By K.P. Reddy | Published January 22, 2024 | Posted in Employment and Labor Law | Tagged Tags: Georgia Restrictive Covenants Act, nondisclosure covenants, nonsolicit covenants, restrictive covenants |
In 2011, Georgia adopted landmark legislation governing the use of restrictive covenants in employment contracts. It expressly permits noncompete, nonsolicit and nondisclosure agreements and sets presumptively reasonable scopes and time limits for enforceability. This statute represents a broad reform of state law, but not all employment situations are covered. The Georgia Restrictive Covenants Act (GRCA) Read More
Read MoreArbitration is a legal process often used as an alternative to litigation in resolving disagreements in the workplace. Employers can require employees to agree to arbitration of certain disputes as a condition of employment. These agreements are generally enforceable as long as they do not intrude on a federally protected right. In addition, employees can Read More
Read MoreEmployees in Georgia are protected by federal and state equal pay laws. The principal statute is the Equal Pay Act, which requires employers to pay workers the same wage for similar work regardless of their gender. The state version essentially tracks the federal law. The Equal Pay Act prohibits pay discrimination on the basis of Read More
Read MoreIf you work overtime, you are likely entitled to be paid at a higher than usual rate, known as “time and a half.” You might be surprised to learn that Georgia does not require the payment of an overtime premium, but federal law does, and employers in Georgia must comply with federal law. If yours Read More
Read MoreIn Georgia, as in many states, most workers are “at will” employees, which means they generally can be terminated without cause. However, terminations cannot be in violation of federal laws against workplace discrimination or of laws that protect employees from retaliation for asserting their rights. If you have been fired for reasons you believe are Read More
Read MoreA non-solicitation agreement prohibits former employees of a company from seeking to lure away the company’s existing clients and from hiring or recruiting the company’s other employees. Georgia’s Restrictive Covenants Act requires that non-solicitation agreements contain reasonable restrictions on the geographic area covered, but there has been some uncertainty about statutory exceptions to the restriction. Read More
Read MoreBusiness owners can come face to face with a wide range of external threats that can harm their companies, such as economic conditions, natural disasters and even government regulations. But problems don’t always come from the outside. Internal disputes among co-owners and/or executives and managers can cripple a business. It’s important for business partners to Read More
Read MoreUnlike many other states, Georgia does not have a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that shields private employees. Instead, those who work for private companies must rely on federal laws, which are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), plus a small handful of state laws that address specific types of discrimination. The Georgia Fair Employment Read More
Read MoreGeorgia is known as an at-will employment state, which means most workers serve at the pleasure of their employers. Certain employees have contracts that guarantee compensation levels and other terms consistent with set performance expectations. While contracts can effectively spell out the rights and obligations that employees and employers have towards each other, mistakes in Read More
Read MoreJob dissatisfaction can arise for many reasons, some personal and some driven by employer conduct. If you believe you are being mistreated at work to the point where you feel you have no choice but to quit, you may be able to claim a constructive discharge. That means you may be eligible to recover money Read More
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