Fire At Will or Fire At Your Own Risk?
Max Brittain, the Labor and Employment Practice Group Leader, will lead a roundtable discussion of all issues surrounding an involuntary termination. The April 23, 2007 Business Week Magazine article "Fear of Firing," discusses the erosion of employment-at-will. It claims that many H.R. managers are viewed as "nervous Nellies," afraid to fire anyone. However, companies retaining poor performers risk having their excellent employees believe that co-workers who do not "carry their weight" will never be fired. This discussion will explore these issues and point out how an employer can maximize its defenses to a lawsuit from the disgruntled ex-employee.

Avoiding Immigration Potholes: I-9s, "No-Match" letters and staying on the right side of Homeland Security
Catherine Thompson, a partner in our Atlanta office Labor and Employment Group, will be joined by Robert Banta, an immigration attorney practicing in Atlanta, to discuss the recent trends in immigration law. Ms. Thompson and Mr. Banta will review the current status of state and federal immigration laws, civil and criminal liabilities facing employers who do not comply with work authorization procedures, the ramifications of joining the federal Basic Pilot work authorization program, regulations on social security no-match letters and discrimination issues arising under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.