Articles About Georgia Labor And Employment Law.

Just as the United States Supreme Court recently limited the reach of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) in Van Buren v. United States, the Georgia Supreme Court has now reined in the Georgia state law counterpart to the CFAA.

While many states have issued orders prohibiting inquiries about an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status, Georgia has become the first to restrict public employers from requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment.

On May 25, 2021, Governor Brian Kemp signed an Executive Order (Order) prohibiting any state agency, provider of state services, or state property from implementing a Vaccine Passport Program (VPP)1 or otherwise requiring an individual to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.  The Order further states that no data from the

An unaccepted offer of judgment that contains internal inconsistencies and ambiguities as to its scope is neither enforceable nor supports an award of attorney’s fees under Georgia’s Rule 68. Reversing a trial court’s $837,445 award of attorney’s fees to defendants, the Georgia Court of Appeals held the defendants’ offer of

Effective January 1, 2021, several key components of Georgia’s existing garnishment code were amended. The main changes are discussed below.

Who Can Be Served?

Plaintiff-creditors may now serve garnishments on a defendant-debtor’s employer or another person or entity “under periodic obligations for payment” to the defendant-debtor.

Calculating Disposable Earnings

The state of Georgia has had a lactation break law on the books for quite some time, but with House Bill 1090 the legislature made some important changes, effective August 5, 2020. As most employers know, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides lactation break requirements for employers, so

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed into law Senate Bill 359, which, like legislation enacted by several other states, is designed to protect healthcare facilities, businesses, and other entities from civil liability related to the spread of COVID-19, except in limited situations that include where there is a showing of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed new legislation requiring employers to provide paid lactation breaks and private locations at the worksite where working mothers can express breast milk. The new law is effective immediately.

Georgia recently became the ninth state1 to shield businesses from liability stemming from COVID-19.  Governor Brian Kemp signed the new law, the Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act, on August 5, 2020, and the new law took effect immediately.

On July 17, 2020, the Georgia Department of Labor issued updated emergency Rules concerning unemployment benefits in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The new Rules went into effect on July 19 and continue through November 16, 2020, or until the Department proposes and enacts subsequent rules or guidance.

On June 26, 2020, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill (SB) 359 to limit liability for COVID-19-related claims. The bill, which is titled “Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act,” has not yet been signed by Governor Brian Kemp. Several states have enacted similar legislation, including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,

On April 23, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp signed an Executive Order (Order) relaxing the statewide Shelter in Place Order issued on April 2, 2020, and providing additional guidance related to the performance of work for Critical Infrastructure businesses and non-Critical Infrastructure businesses, including businesses recently permitted to reopen. The Order also requires individuals at higher risk of severe illness to continue sheltering in place and some businesses to remain closed to the public. The Order is in effect from Friday May 1, 2020 at 12:00 a.m. until May 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

On April 2, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp signed an Executive Order requiring Georgia residents and visitors to shelter in place within their homes or places of residence, except to engage in limited essential activities, to perform work for Critical Infrastructure businesses or to perform work activities required for “Minimum Basic Operations” of non-critical infrastructure businesses. The Order expressly closes the public operations and in-person services of some businesses and professionals, and is in effect from Friday, April 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. until Monday, April 13, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

On the heels of a limited “shelter in place” order by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued a Stay at Home Order requiring all individuals living in the City of Atlanta to stay at home, except to engage in limited activities, to work for Essential Businesses or to engage in other permitted work activities. The City’s Order also provides that all non-essential businesses must cease operations at physical locations within the City, except for “Minimum Basic Operations.”

The Georgia Department of Labor has passed an emergency rule requiring employers to file claims for partial unemployment benefits online on behalf of employees who have been temporarily laid off or have had their hours reduced due to the lack of work as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.