Check out our latest edition!
404-418-8244 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM
SEPT 2022
HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE
RECOGNIZING MY AMAZING TEAM
any tension in the office, so I considered it a leadership issue. At the end of the day, it was squarely on my plate. The staff members who are with me now have been here long enough that they have seen it. The times I have candidly messed up with human resources or new hires, or ways things were dealt with, and I just tell myself to learn and not make the mistake again. Slowly but surely, we’ve gathered an amazing team with great leadership and culture. For years now, we bring in catered lunch for the whole team every Friday. The staff chooses what we eat, and we all sit together in the conference room family-style. It’s just a great time to take a break from work and talk about our families and what’s been going on in our lives — and it has really boosted the feeling of camaraderie between us. I just started something new that I absolutely love: When we run a staff or weekly meeting, the first thing I do is run a segue. Everyone has to go around the room and share one highlighted thing they’re proud of that’s either personal or professional. That gets everyone in a grateful mood. Reflecting on what they’ve done and sharing wins or positive stories combined with shared lunches is a great way to take it up a notch in terms of how well everyone works together since we’re one big work family.
because it can destroy the internal culture we have built over the years. At my firm, we take on our clients’ problems as if they were our own. It’s stressful enough as it is, and so behind the scenes, the team needs to be cohesive, positive, and supportive of one another. Otherwise, issues can compound under the stress of helping clients with their problems. My employees have a high degree of emotional intelligence, and everyone in the office has their own stories of hardships they have been through. To me, that builds character, and it is especially important when we’re helping clients who are going through something difficult. It’s beneficial if the person helping has had similar life experiences that they can draw from and empathize with. I remember a former employee who was legally the sharpest they could be, but they used a condescending tone with their clients, and it just didn’t sit well with me. That behavior and attitude toward our clients — who have come to us for help and guidance — wasn’t right for our firm, so we had to part ways. Last year, we’ve really been focused on the work culture; admittedly, that’s one thing I needed a lot of work on. As a lawyer, I was never given the managerial or mentoring skills for how to run a meeting, communicate effectively, or handle
When I first started my firm almost 10 years ago, it quite literally started out of a spare bedroom with a laptop and cellphone. As a law firm owner, at some point, you’re also a business owner and entrepreneur. So, you have to run it like a business, and one of the things I severely underestimated was how hard it would be to hire the right people. Early on, I made some mistakes by hiring the wrong people with the wrong personalities. But today, I have an amazing team that has been by my side for four or five years — with an exception of one of our most recent hires who I am sure will fit in perfectly. I look for a certain personality type, someone who is genuine and cares for other people, which is
what our firm needs. Internally, we don’t tolerate any kind of toxicity
WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM | 1
Workers shouldn’t have to choose between the job they need and the family members they love. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was created to allow employees to take reasonable unpaid leave for a particular family or medical reason so they can maintain a work/life balance. What does it provide? The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave a year with the requirement of group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if employees were continuing to work. They are also entitled to resume their same or equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave. Who is eligible for FMLA? FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. Employees can be eligible for FMLA if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location that employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. When can I use FMLA leave? An eligible employee can be granted up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the following reason(s): • The placement of a child for adoption or foster care with the employee • To care for an immediate family member with a serious condition (child, spouse, or parent, but does not include parent in-laws) • To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work due to a serious health condition • For qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active-duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces The FMLA exists so employees can tend to their families without worrying about their job, allowing them to provide the best care for their loved ones. For more information regarding whether or not your company is eligible for FMLA, check out your local government agency for more details. • Birth of and/or bonding with a newborn child PRESERVING THE BALANCE OF WORK AND FAMILY LIFE
WE LOVE HEARING FROM OUR CLIENTS!
“Had a great experience and would definitely choose the Brauns Law Firm again. Mr. Brauns and Ms. Payne helped throughout my entire case and even got it all settled faster than usual. Thanks to the settlement they were able to get me, I got to upgrade my car and pay off student loans. Thanks again!” -Michael B.
2 | 404-418-8244
HOLD THAT STATUS UPDATE! BE WARY OF POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a significant aspect of our day-to-day routines since many people post daily updates or important events in their lives. However, when it comes to injuries you may have suffered in an accident, you must be wary of what you’re posting. Online information can be used as evidence and has the potential to negatively impact your personal injury case. In fact, the opposing party may claim that your own content contradicts the claims you made in your case — photos, videos, updates, and such may demonstrate you have different mental or physical capabilities than what you claim to the insurer or court. Best Practices During Your Personal Injury Case If you’re unsure of what is acceptable and not to post, speak with your lawyer about how to handle your social media accounts during your claim. They may recommend the following: • Do not post any content regarding your accident. • Do not post any videos or photos of the incident or your injuries. GOULASH, HUNGARY’S NATIONAL DISH Inspired by Delish.com
•
Do not post anything regarding the insurance claim or lawsuit. Do not post any content that reflects your physical or mental condition, even if you are feeling better.
•
•
Tighten your privacy settings.
• Ask family and friends to keep their questions or comments offline or private.
Potential Consequences One of the biggest consequences of social media regarding your case is that it can be used as evidence against you, which may lead to the other party asking to dismiss the case. The insurer may also use it to deny your claim. Even if you were to post, it may not be enough for an insurer to deny your claim, but it can still weaken your case and limit your financial recovery. For example, if you were to post a picture of yourself sitting by the pool, it may seem as though you’re not in as much pain as you say and, in turn, may lower the insurance settlement or what the court may have awarded you. If you were injured in an accident and are not sure about how to avoid the aforementioned issues while using social media — or you fear it may negatively affect your case — please contact us at 404-418-8244 to speak with an experienced Brauns Law attorney today!
APPLES BOOKBAG CIDER FOOTBALL
HERITAGE HONEY LABOR LITERACY
MUSHROOM SAPPHIRE SUPPLIES UNION
INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 yellow onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, minced • 1lb ground beef • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 1 1/4 cups beef broth • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce • 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning • 1 tsp paprika • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese • Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and wait for it to heat. 2. Once heated, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute. 3. Next, add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook until no longer pink. Drain the grease, then add salt and pepper. 4. Stir in the tomato paste, beef broth, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning and paprika. Add macaroni to the skillet. 5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 15 minutes. Stir the pasta occasionally. 6. Mix in the cheddar cheese and remove the heat.
WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
1 2 2 3 3 4
A Firm Is Only as Good as Its Team Your Guide to Family and Medical Leave Our Clients Say It Best! The Dangers of Social Media in a Personal Injury Case Goulash, Hungary’s National Dish A Dog’s Loyalty Has No Limit
THIS BELGIAN MALINOIS NEEDS A CAPE EVA’S STAND-OFF WITH A MOUNTAIN LION
some areas. Their preferred prey is deer, but these conditions probably made the sudden appearance of a slender woman look like an attractive option. The mountain lion growled and took a swipe at Wilson’s left shoulder. As it lunged at her, Wilson screamed and shouted for Eva. At the distressed call of her owner, the dog came running back to Wilson’s aid. Without hesitation, Eva leapt between Wilson and tackled the wild cat. During the short tussle, the mountain lion managed to get its jaws around Eva’s head, but Wilson fought to free her dog by throwing rocks in an attempt to break its hold. When that didn’t work, she ran back to her truck and managed to wave down a passing motorist. With their combined efforts — and a crowbar and lots of pepper spray — they were able to
A commonly uttered phrase among dog lovers is that we don’t deserve them. This comes from the fact that dogs often give their all to protect their owners, even if that means putting their own lives at risk. Dogs seem to be instinctively wired to protect their humans — and it’s more proof they really are our best friends. In May 2022, Erin Wilson pulled off at a roadside picnic area and headed down a path toward the Trinity River in California with her Belgian Malinois, Eva. As Wilson walked down the slope, the dog ran ahead. Suddenly, Wilson turned around and realized she was being cornered by a mountain lion. These attacks are incredibly rare due to the mountain lion’s reclusive and shy nature. In fact, since 1890, California has recorded only six fatal mountain lion attacks. However, recent drought conditions have made food scarce in
scare the mountain lion away. Wilson, though wounded, managed to carry Eva back to her truck and raced her to an animal hospital. Unfortunately, while Eva survived the initial attack, she passed away due to her injuries on June 8, 2022. Wilson said she would do anything for her dog, and that day, Eva proved she had done the same for Wilson.”
4 | 404-418-8244
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator