Blogs

Lawyers for Veterans Affairs Employees
Published : September 1, 2018

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

Our lawyers represent employees before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nationwide. We represent VA employees in suspension cases and Disciplinary Review Board (DAB) hearings. The DAB is a unique hearing process and counsel is needed by a physician, nurse or other medical professionals when a disciplinary case like this is pending.  This article discusses the […]

The MSPB Appeals Process for Federal Employees
Published : April 23, 2018

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

We represent federal employees in Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals. In other articles we go into more depth about various individual aspects of the MSPB appeals process, but this article focuses on a general summary of what to expect during the MSPB appeals process. There are sometimes some differences between appeals, but for the […]

Problems with Non-Compete Agreements for Employers and Independent Contractors in Virginia
Published : October 22, 2017

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

An interesting question that has arisen recently is whether Virginia employers can use non-compete agreements with independent contractors. The answer is not entirely clear. There are many potential pitfalls for both the independent contractors that sign such agreements and the employers that attempt to enforce them. An employer may discover that its fully executed non-compete […]

Wrongful Termination for Virginia Employees
Published : October 10, 2017

It is very difficult for an employee to be called into a supervisor’s office or to the human resources office unexpectedly and be informed that his/her employment has been terminated. Even if somewhat expected, it is almost always a shock to the employee when it happens. Following the notice of termination, usually the employee is […]

Employee Leave for Virginia Employees
Published : September 19, 2017

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

The following is an article on leave laws and rules that cover Virginia employees. Leave issues generally tend to come up either during the course of an employee’s employment or immediately following the end of an individual’s employment. Leave laws and regulations also vary by the type of employer and jurisdiction of the employer. For […]

Tips for Virginia Employees in Wrongful Termination and Discrimination Cases
Published : July 10, 2017

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

The following are 6 employment tips that can be helpful when an employee in Virginia is facing significant employment issues like termination, discrimination or retaliation. Six Employment Tips to Consider in Wrongful Termination and Discrimination cases Remain Calm. When employment issues arise, it is extremely important that employees remain calm and keep their composure. As […]

Severance Agreements in Virginia
Published : April 17, 2017

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

In Virginia, most employees are considered “at will,” which generally means they can be terminated or resign at any time. Even if they are “at will,” when an employee’s employment ends, an employer may offer severance to an employee in exchange for the employee’s waiver of his / her rights, including the right to file suit for […]

Virginia Employees’ Protection from Retaliation for Safety and Health Complaints at Work
Published : March 1, 2017

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

Virginia employees are protected by Occupational Safety and Health laws from retaliation and discrimination if they report safety and health issues in the workplace which affect other employees. In Virginia, an employee shall not be discriminated against or terminated in retaliation for filing a safety or health complaint, testifying or exercising a right under Virginia Code Ann. […]

Filing a Sexual Harassment Complaint in Virginia
Published : February 1, 2017

By John V. Berry, Esq., www.berrylegal.com

Employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia have a number of forums for potentially filing a sexual harassment complaint. Individuals often also ask us to help them determine whether or not the facts in their case constitute sexual harassment. The general definition of sexual harassment, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is that it […]

Where to File Discrimination and Harassment Complaints in Virginia
Published : December 19, 2016

By John V. Berry, www.berrylegal.com

We often are asked by employees about their options for filing a discrimination or harassment complaint in Virginia. The answer is that it depends on many factors. For private, federal and other public sector employees in Virginia there are a number of options for filing a complaint of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and/or an ongoing […]