Employees in Tennessee generally need to conform to employer expectations. The company determines what job functions they need to perform and how they do their work. For the most part, there is an expectation that employees should follow all employer instructions while on the job or accept discipline if they do not. However, there are limits to those expectations. Employers cannot demand that workers break the law, nor can they intentionally violate workplace safety regulations and put workers at risk. Both federal and state statutes theoretically protect workers who refuse to accept unsafe wo ..read more

It’s important for employers and coworkers to pronounce employees’ names correctly, and not just because making mistakes repeatedly can affect morale. Intentionally mispronouncing a person’s name – not simply making a mistake – could serve as a microaggression and a form of employment discrimination. This is not the only way that microaggressions can be attached to people’s names. For instance, it may also be an issue if a name is repeatedly mocked, misspelled, misgendered or intentionally misunderstood. More than disrespect In some cases, the issue may be that other workers will decide that t ..read more

Homeownership is a goal for many people in Tennessee. Those who have saved up a down payment, qualified for a mortgage or even inherited a property from a family member will generally expect to continue owning and using that property until they decide to sell it or pass it down to the next generation. For a very small number of people with real property holdings, public projects end up compromising their ownership rights. Under eminent domain laws in Tennessee, it’s possible to force the sale of real property, including residential homes and agricultural properties, for the completion of a pro ..read more

Sexual harassment is a persistent issue in businesses all across the United States, despite rising awareness of the issue. One of the reasons that it is so difficult to eradicate sexual harassment is that many people legitimately don’t know what constitutes sexual harassment and may downplay the experiences that they have had in the workplace as a result. There are certainly extreme cases of harassment that may involve unwanted touching, actual sexual assaults and other severe consequences for the person targeted. However, many sexual harassment scenarios start subtly and worsen over time. Bei ..read more

Whether your company is buying property, selling, investing or looking to rent, a commercial real estate transaction is a major undertaking. From protecting your interests to navigating the complex legal matters involved in the deal, an attorney can provide invaluable support throughout the process. They can provide risk mitigation strategies Commercial real estate transactions involve a myriad of legal intricacies that can be overwhelming for the average person. They require a deep understanding of relevant property laws, zoning regulations and contractual obligations (among other things) to ..read more

Getting older can influence your ability to maintain full-time employment. Once you reach retirement age, you may have concerns about how you will afford health care coverage for emergencies. Medicaid can provide low-cost or free benefits to select groups of people, which could help cover health care and nursing home expenses. Once you reach age 65, you may meet the eligibility requirements to apply for benefits. Knowing how to properly prepare your application might improve your outcome. Plan ahead Medicaid coverage will not begin right away. Once you submit your application, a process will f ..read more

As a business owner, signing a commercial lease is a significant financial and legal commitment. However, it’s not a “set it and forget it” decision. Just as the business landscape is continually changing, your business needs may also evolve. An annual lease review should definitely be in your plans. To remind yourself and keep things on track, you can set the review date for the same month you originally signed the deal. You should also revisit your commercial lease whenever you have significant changes in your business, such as when you scale up or scale down or change your business model. Y ..read more

When a loved one passes away, many people believe they have an immediate right over the estate – this isn’t exactly true. In most cases, people have to wait for a legal process called probate to end before they see any of their inheritance. Understanding what probate is and when it’s necessary can be confusing. When making an estate plan, you should be aware of your legal requirements. However, the following explains what you may need to know: Court-supervised legal process Probate, essentially, is a legal process that allows courts to validate and distribute an estate. A valid will is one tha ..read more

Medicaid is a needs-based health insurance plan that targets low-income individuals. Medicaid planning is part of the long-term care planning that you should incorporate into your estate plan. Done right, Medicaid can help take care of your long-term care needs. However, not everyone qualifies for Medicaid, leaving millions of potentially eligible Americans are at risk of not having the coverage they need as they age and their health conditions deteriorate. Done right, however, and you may not have to worry about your eligibility. But when should you start the process of Me ..read more

No two estate plans should look the same. When people ask what a comprehensive estate plan should include, it depends on their needs and their family. That said, there are some documents that everyone should have in place to plan for: Their incapacitation, where they can’t speak or make decisions for themselves Who will care for dependent loved ones if they no longer can, due to incapacitation or death What will happen to their assets when they pass away A will This is the basis of any estate plan. In many cases, people use this to designate who will inherit their assets. Some people use it to ..read more