Employment Law

Almost every person depends on a job to support themselves and family members.  In the current economy where there are significant numbers of unemployed workers, employers generally have become less fair, less tolerant and less willing to provide opportunities.  It is difficult enough to keep a job without being treated unfairly.  Sometimes that unfair treatment crosses the line into illegal discrimination.

Although Georgia is an at will employment state without significant protections for employees, federal law still provides important protections that some employers continue to violate.  An employer cannot fire, demote, refuse to hire or promote, or significantly reduce your benefits because of your race, color, national origin, sex or gender, pregnancy, religion, age (over 40 years), physical or mental disability, military service or obligations, or in retaliation for asserting your rights under various statutes. 

An employer also cannot create or allow to continue a severely hostile work environment that impacts employees because of their race, color, national origin, sex or gender, pregnancy, religion, age (over 40 years), physical or mental disability, military service or obligations, or in retaliation for asserting rights under various statutes. 

In addition to these protections, federal law also governs when employees are entitled to receive overtime, how medical or disability benefits are determined, and provides certain leave rights to care for new children, sick family members or the employee.

Although Georgia provides no specific state law employment protections, the laws governing slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, and assault may come into play in certain situations.