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Employment Law

Cutting an employee’s pay is perfectly legal, but first review his potential for a bias lawsuit

05/01/2007

Employers can cut an employee’s compensation at any time for any nondiscriminatory reason, as long as the person isn’t covered by a union contract or other agreement …

Sex and race harassment verdict sends Jocks & Jills into a tumble

05/01/2007

Jocks & Jills, Atlanta’s popular sports bar, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following a recent $2 million verdict for sexual and racial harassment …

Fading support for the war may lead to more USERRA claims

05/01/2007

Waning support for the Iraq war may be making some employers less enthusiastic about following the law guaranteeing reemployment to soldiers returning from military service …

Fighting words over ‘Fighting 529’

05/01/2007

When Latino advocate Jerry Gonzalez showed “Fighting 529,” his documentary slamming Georgia Senate Bill (SB) 529, at Georgia Tech in March, the last person he expected to see in the audience was state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), author of the bill …

Early workers’ comp suspension costs 19-Month salary payout

05/01/2007

How do four days translate into 19 months? That was the math that left Reliance Electric Company, based in Greenville, S.C., scratching its head after a workers’ compensation ruling …

The claim service was great … despite no actual insurance

05/01/2007

An Alpharetta man pleaded guilty to defrauding Phoenix Fund, a Charlotte, N.C.-based self-insured group of 573 employers, by pretending to reinsure them …

How to craft noncompete agreements that work under Georgia law

05/01/2007

Georgia’s constitution prohibits contracts that have the effect of defeating or lessening competition. Anti-competition is considered anti-public policy in Georgia, so employers should craft their noncompete agreements with care …

Misclassify an employee, chances are you’ll pay double

05/01/2007

The Fair Labor Standards Act is an unforgiving master—you’ll pay if you misclassify an employee without solid, good-faith reasons. Hourly employees that you incorrectly designate as exempt will collect more than time-and-a-half for the overtime they worked …

Lame excuses for rejecting candidates can land you in court

05/01/2007

Say the wrong thing during the hiring process, and you’ve got a lawsuit on your hands. Here are three tips to help keep supervisors’ feet out of their mouths …

Discovered new hire’s litigious background? Don’t retaliate

05/01/2007

Hired a dud who, you just found out, has a history of crying discrimination? Make sure you have solid, business-related reasons for any discipline you take. Here’s why …