Summary of Unemployment Eligibility and Benefits in NC

In 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly drastically cut benefits for individuals who lost their jobs.  Here are a few things you should know about the unemployment insurance benefit in North Carolina if you have recently become separated from your employer and are considering filing a claim for benefits: Prerequisites File a claim for unemployment benefits Must have been paid a minimum amount of wages based on your individual situation preceding the filing of the claim Register for work Eligibility You are …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress at Work

Understanding the Limitations of Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress in North Carolina North Carolina recognizes torts for both negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress. However, North Carolina courts have instructed that North Carolina law does not permit an action for negligent infliction of emotional distress by an employee against an employer because the Workers’ Compensation Act preempts all claims for negligent injury by employees against employers. What is Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED)? Intentional infliction of emotional distress …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Should NC Employees Worry About the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?

Congress passed the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) in 1986 to curb hacking practices, especially against the federal government. However, the law’s broad construction lent itself to the law’s use in prosecuting or suing departing employees for unauthorized access or exceeding authorized access of company computers or networks when they download company data for their use after departure. Until a few years ago, such claims made under the CFAA by employers against departed employees were successful in some courts. …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Moonlighting While on FMLA: Will It Get Me Fired?

Stack of money and an inscription Side gig income on it.

The short answer is “it depends.” Does Your Employer Have a Policy Against Outside Employment? What does it depend on, you ask? Well, it depends on whether your employer has a policy against outside employment and whether the company applies and enforces such a policy consistently to all employees who takes leave. FMLA Regulations on Outside Employment In fact, the regulations promulgated under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) speak directly to this point – “If the employer has …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Just Cause Termination: More than “Just ‘Cause” They Don’t Like You

Termination of Employment on an office desk.

Just Cause vs. At-Will Employment If you signed an employment contract, there’s probably a provision in the contract that governs the terms by which the contract can be terminated by your employer or by you. Often, termination of an employment contract can be immediate if done so “for cause” or “for just cause,” or a party may opt to terminate the agreement without cause with an appropriate amount of advance notice. Understanding Employment Contracts for Public and Private Employees Most …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

What to Expect at a Consultation

If you’ve never met with an attorney before (or even if you have), you’re probably wondering what to expect at the consultation you’ve scheduled with an employment attorney. You should expect that the attorney will: Introduce herself or himself and tell you a little about her or his background; Explain that the content of your meeting will remain confidential and are protected by the attorney-client privilege as long as you do not disclose the content to third parties; Explain that …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Fraud in the Inducement in the Employment Context

A folder and stack of papers about finances or taxes with an inscription fraud.

North Carolina does recognize a cause of action for employees who fall prey to an employer’s promise to employ without an intent to do so.  However, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the employer did not intend to honor its promises regarding employment at the time they were made. One North Carolina case demonstrates why these kinds of claims are hard hills to climb.  In February 2007, Eli Research, Inc. engaged Lyn Hittle in employment discussions in which Eli offered Hittle an …
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Posted in Employment Law |

A Fool’s Resignation on April 1

Yesterday, I posted an April Fools’ Day piece for employers.  Today, having been given some golden material by a friend of mine who ACTUALLY played this April Fool’s prank on his managers, I’m doing a belated April Fools’ Day lesson for employees.  (He didn’t consult me before doing this, obviously). The following is an example, for several reasons, of a prank NOT to play on April Fools’ Day (or the other 364 days of the year)… This e-mail went out …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

Off the Clock

I’ve heard employees say, “My employer tells me to clock out once I have reached 8 hours in the day, even if I haven’t finished my work.”  If you worked past when you clocked out, can you get paid for it?  If you actually worked more than 40 hours — even if your employer has a policy against working unauthorized overtime – do you still have a right to be paid for it? The answer to both questions is yes …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |

More than a Hunch

A federal court in Washington recently took up the case of a Muslim software architect who claimed harassment on the basis of his religion and national origin.  After staying in a room numbered 911 at a hotel on a business trip, he believed someone at his company booked him in that particular room to harass him because they knew that his first name is Mohammed, in order to remind him of the 9/11 terror attacks.  The case is Rahman v. …
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Posted in Employment Law, Noble Notes Employment Law Blog |