• Georgia laws protect both part-time workers and full-time ones.at work image by sasha from Fotolia.com
  
  Under Georgia labor law, a worker is a worker, no matter how many hours he works. The state does not distinguish part-time employees from full-time employees, and all labor codes apply to all workers regardless of the number of hours they work each week. However, overtime pay applies only to full-time employees and not part-time workers.
  
  

At Will Employment

• Georgia is an at will employment state. Unless a worker and an employer have a standing contract that specifically states the length of the worker's employment, an employer can fire an employee for any reason without giving a cause. Similarly, employees may leave their employment at any time without written or advance notice. If a fixed term contract between an employer and a worker exists, termination policies outlined in the agreement trump Georgia's at will employment rule.
  
  

Minimum Wage

• Since 2001, Georgia's minimum wage has been set at $5.15 per hour, which is below the federal standard. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), all Georgia employees, including part-time ones, must be paid the federal minimum wage, which is set at $7.25 per hour as of 2010. Employees who are tipped at least $5.12 an hour can make a minimum hourly rate of $2.13.
  
  

Factory Shift Length

• Part-time employees cannot work more than 10 hours in a textile factory that manufactures wool or cotton products. This requirement applies both to factory workers as well as support staff, such as machinists and clerical staff, according to Georgia Code § 34-3-2.
  
  

Protected Absences

• It is illegal for an employer to terminate, reduce the hours of or otherwise take disciplinary action against any part-time employee who is required to miss a shift because of jury duty or other official summons, according to Georgia Code §34-1-3. Additionally, any part-time employee who is required to miss shifts because of military duty, be it weekend drills or long-term activation, cannot be penalized for his absence by his employer.
  
  

Breaks and Lunch

• Georgia law does not guarantee part-time or full-time employees a lunch break, nor are there federal guidelines mandating rest and lunch periods, so it's legal for employers to require workers to work for the duration of their shift. If breaks are allowed and are less than 20 minutes long, the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employers from not compensating employees for this time.