Employment Benefits and Legal Rights http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/employment.asp South Carolina is an “at-will” employment state. Generally, this means that an employer in South Carolina has the right to terminate any employee for any reason, however, there are some exceptions to this doctrine. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/wrongful.asp Overtime laws and misconceptions about entitlement to overtime pay. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/overtime.asp Wage disputes and claims under the SC Payment of Wages Act regarding payment for salary, bonuses, vacation pay, holiday pay, and sick leave pay. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/unpaid.asp Employee rights under the FMLA and prohibition against interference or retaliation for taking FMLA leave. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/fmla.asp Employers can benefit from severance agreements by limiting their liability and employees can also benefit by receiving a lump sum payment to help tie them over until they are able to find subsequent employment. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/severance.asp The traditional covenant not to compete restricts an employee from being able to compete with their employer for a set, limited time within a certain predefined geographical area. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/noncompete.asp Sexual Harassment can occur in the form of a hostile work environment, sexual references, or direct requests for sexual favors. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/harassment.asp It is unlawful to take adverse employment action or discriminate against an employee on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, age, or any other protected classification. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/discrimination.asp It is unlawful to retaliate against an employee, or to take any adverse employment action against an employee, who opposes or complains about unlawful or perceived unlawful workplace activities. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/retaliation.asp Defamation comes in the form of both written (libel) and spoken (slander) statements and can be actionable even where there are no actual or provable damages sustained. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/defamation.asp Where an employee and the employer have a contract setting forth the terms and duration of the employment between the parties, the contract controls the terms of the employment relationship. http://www.jscottfallslaw.com/breach.asp