Automotive industry has a great effect on the world economy. There are many production and service industries which support this industry. There has been a major increase in the number of automobiles in the past decade. Therefore, the repair shops have also increased. Many issues can arise during repair and thus there is a need for an automotive attorney.IssuesSome of the major issues can include protection of intellectual property and safety concerns. The clients for an automotive defense attorney can include suppliers of component parts, domestic and foreign companies, original equipment manufacturers, automotive trade associations, and consulting firms. Whether the clients are facing regulation, litigation, prevention and counseling, or legislation there is a lawyer to help them.These lawyers are well-versed with different case scenarios and have vast experience in representing clients who are dealers, suppliers, or trade groups. A defense lawyer will be able to serve the interests of all the repair facilities and technicians. Clients prefer attorneys who have a familiarity and understanding of the common issues that repair shops and technicians usually have to deal with.What Does the Law Say?According to the Automotive Repair Act, there are certain rights for the consumers. It is advisable that the repair shops and technicians should know and understand these laws first before they approach a Bureau of Automotive Repair attorney. The Required Disclosures law says that the repair shops must furnish the client with a written estimate. The estimate should include price charged for parts, diagnostic test, and labor. It should also include details like date, duration, and odometer reading. The price should be charged according to used or new parts used. A statement should be there to show if the repair is actually needed or whether it is only recommended.The repair shops and technicians should know that the consumers have a right to a written estimate. It can either be an itemized or a non-itemized estimate. However, an automotive attorney can tell the client that sometimes the consumers may not want an estimate. They can just ask the shop to do the repairs but the total cost should not exceed the amount set by them. In that case, the technician can get this written and signed from the consumer in case of any issues that may arise later. A customer also has a right to a copy of invoice. The invoice is an itemized list of the price of parts and labor, total price, warranties, and the odometer reading.The technicians should know that they are prohibited from asserting lien charges for any unauthorized repairs. Consumers have the right to pick up a vehicle from the facility if they pay according to the charges disclosed to them before repairs. Auto repair shops have to, by law, post consumer rights at a place where they are easily visible. The post should tell the consumers that they are liable to a face-to-face contact, a written estimate for repairs costing over $100.There are many other laws which prohibit the repair shops to perform unlawful practices. An automotive attorney can guide the technicians and repair shops about other laws. These include guiding them about laws relating to non-business hours and unforeseen repairs.
H-1B: What Does My Employer Have to Do?
Most people who are applying for H-1B work visas often ask about what their employer has to do to make the employment process go smoothly. This article will briefly discuss what your employer can expect to ensure the H-1B process is filed and reviewed without delay.Overview of H-1B ProcessFirst, let’s start with a primer of the H-1B process. Understanding how the process works will eventually help to understand why H-1B works the way it does.The H-1B visa is essentially broken into two steps, involving two government agencies: the Department of Labor (DOL) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Now, this two-tier system applies to most H-1B visas and is not always the case, but it is for most people. Step one involves filing a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the DOL. After the LCA is approved, a separate application is filed with USCIS to allow and document the applicant’s employment and residency within the US.More About the LCAThe LCA serves a couple different purposes. First, it provides the DOL with information about the job offer and its qualifications. Certain EB categories, such as EB-2 and EB-3, require the job position to have a minimum education level or experience level to ably perform the job duties. The LCA determines if that job offer is legitimate with respect to the applicable EB category.Secondly, the LCA is used to determine if the employer pays the employee the “prevailing wage.” Basically, the DOL wants to ensure that employers are not underpaying temporary workers as a cost saving measure.There are some nuances for employers who are considered “dependent employers.” Dependent employers are those whose workforce consists of 15% or more H-1B employees.Employer’s RoleNow that we covered the H-1B process, we can cover what the employer’s role in both of the DOL and USCIS fronts. First, with respect to the DOL, the H-1B applicant (or the attorney representing the applicant) must cooperate with the employer to accurately report the information above to the DOL. Additionally, the LAC must be signed by the employer or an agent of the employer. The employer’s attorney does not qualify unless he/she is an employee of the employer. Without the LCA, there is no H-1B visa.Furthermore, on the immigration front, the employer also has an added role if the H-1B applicant is seeking a green card based on the H-1B visa status. The green card possibilities of an H-1B holder have been discussed in a previous article if you are looking for further information on that subject.
Are Nocebos Harming Your Health and Fitness Efforts?
What the heck are nocebos you are probably wondering and what do they have to do with your health and fitness? They are the evil cousin of placebos. You know that placebos are used quite a bit in testing of drugs and supplements.The test is set up so that one half of a group gets the actual drug and the other half gets a placebo. The placebo is usually some kind of sugar water and it doesn’t have any of the drugs in it. In a double blind study neither the participants nor the researchers know which group gets the drug and which group gets the placebo.The idea of the placebo is that it isn’t the real drug and that it is not harmful in any way. This way the researchers can get an accurate measurement of what effects the drug actually has. An interesting thing happened during testing. Both groups responded to the drug.This shows the power of the mind. If you think you are getting a drug that is going to help you, you respond as though you are getting the drug and that it is helping you, even if you are in the placebo group and only getting sugar water.This effect is called the placebo effect. Many people have taken this placebo effect and used it in a not so positive manner. The nocebo effect as mentioned before is the evil cousin of placebo. It is when someone tries to affect a negative and harmful effect in you by using the power of the mind to control your response.This might make more sense if you think of a witch doctor. There have been many documented cases of where witch doctors have actually killed people just by using the power of suggestion.They do their incantations on someone and that person, because they believe the witch doctor, fall violently and sometimes fatally ill. That is the nocebo effect taken to the extreme.So what does this have to do with you and your health or fitness goals?Plenty. How many times have you said you are going on a diet, or going to start eating healthy or start going to the gym only to be met with a round of laughter and put downs from your friends and family?That is a milder form of the nocebo effect. And it does affect you. Very few people are able to overcome such negative and harmful statements.It has taken a lot of strength for you to admit you need to change your lifestyle to become healthier. It takes even more strength to admit it to others.When that strength is met with derision, scorn and laughter, it is like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.It is almost too much to overcome. Does that mean you shouldn’t tell anyone? Well, maybe. Or maybe you need to be pickier in who you tell. One of the best things you can do to help you in your health and fitness goals is to find others that are trying to reach the same goals. You can go to a gym or you can go for walks in the park. You will see and meet others doing the same thing you are doing.Surround yourself with other like minded people and you will be able to easily overcome the nocebos in your life. One place where you won’t meet any nocebos is at Val’s health and fitness site. Check it out – see below.