Request Legal Help Now - Free

Advertisement
LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Georgia Labor and Employment Law

Georgia labor law lawsuits allege violations of Georgia state labor laws including minimum wage and overtime pay violations. The rights of employees in Georgia are protected by laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Possible violations of Georgia employment labor law can result in lawsuits being filed against the employer.

FREE GEORGIA EMPLOYMENT LAW LAWSUIT EVALUATION

Send your Georgia Employment Law claim to a lawyer who will review your claim at NO COST or obligation.
GET LEGAL HELP NOW

Georgia Employment Law

Georgia Minimum Wage and Overtime

Since October 1, 2009, the Georgia minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. Because this is less than federal law, many employees in Georgia are entitled to the FLSA minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Georgia overtimeGeorgia's minimum wage does not apply to employers with sales of $40,000.00 per year or less, with five employees or fewer, with domestic employees or an employer who is a farmer owner. It also does not apply to employees who receive compensation in the form of gratuities, who are in high school or college or who are employed as newspaper carriers.

Certain employees under the age of 20 can be paid $4.25 per hour during their first 90 days of employment. After those 90 days, the employee must be paid the full minimum wage.

Employees are entitled to one-and-one-half times their regular rate of pay for weeks in which they work in excess of 40 hours.

Child Labor in Georgia

No children under the age of 12 may be employed. Any minors under 16 years old who have not graduated from high school must have a work certificate (permit) from his or her school. Furthermore, such employees must not work more than four hours in a day during the school year or more than eight hours a day during a vacation time. They must also not work more than 40 hours a week and must not work between 9:00 pm and 6:00 am. However, federal law also has regulations about employing minors, in which case the federal law may take precedence over Georgia law.

Individuals under the age of 18 must have a work permit, regardless of their family status.

At Will Employment

Georgia is an "employment at will" state. As such, at-will employees can be terminated for any reason, so long as the reason is not illegal, such as discrimination.

Meal and Rest Breaks

Georgia does not have any laws requiring meal periods or rest breaks for employees.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

The Fair Labor Standards Act is a federal law regarding employee wages and hours worked, including overtime hours and wages. Under the FLSA, some workers are exempt from overtime pay. However, those workers must fit the criteria the FLSA sets out for exemption. Georgia's laws also apply to employment subject to the FLSA. In cases where both the FLSA and Georgia law apply, the law setting the higher standards must be observed.

More information on how the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to overtime can be found here.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Georgia overtimeThe Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal act that requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees for the following reasons: birth and care of the employee's newborn child; care for a child after adoption or foster care placement; care for the employee's spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition; or for a serious health condition that affects the employee's ability to work.

Georgia employmentCovered employers are those who employ more than 50 employees within 75 miles of the worksite and have at least 50 employees who work 20 or more work-weeks in the current calendar year or the previous calendar year. Public agencies are covered by the FMLA regardless of the number of employees.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a federal law enacted to ensure that employees work in an environment that is free from recognized hazards. It is part of the United States Code, Title 29, Chapter 15.

Federal laws also protect employees from sexual harassment and discrimination, including race, age, disability and pregnancy discrimination.

Georgia employees who feel their rights have been violated may have the opportunity to bring their complaint before the courts.
 

Georgia Employment Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered damages in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Last updated on

GEORGIA EMPLOYMENT LAW LEGAL ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

Contractor to US Government Cited for Equal Pay Violations, Settles for $1.2 Million
Contractor to US Government Cited for Equal Pay Violations, Settles for $1.2 Million
February 25, 2017
Alpharetta, GA: A group of women employed by LexisNexis Risk Solutions in the state of Georgia will share in a $1.2 million settlement alleging pay discrimination due to gender. The 185 women in Georgia will be joined by 26 workers in Florida receiving back pay stemming from gender discrimination, a violation of Georgia employment and federal laws. READ MORE

Carolina Skiff Fined for Georgia Labor Law Violations
Carolina Skiff Fined for Georgia Labor Law Violations
April 21, 2011
Carolina Skiff, a manufacturer of fiberglass boats, was cited and fined more than $95,000 recently for violating Georgia labor law, according to a release from the US Department of Labor. READ MORE

Georgia Employment: Did Pregnancy Cause Cop's Termination?
Georgia Employment: Did Pregnancy Cause Cop's Termination?
April 9, 2011
There are many valid reasons for terminating an employee, but whether or not pregnancy is one remains to be determined, likely in a Georgia employment lawsuit. Although legally a woman cannot be fired for being pregnant, the cop was fired and may now file a Georgia employment lawsuit alleging her employers violated her rights. When employee rights are violated, lawsuits alleging violations of federal and Georgia labor laws can be filed, to either compensate the victim financially or to help her regain her job. READ MORE

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
I work for a VA hospital in Georgia, and although I do the same exact job as my co-workers, have the exact same job title, have the same job description, work the exact same schedule, and I'm expected to do the same exact duties, but they're all making more than $3,000 a year above what I'm being paid. If I was a woman, I don't believe they could get away with this, but since I'm not, this seems to be allowed. Do I really have no legal options.

Posted by

on
I worked three days for this company, went to the bank to try to cash the check and realized that they did not sign the check . So after bringing it to their attention I had to wait 4 days to to wait for somebody to sign it while I was almost hungry to tears because I could not buy food. So after finally letting them sign it , I took it to the bank and I guess because the ink came off of the check , the system cannot read the check so therefore I may have to issue another check . They are giving me the runaround about getting another check by telling me to call them this time and that time. I just spoke with the lady over payroll and she is supposedly out of town on the day that she said that she would give me another check . So I called her husband and he says that he can just issue out checked anytime he wants he has to wait until Friday but what I don't understand is that this is his private owned business .I filed for unemployment but he said that I will not get it because he bragged about how he did not drug test me and and did not go over pay information. But i do have a check stub though. Since then i have been begging friends for food and i was told that i now have to leave my uncles apartment by the 1st of january. I dont know what to do.

Posted by

on
I have a question. My girlfriend was asked to work a shift requiring her to stay on the clock for 17 hours without a break or lunch period and if she refused she would loose her job. I live in Georgia. Is this illegal?

Posted by

on
I work for a state funded program with the handicapped. I would like to know if you work over 40 hours are they suppose to pay us overtime wages. I have been with this instuite for 4 years and sometimes have put in over 110 hours a week for miminum wages of 7.25 a hour.

Posted by

on
Hi Sir/Madam,

1. Is it a must for paying employees by bio-weekly?

2. Is there any minimum wages that Employer need to pay the Employee by hourly count?

Posted by

on
Since I've been working at this nursing facility, we have not clocked out for a break. They automatically take the 30 mins out of our shift even if we don't get a break that day...Also we're not able to leave to get something to eat on our breaks...And today is enough, since I found out about the labor law about breaks... I would really love your help.

Posted by

on
I have missed time from work with no pay or other benefits ultimately causing me to have to resign due to the unbearable working environment.

ADD YOUR COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE

Please read our comment guidelines before posting.


Note: Your name will be published with your comment.


Your email will only be used if a response is needed.

Are you the defendant or a subject matter expert on this topic with an opposing viewpoint? We'd love to hear your comments here as well, or if you'd like to contact us for an interview please submit your details here.

Request Legal Help Now! - Free