When your company is ready to assert itself as a leader in the industry, it makes sense to influence its future through mentorship. Hiring an intern is one of the most effective ways a company can give back to the community and also have the opportunity to vet talented newcomers with little risk. One question inevitably arises in these situations: do you have to pay interns? The answer to this question is not a Read More

Employment classification is one of the most complex but essential aspects of running a business and being an employer. The terms “exempt” and “non-exempt” are used all the time, but what exactly are certain employees “exempt” from? Both classifications determine how employees are compensated and what rights and protections they’re entitled to. Working with your attorney to accurately make the distinction between Read More

Tipping in the U.S. is customary in certain circumstances, and restaurant employees, in particular, tend to rely on tips as a source of income. However, more and more businesses are utilizing tipping practices to offset the associated costs of having employees. Even experienced employers may be neglecting some of the more intricate legal caveats of tipping, especially when it comes to federal law. Before offering Read More

The classification of workers as either independent contractors or employees has long been a subject of debate in the labor and employment landscape. The distinction is critical, as it determines various rights and benefits, taxation, and legal responsibilities for the employer and the worker. Navigating this complex legal framework can be challenging, but understanding how these classifications work can benefit your Read More

To stay ahead of the competition, businesses have to embrace innovation and keep up with cutting-edge tech. Many companies across industries have been utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for years, but the topic has recently bolstered a tremendous amount of attention due to increased access to powerful tools like OpenAI’s Chat GPT. The use of AI can be very polarizing, and granted–it has its setbacks–but the Read More

- Christopher Butler, Esq.   Every successful business owner strives for a harmonious workplace, where employees can work in unity toward common goals and improve the company’s bottom line. Unfortunately, no matter how well-established a business might be, due to differing communication styles, political opinions, or just a general lack of emotional maturity, some form of workplace conflict is inevitable. But, how do Read More

- Christopher Butler, Esq.   Disputes are inevitable in the world of commerce, no matter how efficient a company’s operations might be. For certain, disagreements are commonplace between business partners, service providers, vendors, and employees. Left unresolved, this friction can easily cause disruption and threaten the businesses’ overall achievement and profitability. As a business owner, it’s crucial to have a Read More

- Christopher Butler, Esq. For an example of how disparaging comments about an employee’s need for leave can result in a lawsuit, keep reading. Not long ago, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (federal court deciding appeals from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) held that a real estate company’s decision to fire an excessively tardy executive assistant for her refusal to sign a performance memo, amidst her bosses’ Read More

- Christopher Butler, Esq. What happens when an employee takes an extended leave of absence but fails to complete the employer’s required documentation? This is the issue the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (federal appellate court deciding cases from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) recently tackled, upholding dismissal of a worker’s claim that his employer interfered with FMLA leave rights, and reaffirming that the Read More

- Christopher Butler, Esq. What happens when HR helps an employee file a workplace discrimination claim against the company that they both work for? In one such instance, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (federal appellate court deciding cases from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) decided that an automaker’s decision to fire a human resource representative – after suspecting her of recruiting another employee to Read More