According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the employment rights of an employee differ to those of a contractor. Those who have an "employment relationship" are the recipient of many more benefits. Because of this, a problem can occur. Employers often...
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Pittsburgh Employment Law Blog
Preventing getting sued by your employees
Making the decision to fire an employee is never an easy one. Having the conversation with the employee is in itself difficult, but it is also to some extent accepting defeat in the hiring process. You hired someone who was clearly not appropriate for the role, and in...
Making sure your independent contractors don’t get reclassified
One of the biggest mistakes a company can make is hiring an independent contractor and then having that person be reclassified as an employee by the government. If that happens, you've just been handed a mess involving taxation, benefits, insurance and a host of other...
What PA employers should know about wrongful discharge
As in many other states, employment in Pennsylvania is generally at will. This means that, in the absence of a contract stating otherwise, an employer may fire an employee for any reason, and an employee may quit for any reason. However, the law also provides certain...
How to terminate employment the right way
It's never easy to fire an employee. In addition to the difficult conversation that needs to occur, you may also be worried that if any procedure is not followed through properly, that the former employee may seek legal action for improper termination. This blog will...
Some factors to consider before you draft a noncompete agreement
Business litigation is on the rise in the United States. A U.S. federal court statistic from 2012, showed that during that one year, judges made 760 decisions having to do with noncompete agreements (NCAs). That number marked a 61 percent increase over the rate from...
What an employer needs to know about the Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was put in place for the purpose of protection for Americans that suffer from disabilities. This protection extends to disability in employment, government (both state and local), transportation, telecommunications and public...
Planning your retirement financials
Retirement investments are one of the most important plans you will ever have to make. On average, Americans need to rely on savings for 18 years after their retirement. Therefore, making sure that you have made the appropriate investments is crucial so that you can...
How to classify independent contractors and employees differently
In Pennsylvania, it's critical for employers to clearly define whether someone who works for them is classified as an independent contractor or an employee. That's because, according to state law, unless an employer proves it otherwise, all individuals who work for a...
Differences between an employment agency and a staffing agency
Many people make the mistake of using the terms staffing agency and employment agency interchangeably. The phrases actually mean considerably different things, and it is important to be familiar with these differences. There are certain liabilities associated with...

