Atlanta Employment Attorneys Blog

Fulton County Hit With $1.18 Million Judgment in Discrimination Case

May 22, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

WSBTV is reporting that a federal judge has awarded an Atlanta man $1.18 million as a result of his discrimination lawsuit against Fulton County. In 2012, a jury awarded Doug Carl, a former employee of the Fulton County Department of Human Services (“DHS”), $300,000 for back pay that he would have received had the county not discriminated against him. The judge’s additional award covers issues such as the loss of the Carl’s position, the loss of his pension, and five years of future pay, since he would have been eligible for retirement at that time. Whether the county will be responsible for Carl’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees remains an outstanding issue. This is an important case for your Atlanta employment attorneys, as it shows just how costly an employment discrimination lawsuit can be for parties on both sides of the dispute.

Wage and Hour Lawsuits Increase in 2012: A Report by Your Atlanta Employment Lawyers

May 14, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

The National Economic Research Associates (“NERA”) recently released a report indicating that wage and hour lawsuits and settlements have increased in 2012 across the United States. According to NERA’s report on LawyersandSettlements.com, employers paid, on average, 18% more to settle wage and hour disputes in 2012 than they did in 2011.

Most Women Still Feel Discrimination in the Workplace: Your Atlanta Employment Lawyer Reports

May 6, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

Although many things have changed in American society over the past 15 years, views on gender inequality in the workplace haven’t seemed to change too significantly. According to moneytalksnews.com, a poll of 1,000 conducted this April by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal found that little had changed since a similar poll was conducted over 15 years ago in 1997. The poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of women still believe that they are discriminated against at work on the basis of their gender. However, your Atlanta employment lawyer notes that there were signs of optimism that were not present in the previous poll in terms of the ability of a woman to effectively balance her work and home life.

Age Discrimination Laws and How They Affect You

April 30, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), age discrimination occurs when an employee or an applicant for employment is treated less favorably due to his or her age. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) is the federal law that governs age discrimination in the United States. However, the Atlanta employment attorneys at Parks, Chesin & Walbert warn that the ADEA protects only those individuals who are age 40 or older from employment discrimination. As many workers have experienced, age discrimination can happen at any level and any age.

11th Circuit Rules in Favor of Employee Asserting Equal Pay Act Violation Claim: An Update from Your Georgia Employment Attorney

April 24, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11^th Circuit recently reversed a district court ruling in the case of Edwards v. Fulton County, Georgia, et al., finding that Edwards had a valid claim under the Equal Pay Act, Atlanta employment attorneys report.

Sequestration Cuts Short Federal Extended Unemployment Benefits

April 16, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the current federal government sequestration will begin adversely affecting federal extended unemployment benefits for unemployed workers in Georgia and across the United States. Regular state unemployment benefits will not be affected by the sequestration, but extended benefits funded by the federal government will be cut by 10.7%. Due to the financial impact that this cut may have, the Atlanta employment lawyers at Parks, Chesin & Walbert want to ensure that you are aware of this potential decrease in unemployment benefits before it begins to affect you and your family.

Clearwater Paper to Lay Off 150 Thomaston Workers

March 25, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Clearwater Paper Corp. has announced its plans to close a Thomaston tissue converting and distribution facility, a move which will affect approximately 150 workers, Georgia employment lawyers report. The Thomaston plant is located in Upson County, about an hour and a half south of Atlanta.

Salary Issues: The Professional Exemption under the FLSA

January 6, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

Although minimum wage and overtime pay regulations apply to most employees in the United States, there remain certain employees that are exempt from both. Section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) notes exemptions for professional, executive, administrative, and outside sales employees. Certain computer employees are also exempt under this section, as well as under Section 13(a)(17).

Waiving Overtime Rights

January 2, 2013 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

While a 40 hour workweek is considered standard practice in the United States, many employees often go above and beyond the call of duty in an effort to meet deadlines, make a positive impression, or get ahead. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers are obligated to provide overtime pay for employees that work an excess of 40 hours in a workweek. This right to overtime pay cannot be waived through any announcement made by the employer or by any agreement made between the employer and employee.

Safeguarding Tipped Employees

December 17, 2012 | Parks, Chesin & Walbert

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) outlines a number of requirements regarding the payment of employees who regularly receive over $30 per month in tips. According to these requirements, tips are to remain property of the employee and cannot be confiscated by an employer except in cases where a tip credit or tip pool is applicable.