Sharman Law Firm in the News
A case I recently filed in the Middle District of Georgia was spotlighted in this article:
http://www.macon.com/2012/10/17/2216553/lawsuit-claims-warner-robins-church.html#storylink=cpy
One Year In…
So, Wednesday was my one year anniversary at The Sharman Law Firm LLC. Let’s review what I have learned so far:
– Marketing and networking are very important, but must be targeted. In the beginning, I went to just about every meeting. Now, I am focused on those groups that provide the best opportunity for professional and business growth.
– Responsiveness is key. Even if it takes a little longer than expected to get a case resolved, it is important to keep clients updated and informed on a regular basis.
– When you work for yourself, the office is never closed. I find myself thinking about case strategies and legal theories on weekends, as I fall asleep, when I am watching TV, etc.
I look forward to many more years of providing client service and becoming a valuable part of the North Fulton legal community.
When Should You Be Paid For Not Working?
Sometimes, employers must compensate employees for not working. While this seems to make no sense, a quick look at several situations explains why some employees get paid for doing nothing (or very little).
Training If you are required to attend a seminar or other educational meeting, you might be eligible for pay for these sessions. You may also be eligible to be paid for time spent traveling to the location of the meeting.
On-Call This is a major area for litigation over unpaid wages. Some employees are considered “waiting to be engaged.” Typically, these employees are free to do whatever they want with the sole condition that they be available if paged, called or texted by their employer to report to work. The only restrictions on these employees are that they cannot drink alcohol or be too far away from the work location during on-call time. Examples include repair workers, technical support, and back-up firefighters. Other employees are “engaged to wait.” These employees may have down time, but are required to remain on site or restricted from doing other activities. Examples include on-duty firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers.
Sleep Some employees need to sleep on the job during long shifts. These employees may get compensated for their nap time. Examples include doctors, nurses, and firefighters.
If you have questions about whether you have been properly compensated for “not working,” call Paul at The Sharman Law Firm at 678-242-5297.
Interesting Twist on Overtime
This woman was fired for working too much off the clock overtime, but managed to win her unemployment claim. This shows that while an employer can fire someone for not following directions, including working too much, the employee can likely still get unemployment benefits.
http://gma.yahoo.com/chicago-woman-fired-doing-lunch-wins-unemployment-claim-145926016–abc-news.html