time off. Called the Working Families Flexibility Act, the bill…
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