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In today’s digital-first economy, your online reputation is one of your most valuable business assets. Perhaps the most impactful expression of your online reputation are your customer reviews.  They say a lot about your business and are an influential factor in the purchase decision by people shopping for your products and services.  Statistics show that 92% of consumers are hesitant to buy from a business with no reviews, and a single one-star increase in your Yelp rating

In Pennsylvania, “close enough” isn’t good enough when it comes to your paycheck. If you are an hourly (“non-exempt”) employee, you must be paid for every minute you spend under your employer’s control, including time spent in security lines, booting up computers, or answering “quick” after-hours texts. Recent Pennsylvania court rulings have eliminated the “de minimis” (or “trivial time”) defense that employers often use to avoid paying for small increments of work. If you’ve

In Pennsylvania, a Family Caregiver Agreement  is a formal contract that turns informal help into a professional arrangement. Why does this matter? Because without one, any money given to a family member for care is viewed by the state as a "gift." This can trigger massive financial penalties and delay Medical Assistance (Medicaid) eligibility for years. A well-drafted agreement protects the caregiver’s income and the senior’s path to long-term care benefits.   As Pennsylvani

While ChatGPT Health  (launched January 2026) offers the convenience of "personalized" health summaries by syncing your medical records and lab results, doing so carries significant legal and privacy risks. By voluntarily uploading your records to a commercial AI platform, you likely waive the federal privacy protections afforded by HIPAA. Furthermore, under Pennsylvania law, once this data is shared outside a traditional clinical setting, it becomes "consumer data" that can

As parents, we spend countless hours planning for our children's present – their education, their health, their happiness. Our plans and aspirations for our children while they’re growing up are often fairly detailed. What kind of education should they have?  Sports and other activities? Should they have a job in their teen years? We also have our eye on caring for them in the future. We work hard to save something that we can pass on to them as a legacy in the future. Our vi

In Pennsylvania, you generally have the right to carry a firearm at a protest, but that right is subject to strict "place and manner" restrictions. The Golden Rule Having a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is your best legal shield. It exempts you from "state of emergency" restrictions and allows you to carry in Philadelphia . The Conflict While SCOTUS affirmed a general right to public carry in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen , lower courts are curre

Critical Update for Families: Effective February 2, 2026, federal regulations requiring nursing homes to have a Registered Nurse (RN) on-site 24/7 are set to be repealed.  This reversal means facilities will only be required to have an RN present for eight consecutive hours a day, leaving residents without high-level clinical oversight for the majority of the time. At Fiffik Law Group, we believe this change poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of Pennsylvania’

For small businesses, an offer letter is a critical risk-management tool. It preserves the "at-will" nature of employment, prevents disputes over pay and benefits, and, most importantly, provides the legal authorization required by the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law (WPCL)  to make specific deductions from an employee’s paycheck. Without a signed writing, you may be legally barred from recouping bonuses or equipment costs if an employee leaves.   The Handshake I

In the age of social media marketing and branding, using images of your team can humanize your business and build trust with customers. However, as a small business owner in Pennsylvania, snapping a quick photo of your employees for Instagram isn't just a matter of social media strategy - it’s a legal one. Under Pennsylvania law, individuals have a Right of Publicity which protects against the unauthorized use of their likeness for commercial gain. To help you navigate thes

Article Summary In Pennsylvania, pet owners are legally required to protect animals from winter conditions that could threaten their health or safety. This includes proper shelter, accessible water, and monitoring exposure to cold, wind, wet or frozen ground, and extended time outdoors. The law applies to all domesticated animals, and if an owner believes an animal is at risk, they should report the situation to local authorities or animal control. Understanding these require