Whether you are a business owner or an employee, you may have questions about employment contracts, termination, and other legal issues that arise in the workplace. Both federal and state laws govern employment, so it is best to work with a dedicated business law attorney who understands these complex regulations. If you would like to understand your rights and responsibilities better or litigate a dispute, contact an Alpharetta employment lawyer to discuss your situation.
If you’re a business owner, the best way to avoid future worker disputes is to draft clear employment contracts. If you have a legal agreement in place that outlines your workers’ rights and responsibilities, it can protect you if an employee accuses you of committing a wrongful act. Other essential employment documents that a qualified lawyer can help you execute include:
Employees should also consider reviewing all contracts with a lawyer before signing to ensure that they understand their obligations.
Employers and employees are most likely to encounter disputes regarding discrimination, overtime pay, wrongful termination, or harassment in the workplace.
Employment discrimination occurs when someone from a legally protected class experiences unjust treatment at work. Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 45-19-29, also known as the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act, states that no employee can be discriminated against due to their race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age. This law only applies to businesses with 15 or more employees.
However, some laws apply to all business owners, regardless of the size of the company. For example, in Georgia it is illegal to discriminate against individuals aged 40 to 70 under O.C.G.A. § 34-1-2. If you are an employee and believe you have been discriminated against or a business owner who has recently been sued, you should hire legal counsel right away.
Because the state has not enacted labor laws concerning overtime pay, the Federal Wage and Hour Law (FLSA) applies to employees working in Alpharetta. This means employers who request or require employees to work more than 40 hours within seven consecutive days must pay them time and a half for those additional hours. A lawyer in the area can help employees and employers resolve any disputes regarding their rights to receive or deny overtime pay.
Any activity that creates a hostile work environment can be considered harassment. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees at private companies from sexual harassment as long as the business employs fifteen or more people.
An employee is considered wrongfully terminated if their employer fires them for discriminatory reasons or in retaliation for something. Wrongful termination may also be based on violating the terms of an employment contract. An Alpharetta attorney familiar with these types of employment matters can advise you on dealing with such a lawsuit.
Whether you are an employee seeking legal recourse, or an employer trying to mitigate future disputes, Sparks Law can help you build a safe and productive work environment.
Call us today to schedule an initial consultation with an Alpharetta employment lawyer. Our trusted team is prepared to provide legal assistance for all your workforce needs.
