September Newsletter 2024
Trusted Experience. Proven Success. Unmatched Service.
September! The official start of “fall”- but those of us in Florida know it is simply, second summer! In September we celebrate Labor Day, the annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. Interestingly, most folks forget that Dr. King Jr. delivered his iconic “I have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As I was reminded of the timing of the speech and its relation to Labor Day, I was encouraged to share the closing line of his speech- “…and when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
Karen Montas, Esq.
Legally Speaking
Important Labor Laws
Labor Day honors the contributions of American workers and highlights the ongoing evolution of labor laws that impact both new and experienced employees. In Florida, which operates under an "at-will" employment policy, employees have the freedom to leave their jobs at any time for any reason. Similarly, employers can modify the terms of employment or terminate an employee, provided the action is not based on unlawful reasons.
The Florida Civil Rights Act, along with federal laws, safeguards employees from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, or marital status.
Overtime Pay Regulations: The U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees, updates overtime pay regulations by raising the salary threshold for exemption under the executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) categories.
Federal Trade Commission Rule Banning Non-competes: Non-compete clauses are common contractual restrictions that can unfairly prevent workers from leaving their jobs or starting new ventures, often resulting in significant personal and financial hardship. Approximately 30 million workers, or nearly one in five Americans, are affected by these practices.
Teen Labor Rights: House Bill 49: Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed HB 49 into law, permitting businesses to employ minors aged 16 and older for more than 30 hours a week with parental consent, a significant shift from the bill's initial version.
Featured Recipe
Mini Meatball Sandwich
Ingredients: Pizza dough sheets (2) Meatballs (12) Garlic butter Marinara sauce Mozzarella Cheese Italian Seasoning
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil or spray the inside of muffin tin or line with parchment paper. Roll layer of pizza dough over top and gently press dough down inside of muffin tin (using another muffin tin will work best). Lightly brush garlic butter on the inside of each muffin area. Put one meatball in each muffin tin and add a tablespoon of marinara sauce around meatball. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top of each meatball. Take a second layer of pizza dough and roll over the top side of muffin tin, covering top completely. Brush with garlic butter. Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut across straight line in between each muffin, so that each muffin is in a square. Roll extra dough up sides of each meatball and pinch each meatball closed. Top some Italian seasoning or finely chopped parsley and mozzarella cheese on top of each. Bate 400 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Johnson & Montas, P.A In The Community
WW&S to Benefit weVenture
Johnson & Montas was a proud sponsor of the annual Wine Women & Shoes fundraising event to benefit weVenture, the Women's Business Center at Florida Tech Bisk College of Business.
Wine Women & Shoes (also affectionately known as WW&S) is an engaging and exciting fundraising event where community-minded, philanthropic women (and a few good men) gather to sip, shop, savor, and support a worthy cause in a chic, fun, and innovative way all across our nation to raise funds for worthy causes. Since its inception in 2004, WW&S, has exploded across the U.S., generating more than $85 MILLION over 400 exceptional events.
Children's Hunger Project
Food Packing
Firm staff and their families packed food bags for the Children's Hunger Project, a local non-profit that feeds more than 4,000 of Brevard Country's most vulnerable children on weekends.
Karen's Shoe of the Month!
If you know Attorney Karen Montas, you know she is a shoe connoisseur. These "boots" are a perfect stand-out accessory for any fundraising event, especially if it includes Wine, Women & Shoes!
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