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The amount of time parents can take off from work for parental leave depends on the size of their company and the state in which they work. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act applies to all public and private employers with 50 or more workers. Eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year. An Atlanta employment attorney in your area can answer further questions about family leave in your state.

The Family and Medical Leave Act allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for certain family and medical reasons, without losing their jobs or health insurance, and applies to most public agencies and private employers with at least 50 employees. An Atlanta employment attorney can help you better understand how the FMLA may apply to your family circumstances.

Employment “at-will” means that your employer can terminate your employment at any time for almost any reason — or even for no reason at all. Generally, workers are considered at-will employees unless they have an employment contract stating otherwise. But employment contracts don’t have to be written; a court can enforce oral employment contracts. An Atlanta employment attorney can explain how at-will employment fits your particular circumstances.

There are two primary types of harassment at work for which the law offers remedies. The first is a hostile work environment, when an employee is subject to severe or pervasive, unwelcome workplace conduct. The second type of harassment is sometimes referred to as “quid pro quo,” which most often occurs in sexual harassment cases. If you’ve faced harassment in the workplace, an Atlanta employment lawyer can explain your legal options.

A non-compete agreement is a contractual provision that prevents workers from starting a competing business or working for a competitor after they leave a position. Non-compete clauses can be part of an initial employment contract or signed at a later date. An Atlanta employment lawyer in your area can help you understand your rights and restrictions under a non-compete agreement.

Under federal law, workplace discrimination occurs when you are treated differently at work due to sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age (40 and older), or citizenship status. When an employer demonstrates discriminatory intent in hiring, promoting, and disciplining workers based on their status as members of a protected class or category, affected workers may have grounds for a claim. An Atlanta employment attorney can explain how workplace discrimination could apply to your situation.

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must pay employees at least time-and-a-half wages when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek. However, some workers are exempt from these rules. Exempt workers typically perform high-level or specialized work and make a certain annual salary. A local employment attorney can answer questions about your eligibility for overtime based on your particular circumstances.

A hostile work environment is unlawful harassment that happens when unwelcome conduct is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with an employee’s ability to do their job. Offensive comments or conduct must relate to a characteristic protected under federal or state law, and the behaviors must typically continue over a period of time. An Atlanta employment lawyer can explain whether the facts of your case might form the basis of a hostile work environment claim.