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It would seem that in America, workers hired to do the same job in the same conditions should get equal pay and fair treatment.
For sure the the national minimum wage should apply equally to everyone. "Not so" says a disgruntled group of African-American agricultural workers in Georgia that claim that some big farms are bypassing them and hiring migrant workers for less than the minimum wage.
Continue reading American versus Mexican farm workers
Recession means layoffs and unemployment, but employees that are now out of a job and a means of earning a livelihood should never just shrug their shoulders and chalk it all up to fate.
For sure the downsizing of one's company in lean times hurts, but it also marks a time when the former employer should carefully ensure that he or she gets the best shake in a bad situation.
Continue reading Downsizing can strike anywhere
When a mom and dad in Atlanta send their daughter or son off to join the military, the hope is that he or she is entering a world where rigid discipline is the touchstone of behavior and where at least a woman's honor would be afforded the same reverence as the American stars and stripes.
But this is not always so, and not by a long shot argue some critics when it comes to sexual harassment in the military ranks. It occurs both overseas and even at home bases such as Ft. Stewart, right here in the Peach State.
Continue reading Can anyone be immune from sexual harassment?
Workers in Atlanta, across the Peach State and around the country, are keeping a wary eye on Washington's Capitol Hill as Federal lawmakers mull legislation that extends what is now a public sector employee pay option to those tolling in the private sector. The percolating deal cuts to the heart of what has always been a third rail issue in management-labor affairs -- accounting for overtime.
The GOP-sponsored plan making the rounds would alter the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which requires that certain private sector employees are paid time-and-a-half for every hour over 40 that is worked within a week. Closing ranks with public employees, under the proposed law, private sector workers could amass up to four weeks of comp time per year that could be used for vacations in lieu of paid overtime.
Continue reading Atlanta employees wary of paid time off instead of overtime pay
Located a little south of Atlanta, workers at a giant waste disposal service in McDonough, Georgia, are up in arms over what they see as persistent safety issues, long shifts and failure to receive fair pay for all the hours of their hard labor. At the heart of this classic rift between labor and management is the sticking point of overtime.
The angry garbage truck drivers and riders have voiced concern to their union officers and the local media. They have banded together in protests over claims that not only is their pay being shorted, but they must use faulty equipment that is dangerous and hampers their massive job of hauling tons of waste every day
Continue reading Local workers want fair pay for all hours worked
Bullying can affect people of all ages and bullying in the workplace has increased across the U.S. New research shows that workplace bullying affects one in three workers in the country, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute.
What is workplace bullying? It is defined harassment and is the repeated mistreatment of another employee through verbal abuse, interference with another employee's work and offensive conduct. Federal and state laws protect workers from workplace bullying if the victim is a member of a certain group like their gender, religion, race or ethnicity.
A former judge in Georgia is facing accusations of sexual harassment from three former female employees. The allegations have led to the judge resigning, although he has denied that any inappropriate sexual behavior has taken place.
The female employees have filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the judge, saying that he created an environment of "sexual dominance." The lawsuit claims that the judge made sexual advances and sexually harassed the female employees, believing that he would not get caught due to his powerful connections as a judge.
The affects of the sequester have not been highlighted in the news lately, leaving many to think that the impact of the cuts have been less severe than anticipated. Unfortunately, the sequester has started to impact individuals in Georgia and throughout the country, some quite dramatically.
Companies and organizations have started to lay off employees, while other companies have stopped trying to fill open positions in response to the sequester. In addition to layoffs, other organizations have also been affected. Food pantries have closed, federal courts have closed on Fridays, and farmers are not receiving vital information about milk production, which could lead to higher dairy prices.
Gender discrimination is still a common occurrence in many workplaces in Georgia. A new study highlights gender discrimination in the workplace, as well as how that discrimination may lead to lower wages for female workers.
The study reported that many women still face gender discrimination in the workplace. The study found that 46 percent of women said they have had been discriminated against at work based on their gender. In addition, 84 percent of those surveyed in the study said that they believe they are paid less compared to their male co-workers. Two-thirds of males surveyed also agreed with this belief.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is unacceptable, but unfortunately, it still happens in many workplaces. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted sexual behavior toward someone else, and when it happens at work, employees are able to file a sexual harassment claim because their employer is required to investigate and protect their employees from harassment at work.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that employers must investigate claims of sexual harassment and if they do not, they can face penalties for not protecting their workers. Employers are required to have anti-harassment policies, and if an employee is sexually harassed at work, the company can be held liable for the harassment.
1100 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel: 404-418-5729
Tel: 866-748-8817
Fax: 404-214-0125
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