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Eleventh Circuit: Discrimination Defined When Compared to Similar Employees

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March 21, 2019

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When making a discrimination claim under federal law, an employee must show she was treated differently than a “similarly situated” individual. In Lewis v. Union City, the Eleventh Circuit en banc defined what it means to be similarly situated. Specifically, only employees who are “similarly situated in all material respects” may be compared for purposes of finding discrimination. Although the analysis of similarity of “all material respects” will be determined on a case-by-case basis, the court gave “guideposts” of what to consider. For example, such individuals will have (1) engaged in the same basic conduct, (2) been subject to the same employment policy or rule, (3) ordinarily have the same supervisor, and (4) a shared employment or disciplinary history.

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Georgia: “Key Employee” Clarified Under Restrictive Covenants Act

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March 5, 2019

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The Georgia Restrictive Covenants Act (GRCA) prohibits noncompete agreements with employees unless they “customarily and regularly” solicit customers or make sales, or are a “key employee.” In Blair v. Pantera Enters., Inc., the Georgia Court of Appeals provided clarity on what a key employee is. There, an employee left to work for a competitor and a client followed because of its relationship with the employee. The employee did not solicit customers or make sales, and the employer attempted to enforce the noncompete on the basis of being a key employee.

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Eleventh Circuit: Valet Uniforms May Be “Materials” Requiring FLSA Coverage of Employees

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June 29, 2018

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In Asalde v. First Class Parking Sys. LLC, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal stated that a jury may determine whether valet uniforms meet the “materials” definition for “enterprise coverage” which would allow them the protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA applies, in part, to employers who have “employees handling, selling, or otherwise working on goods or materials that have been moved in or produced for [interstate or international] commerce by any person” and have an annual volume of business of at least $500,000. (Emphasis added.)

Georgia: Employees working with the Elderly Must Undergo Extensive Background Checks

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All Employers with GA Employees Who Provide Care to Elderly or Disabled Adults

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October 1, 2019

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Effective October 1, 2019, the Georgia Long-Term Care Background Check Program imposes significantly greater background screening requirements on employers who hire individuals with direct access to elderly adults.  Abuse of the elderly and adults with disabilities has increased in recent years, and the new law is intended to help protect the vulnerable adult population.