The Florida Private Whistleblower Act is designed to protect private sector employees from retaliation for “blowing the whistle” on illegal or unethical acts by a private employer contractor. If you are a private employer, Florida’s Private Whistleblower Act could represent a real threat. The Legal Elements of a Whistleblower Claim An employee must prove three legal elements to win...
Continue ReadingThe Not-So-Minor Issues Involved in Employing Minors Like many of you, I first started working as a minor. First for a local waterpark as a lifeguard, and then as a hostess/cashier for a popular seafood restaurant. Employment of minors benefits the minor and the employer. The minor learns responsibility, gains some independence, sees a reward for hard work, and...
Continue ReadingAs a Florida business owner or executive, to grow your business, you’ll need to protect your investment in your people and their business know-how. Your intellectual property, the strategies you use to train staff, and things like your customer lists all have real value. It is important to keep them out of the hands of competitors. In a world...
Continue ReadingIf you suffer injury while performing your job, Florida law provides you with options to receive many benefits through the workers’ compensation system. A workers’ comp claim may give you access to care and financial support you might not otherwise have. However, taking your claim through the system is not always ideal. For injured workers who want more decision-making...
Continue ReadingA contract is a private agreement between two or more parties. When you sign a contract, you agree to assume certain legal obligations that would not have otherwise applied to you (delivering goods by a certain date, for example). Breach of contract occurs when one party fails to meet their contractual obligations. When it comes to breach of contract,...
Continue ReadingWhile insurance claims for hurricanes don’t only happen in Florida, they are certainly more common in Florida than in other states. Florida gets hit by more hurricanes each year than just about any other state, so it is critical that Florida homeowners and renters have some form of insurance. Filing a hurricane insurance claim isn’t always easy, however. Trying...
Continue ReadingBuying a business in Florida can be exciting and stressful. There are a lot of details that must be carefully considered before finalizing the sale. The majority of these fine points should be thoughtfully negotiated and put into writing in the form of a Florida asset purchase agreement. As with any big purchase, it is extremely important to pay...
Continue ReadingWhen a limited liability company (LLC) reaches the end of its life, properly closing it is important. There are several steps you may take, including many required by law. Accordingly, you should understand how to dissolve an LLC in Florida before doing so. Dissolving a Florida LLC has three main stages: making sure dissolution is appropriate under the circumstances;...
Continue ReadingFor a variety of reasons, there may come a time when it’s time to close a corporation through dissolution. If you are at this stage with your business, you’ve probably wondered how to dissolve a corporation in Florida. Dissolving a Florida corporation involves two primary steps: dissolving the corporation in the eyes of the law, and then winding up...
Continue ReadingEmployers know that safe and productive business practices require a drug-free workforce. Taking steps to maintain a safe workforce also keeps you in compliance with Florida law. Federal and Florida law require drug testing for some employees. Florida drug test laws also give employees certain privacy rights. Here, we give an overview of what you need to know about...
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