Technology is a double-edged sword. It allows us to work remotely and to have greater flexibility as to where and when we work, but the freedom it affords can also be a burden. When you can work from anywhere, and at any time, it often feels like you should be doing so!

Studies suggest people are caving under the pressure - whether explicit or implicit - to work while technically off the clock. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 44% of Internet users regularly perform some job tasks outside the workplace.

All the work that is being done outside of work hours is creating a compliance problem for many businesses.

The overwhelming majority of employees are considered to be at-will employees. If an employee works without a contract stating otherwise, that person’s employment is considered at- will for its duration. This means that the person serves at-will and either party may terminate the employment at any time. Even though an explanation is not always given as to why an employee is being fired, there are still some reasons for termination that are unacceptable in the eyes of the law. It is important to be aware of these instances to avoid the appearance of improper behavior and the potential for economic repercussions  as a result.

With political candidates lighting up the newsfeeds and the impending Presidential election at the forefront of American consciousness, it is indisputable that our country is at a crossroads. Add to this the monumental passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, and it is clear that we are facing a critical time in American history.

Justice Scalia was appointed in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and stood out on the bench for many reasons including his position against abortion, his goal to create a closer relationship between government and religion, his views on criminal executions and his desire to limit lawsuits. He was also well known for his commitment to originalism, the method of constitutional interpretation that looks to the meaning of words and concepts as they were understood by the Founding Fathers. "Justice Scalia did more to advance originalism and judicial restraint than anyone in our time, and it all started with just two words: 'I dissent,' " said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015

The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets"
- Will Rogers

Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the entire case this year. As you gather financial information this Tax Season, you may want to take note of the following

Have you ever watched the TV show Disaster DIY on HGTV? The premise of the show is that many people have no idea what they are doing when it comes to home remodeling, but they try the “do it yourself” (DIY) approach  anyway. The host of the show then comes in to save the day, repairing what the DIYers have messed up, and teaching them how to do perform certain tasks.

This show has many parallels to the world of business law.

It may seem unfair, but an employer can fire an “at-will” employee at any time, without good cause – or even without any cause at all. It is a bitter pill, and one that many American workers must swallow. Under the law, you are generally deemed to be employed at-will, unless you can prove otherwise.

Workers who are employed at-will can be fired for no reason, but they cannot be fired for a bad reason. Some reasons are illegal under federal or state law, exceptions to the general doctrine of at-will employment.