Tag: Atlanta court reporter

With the unique challenge of working and keeping businesses going during COVID-19, having a remote office has become our new normal but it can still be an unknown, possibly even stressful, factor amid these disruptive and uncertain times.

It’s more important now than ever to keep your mental and emotional well-being in check, as well as that of your employees and staff.

SET SCHEDULES 

Keeping a regular, and realistic, schedule is vital. Plan your day as if you were in the office with a start time, lunch time and quitting time. Make sure you allow technology-free time to pamper yourself, whether that’s reading a book, working on a jigsaw puzzle or a soothing bath.

HAVE A DEDICATED WORK SPACE

You don’t need a room specifically for your home office but find space that is to be your work area during work hours. This can be a corner in your bedroom, living room or on your kitchen table. Tell your family this is your work area during your scheduled work times. After hours, it can go back to its intended use.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK 

Working from home doesn’t (and shouldn’t) mean parking yourself at your desk 24-7. Your mind and body need breaks throughout the day so be sure to take them, preferably every 30 to 60 minutes. It may be getting up to stretch for a few minutes or getting a glass of water. On phone calls, get in the habit of standing rather than sitting to keep that blood flowing.

BUT WATCH OUT FOR THOSE DISTRACTIONS!

Working from home can be wonderful (saving on gas and travel time with no commute and hey, you don’t even have to wear shoes!) but being at home can lend to a host of distractions. Don’t let your laundry, that Harry Potter marathon or social media impact your productivity.

STAY CONNECTED

That said, social media is a wonderful way to keep in touch, not only with family but also co-workers. The office is not only a place to work but also a method to combat loneliness and isolation. Working from home, especially for extroverts, can create anxiety. So check in with your co-workers, not just to discuss work-related matters but also fun things, like sharing recipes and family and pet photos.

AND GET FRESH AIR

Fresh air and sunshine are a necessity. With fewer people driving, and warmer weather upon most of us, getting away from your desk, out the door and into the environment is fundamental. Not only will it invigorate you but will keep your immune system healthy.

SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS

If your workload is lighter than normal, it’s the perfect time to investigate some online courses that will improve your skills, raise the value of your expertise and give you continuing education credit. As a bonus, it also takes your mind off economic worries.

DON’T FORGET YOUR EMPLOYEES

If you’re in management, it’s imperative not to neglect your employees. Understand that they might be feeling anxious, overworked and even isolated. Make yourself available to address any issues they might have. Have regular meetings by video or phone to keep everyone up to date. Let your staff know the best way to reach you with questions or emergencies. Find out if your health plan offers support for insureds who may need it and pass that information along.

Lastly, smile and breathe!

The Jurist, a legal news and research site, reports that multiple civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against Georgia’s Secretary of State Brian Kemp – who is also the Republican nominee for state governor – to stop enforcement of recent election law. House Bill 268 (HB 268) has essentially placed a hold on more than 50,000 registered voters – a majority of whom are African American.
HB 268

While nursing mothers have had to endure shaming whilst breastfeeding in public – something that is likely not going to end any time soon – now they have the law on their side. Earlier this year, public breastfeeding became legal in all 50 states. This became possible thanks to two states – Idaho and Utah – that passed laws that protect breastfeeding mothers, according to a news report published by USA Today.

National Breastfeeding Month

August is National Breastfeeding Month. Accordingly, below is a list of rights and protections nursing mothers have in the United States.

• Mothers can now breastfeed anywhere, any time, in all 50 states, as well as the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.;
• 17 states have laws on the books that address breastfeeding mothers who are called for jury duty; some allow postponement of jury duty while others allow an outright exemption;
• Under ACA, the cost of breastfeeding pumps is covered at no cost to the mother, although the insurer can choose the brand and type (electric, manual or rental) that is covered under the policy;
• Lactation consultant costs are also covered at no charge by health insurance under ACA, including meetings with in-network consultants, domestic violence counseling, and gestational diabetes testing;
• Employers must provide break time for nursing mothers and a place to pump breastmilk, for up to one year after the baby’s birth, according to the Department of Labor;
• 29 states, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have laws on the books regarding breastfeeding in the workplace;
• Six states, in addition to Puerto Rico, have encouraged the development of or implemented breastfeeding awareness education campaigns. These include California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi and Vermont.

Under Nevada law, the statutes note that breastfeeding a child is not considered a violation of indecent exposure laws, and that a mother may breastfeed in any private or public location, where the mom is otherwise allowed to be located.

Other Protections for Mothers

It is estimated that at least 180 countries across the globe have laws that guarantee some type of paid maternity leave. Only nine countries do not provide this benefit – Papau New Guinea, Surinam, six Pacific island nations, and the United States. In America, four states – California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island – offer paid leave that is funded through payroll taxes.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BOL) reports that more than 41 million U.S. workers can not take a paid sick day to care for a child who is ill; moreover, a mere 12% have access to paid leave. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the state of Georgia ranks 44th in the nation when it comes to working mothers. And, under Georgia state laws, maternity leave is not mandatory; neither mothers nor fathers have extensive rights under its laws. Moms generally have the option to buy short-term disability insurance before getting pregnant – and this is how they are able to earn maternity leave after the baby is born. That being said, dads are unable to file a short-term disability claim under these insurance policies for parental leave.

Earlier this year, Georgia’s Supreme Court overruled the state’s Board of Bar Examiners’ (BBE) denial of a military spouse’s request to waive the state bar exam and be allowed to practice law in the state.

The Issues

The attorney, Harriet O’Neal, filed a petition with the Georgia BBE asking to be allowed to practice law in the state without sitting for the Georgia bar exam and without meeting the typical requirements for admission without examination. O’Neal based her request for a waiver on her status as a military spouse, as her husband had just been transferred to Georgia. According to the court, the BBE denied the request without providing a reason; accordingly, the court vacated the decision and remanded it back to the BBE.

The court noted that O’Neal, who graduated from law school, passed the Louisiana bar exam, and was admitted to practice in the state in 2014, did not meet the general requirements for admission to the Georgia bar on motion without examination under the applicable rules. Specifically, Louisiana does not offer reciprocity with Georgia or any other state, and she had not been primarily engaged in the practice of law for the prior five years. The rules, however, do allow an attorney to petition for a waiver on the basis of being a military spouse. Specifically, the rules state:

For purposes of this waiver process and policy, a military spouse petitioner is a person who is:

(a)    An attorney at law who has been admitted by examination to membership in the bar of the highest court of another United States jurisdiction;

(b)    The dependent spouse of an active duty member, including but not limited to members called to active duty under Title 10 of the United States Code, of the United States Uniformed Services as defined by the Department of Defense of the United States (or, for the Coast Guard, when it is not operating in the service of the Navy, by the Department of Homeland Security); and

(c)    The spouse of a service active duty member who is on military orders stationed or home-ported in the State of Georgia.

Once a petition has provided documentation proving the above, the BEE will consider when determining whether or not to approve the waiver:

• The duration of the military spouse petitioner’s engagement in the active practice of law, as defined in Part C, Section 3 of the Rules;
• The military spouse petitioner’s employment history in the legal profession; and
• The career goals of the military spouse petitioner.

The court instructed the BBE to clearly apply the military waiver policy and explain why it came to its decision.

Important Issue

Statistically, there is a high unemployment rate among spouses of active duty service members due to the constant traveling by the family. Moreover, retention of active duty members can suffer when the families do not have enough income to repay a military spouse’s student loans. Difficulty being admitted to a state in which the military spouse was required to live due to the active service members’ orders is another hurdle for employment as an attorney. Many in the legal field support the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision because it requires the BEE to clearly explain its criteria and decisions.