Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
WWW.VANDTLAW.COM | 678.736.7700
M y M other , M y R ole M odel HOW SHE SHAPED ME INTO WHO I AM TODAY
MAY 2023
She was in her 20s at the time and didn’t speak English. My mom wanted to continue her education but quickly found difficulty as every residency program she applied to rejected her because her medical degree was from a foreign country. Eventually, Emory University accepted her after one of their residents suffered a mental breakdown and dropped out. My mom didn’t suffer the same fate. She excelled in the program, becoming the chief resident while raising two kids and learning English. My mom’s journey to becoming a pediatrician truly speaks to her resiliency. She’s tough and dedicated to her family and patients. She was commonly up all night taking patient calls or going to the hospital to see patients who had C-sections, then she would go to work first thing in the morning, work a long day, and come home to be with me, my sister, and my dad. This schedule would repeat itself day after day, week after
week. She never complained about it. She did what needed to be done. Her work ethic is astonishing and something we’re missing in today’s society. It’s not just my mom’s resiliency and dedication in the workplace that should be admired; she was also devoted to her family. When I was growing up (and now), there was no one I want to take care of me when I’m sick more than my mom. To this day, I want my mom to take care of my kids when they’re sick because she has a special touch. She’s also a fantastic cook. Her traditional Jewish and Russian foods are the best and are what I consider comfort food. When her parents moved to the United States late in life, she took care of them every day and night until they passed. This Mother’s Day, I will take some time to celebrate my mom while also experiencing the delight of being a mother myself. It was very difficult for us to have children, so the fact that I get to be a mom on Mother’s Day is simply amazing, and I’m so grateful. No matter what we do, I know this Mother’s Day will be one to remember. My relationship with my mom is not perfect. We certainly have our challenges, but there’s a lot I admire about my mom. She’s a big reason I am who I am today. It was never acceptable to be lazy or ungrateful or to take things for granted in our household. I’m thankful for all the lessons she taught me, and I’ll be sure to share that appreciation with her on Mother’s Day and hopefully pass many of those lessons on to my children!
There is so much I admire about my mom. The relationships we have with our mothers are often unlike any other relationship we will have in our lives. They nurture, provide tough love when needed, and in some instances, give us assistance when we’re unable to help ourselves. On May 14, we get a special holiday to celebrate our mothers and/or appreciate our relationship with our children when we recognize Mother’s Day. My mom is one of the hardest-working people you will ever meet. It’s part of who she is. My mother completed medical school in the former Soviet Union, but she and my father emigrated to the United States before she could complete residency.
TO THIS DAY, I WANT MY MOM TO TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS WHEN THEY’RE SICK BECAUSE SHE HAS A SPECIAL TOUCH.
- Esther Vayman
1
T he W orld I sn ’ t E nding
can help ease feelings of anxiety, depression, and pain. You can meditate by following a guided meditation or silently sitting in a quiet area and breathing slowly. While meditating will be challenging at first, it will become easier with practice. FACE ANXIETY HEAD-ON Many people try to avoid anything that could make them feel anxious. While this method may make you feel short-term comfort, it can cause you to be more anxious about specific scenarios. The best strategy to overcome anxiety is to face it head-on. Although it will be uncomfortable and challenging, don’t let it stop you! The more you put yourself out there, the less anxious you’ll feel. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for! Please contact your health care provider if you’re worried about the anxious feelings you get. They can assist you with identifying your triggers, why anxiety is occurring, and methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.
3 STRATEGIES TO REDUCE ANXIETY
When most people think of anxiety, they likely have negative connotations tied to it. Many make the assumption that anxiety will always lead to panic attacks and fears of major change, but just about anything can generate feelings of anxiety, and not all of them are harmful. However, if your anxiety stops you from doing something, it can hinder you almost every day.
In honor of May being National Anxiety Month, here are three ways to reduce your anxiety.
DAILY EXERCISE Physical activity can increase your self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower anxiety symptoms. You don’t have to do anything significant — you can go for a walk, take a hike, conduct at- home workouts, go to the gym for at least 30 minutes, or participate in yoga and Pilates. MEDITATE Sometimes, taking a step back, focusing on your breathing, and letting your thoughts flow freely can help you put things in perspective. JAMA Internal Medicine published an article stating that practicing mindfulness
S tephanie ’ s J ourney to V ayman & T eitelbaum LAWYERING RUNS IN THE FAMILY
attorneys, and her dad even worked in family law for over 40 years. Stephanie enrolled into law school just a few years after graduating college. After finishing law school, she started a family and stayed home with her four wonderful children. Over time, she returned to the workplace and worked as a prosecutor in her home state of Florida. She prosecuted serious criminals but soon realized she was drawn to family law due to her work in domestic violence cases that involved children. Stephanie began working at a family law office in Florida before her husband’s workplace transferred him to Georgia. They relocated, and Stephanie had to retake the bar exam to be able to practice in Georgia after initially passing it 20 years earlier. She passed the bar and began working with another law firm before discovering Vayman & Teitelbaum. Not long after, she made the switch to our office, and we’ve been impressed with her efforts ever since.
There’s nothing that Stephanie enjoys more than helping her clients move on to the next stage of their lives. She’s had to do it herself and knows what it’s like to leave a situation you think will last forever. Stephanie strives to be an inspiration for her clients and prove to them that there is happiness and success after divorce. She’s down-to-earth and accessible to her clients. Stephanie truly cares about her clients and wants them to be as transparent as possible with her so she can put them in the best position going forward. She’s here to be your partner through this process, not your director. Although Stephanie is from Florida, she’s not planning on leaving Georgia any time soon. She loves to garden and has enjoyed growing everything she couldn’t in Florida’s tropical climate. She also enjoys spending time with her four children and husband.
It’s not always easy to figure out what you want to do with your life. Some people graduate from high school and attend college with one major in mind but jump around and explore a few different avenues before deciding on a career path. Others struggle to settle into a career even after joining the workforce. That’s not the case for our attorney Stephanie Weil.
Stephanie had dreamed of becoming a lawyer from an early age. Both of her parents were
Stephanie is here to help you navigate your legal needs!
2
WWW.VANDTLAW.COM | 678.736.7700
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU SAW OR DID RECENTLY THAT MADE YOU SMILE?
Andrea The flowers blooming on the cherry trees. Amanda H. A picture of Emily’s dog, Sanford, at the dog park smiling. Esther My son told his siblings he “adores them.” It was so sweet! Mari That my plants are thriving! Katie
Maggie My dog, Cha-Cha,
Stephanie Coming home to my elderly dog and seeing him wagging his diaper booty in excitement! Tom Got to meet my dog’s best friend from doggy day care! Loni My son brought me a slightly smushed but pretty flower he picked himself. It’s the little things! Aimee When my daughter thanked me for letting her go to London for spring break.
greeting me when I get home from work with a little tap dance! Ashlyn Went to an outdoor roller
skating “rink.” Amanda D.
Went to a friend’s house for game night and had lots of homemade Puerto Rican and Haitian food. Julia The way my nephew says “whoa” in total amazement every time he sees something new. Bella New home decor from Hobby Lobby and finally putting everything up.
Baby snuggles and giggles with my best friend’s baby! Becky
Seeing my kid earn his second varsity letter in wrestling as a sophomore!
G inger P ork S tir -F ry Inspired by TasteOfHome.com Looking for a healthy stir-fry that has all of the delicious flavors and none of the heavy ingredients? This one might be perfect for you!
ingredients • 1 tbsp cornstarch • 1 cup orange juice • 2 tbsp soy sauce
BRAIN BREAK
• 1 small onion, sliced • 1/4 lb fresh snow peas • 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned • Cooked rice • Green onion, chopped (optional) • Sesame seeds (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 tsp ground ginger • 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips • 2 tbsp canola oil
directions 1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
A LITTLE HELP
3
WWW.VANDTLAW.COM | 678.736.7700
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
WWW.VANDTLAW.COM | 678.736.7700
3625 BROOKSIDE PKWY, SUITE 130 ALPHARETTA, GA 30022
I nside 1 2
ESTHER’S APPRECIATION FOR HER MOM
ANXIETY CAN BE OVERCOME GET TO KNOW STEPHANIE
3
QUESTION AND ANSWERS GINGER PORK STIR-FRY
4
EMPLOYMENT LAWS FOR REMOTE WORKERS
K now Y our R ights as a R emote E mployee WORK FROM HOME LABOR LAWS EXIST!
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you have fewer protections than an on-site employee — federal and state employment laws are still applicable to remote workers. While your employer’s headquarters may be in a different state, your state’s labor laws are still valid. Every company must follow the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and their employee’s local labor laws. By knowing your rights as a remote employee, you will be able to keep your employers accountable and receive the liberties every worker deserves. MINIMUM WAGE The minimum wage can vary at the state and federal levels. If this is the case, the remote worker should receive the higher of the two wages. For example, if you work remotely in California where the minimum wage is $15.50 per hour, you would receive this salary and not the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25. OVERTIME LAWS Similar to minimum wage requirements, overtime laws also differ in each state. While states are welcome to have their own laws, they must always coincide with the FLSA’s fundamental rights. According to federal law, all employees who work over 40 hours a week must be paid time and a half for overtime. However, some states are more generous, and
if you reside in one of these states, then your employer must follow those requirements, not just the FLSA.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION This may surprise you, but remote employees are also eligible for workers’ compensation. Your employer should ensure that you are working in a safe environment and they are responsible for any injuries you experience due to your job duties. If you become injured due to your remote job, you have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION Just like any workplace, remote employees should never have to face discrimination due to their race, gender, age, and so on. Providing accommodations for disabled workers and equal opportunity for all should be standard practice for every employer. If you were to experience any discrimination, such as harassment via virtual communication, you have every right to take legal action. If you’re a remote employee or work on a hybrid schedule, research labor laws in your state to ensure your rights are being respected! If they aren’t, you could be missing out on compensation.
4
WWW.VANDTLAW.COM | 678.736.7700
PUBLISHED BY NEWSLETTER PRO| NEWSLETTERPRO.COM
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator