Many employers have been caught by surprise when they discover the unrestricted use of the Internet and e-mail by employees. Not only is such use a potential drain on productivity, but such employee use may subject an employer to liability. One can imagine the consequences that could flow from inappropriate materials (such as child pornography) being memorialized in a computer or on the hard drive as the result of an employee's activities.
Cases from other states have found liability in unemployment compensation proceedings where there was no clear employment policy governing an employee's access to the Internet/e-mail communication access, so there was no justification for firing the employee.
It is strongly suggested that the employee manual contain guidelines which restrict personal use and describe the consequences resulting from improper computer use in your business. If it is in writing and received by the employee then there can be no question as to any penalty, discharge action or breach of an employee's contract. To avoid future complications your manual (or separate written policy) should warn employees that evidence of wrong doing on an office computer will be reported to the proper authorities. The employee's signature on such warnings and policies is a must.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Attorney Experiences Growth in Recovering Economy
CENTRAL, Louisiana – Local attorney Walton "Ti" Barnes, II, hired a new attorney, Rahim Smith, in the first quarter of the year. They moved the practice to a new location at 12628 Hooper Road Suite A, next door to the older, smaller Shaffett house to accommodate their expansion.
Barnes began practicing law at his father's law office after passing the Louisiana bar. He served as the Zachary city attorney until 2003. Since then, Barnes returned to his hometown of Central, where he graduated from Central High School.
Barnes expresses a strong heart for Central and participates in local organizations such as the City of Central Chamber of Commerce, the Republican Women of Central (Auxiliary Member), and Cooking in Central. He also serves on the Family Law Council for the State Bar Family Law Section; participates as a speaker and faculty member for seminars; and enjoys his membership in a group of lawyers and law professors known as "Ya Ya", where legal concepts and development are discussed and considered.
Rahim Smith worked as an intern for Turner Sports, working his way up to an Emmy Award winning producer, participating in projects such as: Summer Goodwill Games in 1998 (New York City), the Winter Olympics 1998 (Nagano, Japan), Inside the NBA 1998 through 2007 as a "tease" and "feature" producer. In 2010, he obtained his Juris Doctrate from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And was sworn into the Louisiana Bar in October, 2010.
To date, Barnes' firm practices family law, business law, and personal injury; with Smith's background in sports entertainment a new area of law has opened for the practice. Recently, Smith has made contact with several sources in the burgeoning film industry in Baton Rouge who have expressed high interest for representation by the firm.
For more information about attorney Walton Barnes, II, please visit
www.attorneywaltonbarnes.com, or call 262-2212.
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For more information, contact:
Brockwell Bone
Bone Marketing
12628 Hooper Road, Suite B
Central, LA 70818
(225) 302-8032
www.bonemarketing.com
