Mediation: A Good Thing
Disputes occur every day between an employer and employee, between businesses and between individuals. When people cannot resolve their differences they turn to others for help. In decades past, the only available option for a serious business dispute was the court...
Georgia Jobless Rate Dips: Hope for Jobs Ahead
In an improvement paralleled across the country, the jobless rate in Georgia in February dipped to its lowest level since January 2009. With more jobs in Georgia and throughout the nation, hope rises for economic recovery after years of recessionary hardship. Improved...
FMLA: Adjusting to a Changing World
February, 2013 marked the 20-year anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by then-president Bill Clinton in 1993. The legislation enabled workers the unpaid right to tend to families and their own needs when injured or ill. Most recently,...
Well Planned Partnership Agreements Can Prevent Disputes Later On
In 2010, Anthony and Jennifer Tiberia opened a restaurant business in partnership with another couple. The responsibilities of each partner seemed simple enough: one couple managed the business by handling the day-to-day operations while the Tiberias funded the...
First to Be Fired — Last to Be Hired
Job searching is a daunting task for anyone, especially in this economy. But for older workers, age discrimination can add to the difficulty of finding work. Jim Pawlak worked as a customer service representative at Xerox for 20 years. When the company announced job...
How to Negotiate a Confidentiality Agreement
Alan Carson is suing his former employers at Obor Digital, LLC claiming that the employment agreement he signed with them was overly restrictive. Among the complaints against Obor is that the agreement required Mr. Carson to agree to a completely vague and overly...
What Happens to My Case After I Settle in Mediation?
Cecil Staton, the Republican state senator from Macon, has settled through mediation a long running dispute with Georgia Southern University (GSU). Mr. Staton’s radio network, Georgia Eagle Media, defaulted on paying GSU the agreed upon percentage of advertising fees...
Workplace Sexual Harassment Case Settled — But Is Not the Last
Aaron faces another sexual harassment lawsuit. This time, former Georgia employees of the Atlanta rent-to-own retailer are demanding $675 million in damages. The employees, whose identities are protected, filed two civil lawsuits, one in state court and the other in...
How Does a Non-Compete Clause Help My Business?
Georgia’s state legislature passed a new non-compete law last year. The new law helps employers avoid seeing their best and brightest poached by competitors or losing customers to former employees with businesses that directly compete. The law was inspired by a 2009...