This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry
In a Memorandum Opinion dated October 30, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia barred the president from moving forward with his plan to ban transgender individuals from the military. The ban resulted from a July 26, 2017, statement from the president via Twitter informing the public of his intent to enact a ban. A Presidential Memorandum was formally issued on August 25, 2017. The court held that there was no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would affect the military at all.
Specifically, the court’s order bars enforcement of two important provisions in the Presidential Memorandum, which:
- Prohibited the military from accepting additional transgender individuals into active service; and
- Required the military to discharge current transgender service members by no later than March 23, 2018.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia issued the preliminary injunction, finding that a group of transgender service members would have a strong chance of prevailing in their lawsuit against the president in having the ban declared unconstitutional. The injunction will remain in place until the lawsuit is resolved or a judge or court of appeals removes it.
The Trump Administration would likely have to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to attempt to enforce the new ban. Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s 76-page opinion can be found here.
If you need assistance with an employment law issue, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also like and visit us on Facebook.
This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
Based on many favorite tv design shows, one would think everyone is going to the open kitchen design plans with island seating. After doing many kitchen design consults, I know island seating is not for everyone. The sometimes forgotten breakfast nook is ideal for families who would like a space for light meals. The appeal to a breakfast nook or cozy kitchen seating is that it has less of a barroom feel.
Although there are several scenarios of when a kitchen nook is an excellent choice, one of the best times to add cozy kitchen space is in an older home. Older homes many times have an unused breakfast area that is too small for a kitchen table. Additionally, many kitchens in older homes have windows that make it challenging to add cabinets without losing the kitchens natural sunlight. So, instead of losing space and light in the kitchen, a breakfast nook could be the perfect solution.
The great thing about kitchen nooks is that they can add storage space. Since most of them are are custom built to fit your space; they can be made with storage in the bottom portion of the nook’s seating. Another option is buying ready-made chairs and benches with storage space.
Of course, as a homeowner, getting the most out of space with or without extra storage will be essential, so follow the flow of the area when having your nook designed. Depending on the shape of your kitchen your nook can be curved, L-Shaped, U-Shaped, or parallel. The key is to make sure it has enough space for people to sit and stand from it easily.
Another thing to consider when having a cozy kitchen space designed is whether or not the nook will transition into another room or be the separation space between the kitchen and another room.
Although, having a nook that is near windows are beautiful, not all kitchen nooks will be near windows. You can still get all the lighting you need by adding a fun light fixture above the cozy kitchen space.
Breakfast nooks are also an excellent spot for homework, add in bay windows, and you can have quite the serene place for morning coffee. Of course, cozy kitchen spots are also a fantastic way to add a touch of color to your kitchen by adding fabric pillows on the chairs or benches of your breakfast nook.
When choosing fabrics for your cozy kitchen space, stain-resistant fabrics are ideal if you will be eating light meals there. If you have small children, another idea is diner style nook with vinyl seating, which is easy to wipe down and keep clean.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Starfish, a tortoiseshell & domestic short hair kitten available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:
Starfish is a beautiful tortoiseshell kitten. She is loving kitten who is everyone’s friend.
She is also a confident kitten who is not easily scared. Starfish also has lots of energy at playtime.
She is super sweet and bonds quickly with the people around her. Starfish will be about 10 weeks old the end of September.
(Note: Little Buddies has adoption events every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Pet Valu in the North Point Village Shopping Center.)
Are you and Starfish a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
Curious Students. Expert Teachers. Endless Potential.
At BASIS Independent McLean, a PreK-12 private school in Tysons Corner, students are inspired daily to discover their passions and learn at the highest international levels. Passionate expert teachers, a curriculum built from global best practices and an array of engaging extracurriculars, all unite to foster a joyful learning culture where all students can excel.
Join BASIS Independent McLean on November 4 for the first Open House of the school year, and experience our engaging teachers, dynamic classrooms and acclaimed program inaction!
November 4 | 10 a.m.
8000 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Kirby, a 12-year-old purebred Papillon who is a longtime Restonian.
Here is what Kirby’s owner, April, had to say about her:
Kirby is a purebred Papillon who will turn 13 on Dec. 14, but often gets mistaken for a puppy, partly due to her small size (she weighs anywhere between 7 and 8 pounds depending on what she just finished eating) and also because she’s still every bit as energetic as her younger counterparts.
She was born in Toledo, Ohio, but has been a Reston resident for nearly 10 years. She was named after the famous Kirby who won Best in Show at Westminster in 1999 (the only Papillon in history to accomplish this so far) and she has even befriended one of famous Kirby’s descendants via the Northern Virginia Papillon Owners Meetup group. (Shoutout to Chancois Nolley!)
True to her breed’s name (“Papillon” is French for “butterfly”), Kirby is a social butterfly who can often be seen walking around Reston Town Center and Lake Anne, where she enjoys patronizing the local businesses and chatting up fellow Restonians. She also enjoys accompanying her human and friends to nearby Northern Virginia wineries in her pooch purse, although she is not a wine drinker herself.
She has quite a social media presence, including nearly 100 Instagram followers. Her Instagram handle is “yappy_pappy” due to how talkative she can be. Kirby is almost never at a loss for words, especially when there’s food nearby.
Although she is very friendly and energetic, she’s also extremely protective of her home and her human and will voice displeasure if you come too close to either without her permission. Once you’re in Kirby’s Circle of Trust, though, you’re pretty much in there for life.
Kirby loves living in Reston because of how dog-friendly it is — namely its paved pathways, caring residents and high concentration of squirrels.
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Kimberly H. Berry
An interesting question that has arisen recently is whether Virginia employers can use non-compete agreements with independent contractors. The answer is not entirely clear. There are many potential pitfalls for both the independent contractors that sign such agreements and the employers that attempt to enforce them.
The Problems with Non-Compete Agreements for Independent Contractors
One of the main problems with requiring independent contractors to sign non-compete agreements is that independent contractors are different types of workers. An independent contractor is essentially its own business. Generally, an employer cannot compel an independent contractor, which is a separate business, to forfeit his or her business simply because it gave the independent contractor business. Independent contractors may appear similar to employees (and many employers cross the line in terms of who they think they can classify as an independent contractor), but there are different loyalties and duties. For the most part, the more that an individual becomes a part of an employer’s business or organization, such as through signing non-compete agreements and assuming duties of loyalty, the more likely that the individual can be classified an employee.
Suppose that an independent contractor is paid and taxed as an independent contractor, and then the employer has the independent contractor sign a non-compete agreement. The very existence of such an agreement arguably initiates a shift of the contractor’s status from that of an independent contractor to a misclassified employee who owes a duty of loyalty to the employer. If the independent contractor has been misclassified by the employer, then the employer may risk having an unenforceable non-compete agreement, and potentially subjects itself to serious tax, overtime, and government fine issues as a result of not paying the worker properly.
The legal issues and determinations associated with non-compete agreements for independent contractors in Virginia are in the very early stages and cannot be fully predicted. Given the large amount of government contractors in Northern Virginia alone, it appears that this issue will be further litigated. Despite the relative uncertainty, an employer can easily run afoul of Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines regarding misclassification, and end up owing significant sums to the government as well as the misclassified employee following enforcement efforts related to a non-compete agreement.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Stormy, who enjoys her life in North Reston.
Here is what Stormy’s owner, Lisa, had to say about her:
Stormageddon the Dark Lord of All (Stormy for short) is our 4.5-year-old Ragdoll cat. My husband and I named after an obscure Doctor Who reference, but to less nerdy parties we say it was because the summer got her was the stormiest one we’ve seen. As the runt of her litter, she weighs in at a lean and mean 9 pounds with a personality that busts at the seams.
Her meow is worse than her bite. Literally. Two years ago, Stormy had to have every single last tooth removed, otherwise a degenerative gum disease was going to take her life. This small setback hasn’t stopped her from being the alpha in the house. She still bites (gums) at toys and wants no special treatment as she still eats dry food and treats.
Stormy demands belly rubs whenever she sees you, but her preference is to run away to the stair landing, flop over and receive the pets there. She is finicky and fastidious and friendly to a fault.
She spends her day perfecting the cat “trill” we all love, lounging just out of arm’s reach, and bossing around her cat brother Sokka, who is one year younger, 4 pounds bigger, but knows his place.
You can see it in her face — Stormy suffers no fools.
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
Many times, we spend a lot of time and energy getting our house ready for the holidays and forget to do a quick facelift on the bathroom our guests will be using. Below are some quick fixes you can do on the weekend to get your bathroom guest-ready.
Paint — Painting the walls is an economical way to change the entire look of a bathroom. If you need help selecting a color, we suggest checking out the Sherwin-Williams ColorMix Forecast. If you do not want to paint your entire bathroom, paint the cabinets using chalk paint. A small jar from Michaels for $10 can go a long way, and no prep work needed.
Fixture — Another simple to brighten up your sink is changing the faucet. From dull and rusty to new and shiny, it will spruce up you sink in no time.
Accessories and Hardware — If you painted the cabinet, you may as well change the cabinet hardware. New, fun or just updated styles will dress up your vanity with a new look. While you are at, how about a new towel bar, towel ring and toilet paper holder that will make your guest want to change that last roll? If your accessories are still usable but look outdated, consider spray-painting the hardware for a more economical hardware update.
Mirrors — If you love your bathroom, but it just needs that little extra something, adding mirrors or a new vanity mirror may be the trick. If you are trying to update your bathroom to something more modern, choose a frameless mirror for the vanity or go for fancy frame for a chic new look.
Accessorize — Whether you take out your favorite holiday hand towels or buy new towels to be used year-round during Black Friday, a fresh towel set along with matching or complimentary shower curtain can make one feel like they are walking into a new bathroom. Moreover, while changing out the towels and shower curtains, don’t forget to pick up matching bathroom rugs that complement and pull together the entire look. If you are having quite a few parties this season, buy two matching towel sets, so you always have a backup set while the other is in the wash.
Declutter — The most inexpensive upgrade is to declutter your bathroom counters. Remove and toss any makeup that is older than six months, then go shopping Black Friday for new makeup for yourself! If you have creams, lotions and bubble bath sets you have never opened, ’tis the season to regift. Have a bunch of unused or barely used hotel toiletries? Bag them up and drop them off at your local homeless shelter.
Deep Clean — You may wipe down your bathroom weekly, but go in and wipe down the walls and baseboards, wipe inside the base of the of the vanities and cabinets. Clean underneath the sink and don’t forget that hard-to-reach area behind the toilet. A quick cleaning tip: Hang a bag with a mix of water and vinegar around the shower head and leave it overnight. It will dissolve all mineral deposits and leave it shiny as new.
Have questions or comments? Share them! If you have implemented any of the ideas in the article, share them on AKG Design Studio’s Facebook page.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Kimberly H. Berry
It can be very difficult for an employee to be called into a supervisor’s office or to the human resources office unexpectedly and be informed that his/her employment has been terminated. Following the notice of termination, usually the employee is escorted out of the building and is faced with a sense of shock and loss.
It is important to know that termination proceedings in Virginia are at will, which generally leaves significant discretion to employers in decisions to hire and fire employees.
However, if the employer has violated a state or federal law in terminating the employee (e.g., discrimination, whistleblowing, retaliation), the termination can be considered wrongful and potential avenues to challenge the termination may be available.
One step that a Virginia employee can do following an involuntary termination is to make an appointment with a Virginia employment attorney to review the issues related to the termination action in order to determine whether it can be considered a wrongful termination.
An attorney can also help evaluate what steps may be taken to minimize the career damage that has just occurred and whether the action taken may be appealable.
Employees often have more options following a termination action than is apparent to them on the day of termination. The employer may have broken federal or Virginia laws with respect to the termination action.
If so, then it may be possible to negotiate a resolution, such as through a separation or severance agreement, on behalf of the employee with the employer. This generally happens when the employee retains an attorney to contact the employer about the inappropriate nature of the employee’s termination in violation of applicable employment laws.
Following an employee’s termination, many Virginia employees ask our firm whether they should also apply for unemployment compensation. The answer as to whether an employee should apply for unemployment compensation depends on the factual circumstances of the termination.
Even if an employer terminates an employee in Virginia for alleged misconduct, the employee may still be able to seek and obtain unemployment compensation.
In addition, in Virginia the employer has the burden of proof if they want to argue that the employee was terminated for misconduct. The employer essentially has to prove that the employee violated a significant company rule (and it usually must be a clear rule).
In addition, it is often the case that an employee, through wrongful discharge negotiations, may obtain a resolution where the employer agrees not to contest unemployment.
Finally, an employee should keep in mind that if the employee is terminated for poor performance, as opposed to misconduct, unemployment compensation is generally granted. However, any separation or severance compensation received by the employee will typically delay receipt of unemployment compensation.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Pipley, a white and brown cat available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:
Pipley is amazingly affectionate and playful. He was the runt of the litter, but don’t let his size fool you — he leads the crew. He’s our little greeter.
Consider adopting him with his sister Petunia.
(Note: Little Buddies has adoption events every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Pet Valu in the North Point Village Shopping Center.)
Are you and Pipley (or Petunia) a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
Celebrate the transformative power of film with the Washington West Film Festival, an annual showcase of the best new films and talented filmmakers from around the globe.
Create your own fest experience — reserve your favorites from over 40 films we’ll be screening in Reston and Arlington from October 25-30, with a limited time offer to RestonNow community a 30% discount off our popular The Fest Experience.
And the best part is you can feel good about Fest-binging. 100% of our net box office proceeds go to our charity partner each year that works to help alleviate childhood hunger, illness and poor education.
Purchase Today’s Deal Now
Discount Code: RESTNowDeal17 has been applied for you
WHEN: October 25-30, 2017
WHERE: Multiple locations in Arlington and Reston
WHAT: Enjoy the best a film festival has to offer. By purchasing this pass, you will have the opportunity to explore the variety of film options and styles showcased at the festival — a documentary film, a narrative film, two shorts programs and the Pavilion party.
Story Can Change The World. Learn more about the Washington West Film Festival
This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.
The holidays are a time where we somehow find the time to do our regular schedules, additional shopping outings, parties and gatherings of family and friends.
During times like this, having some extra multitasking appliances in the kitchen can allow you the time to sit and enjoy your guests or buy that last-minute gift. Below are the appliances we recommend for the next holiday party you host:
Built-in Refrigeration: Having extra refrigeration without taking up too much space during the holidays is a must. The CoolDrawer is a cooling drawer that handles frozen food, fresh food and wine — you can choose your option so you can keep extra ice or chill a bottle of wine for the party, or keep the extra groceries until you are ready to cook
Power Blender/Food Processor: Food prep can take the most time when preparing for a party, but with a little Ninja power, it can be a breeze. A Ninja comes in several different sizes and models. You can buy an individual food processor from Ninja or a complete set that includes a blender, single-serve cup, food processor and spiralizer. With a Ninja, it is easy to chop, blend food, crush ice, make smoothies or pesto.
Crock-Pot: Crock-Pots are a kitchen’s best small appliances. With a Crock-Pot, you can set and “forget” meal, keep things warm during a party in them. They are great to feed your family or friends a healthy meal, and because you can get them in multiple sizes, you can create a big meal or a small side in them. Another great benefit of a Crock-Pot is if you are not the host of the party, you can purchase a Crock-Pot holder to take your meal on the go.
Steam Ovens: Like having extra refrigeration, having an extra oven that doesn’t take up the same amount of room as your regular oven while having the industry strength will save cook time when getting ready for your next family gathering. The Miele Combi-Steam oven is a small 24-by-24 oven that is big on function. A Combi-Steam oven harnesses the power of a convection oven with steam cooking and speed.
Hand Blenders: To quickly whip something up without the mess of taking out your blender or food processor, a hand blender like the Cuisinart SmartStick is a kitchen must. The Cuisinart SmartStick comes in six different models. The basic model, called the quick prep, is a one-speed hand blender. With the more advanced models, you can whip, chop, mash, blend and store it all in the drawer.
What are some of your favorite holiday kitchen must-haves?
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Werth, a black cat available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about his:
Werth is amazingly affectionate and playful. He has red specks throughout his solid black coat. He’s our little lover.
Consider adopting him with his brother and best buddy, Harper.
(Note: Little Buddies has adoption events every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Pet Valu in the North Point Village Shopping Center.)
Are you and Werth (or Harper) a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Plaza America that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
Many federal employees and government contractors are required to apply for and maintain security clearances. In some cases, the security clearance application process is straightforward. However, if problems arise, they are typically discovered when the employee or contractor is about to complete his or her security clearance application through e-QIP or the government’s Standard Form 86. If possible, you should seek the advice of an experienced attorney who handles security clearance matters since each case is different. The following are some general guidelines:
Take time and answer security clearance forms carefully
This is one of the most important tips. Individuals often receive clearance denials because they did not adequately read the questions asked or proofread their responses on the e-QIP/SF-86 application prior to submission. In some cases, if an individual does not take the time to read the question and answers “no,” when they should have answered “yes,” to a question, a clearance investigator might conclude that the individual was attempting to be dishonest. This is important to understand as such an oversight can be very detrimental to obtaining or keeping a security clearance. Therefore, it is very important to carefully complete the security clearance application before submitting it.
Be honest
This recommendation cannot be overstated. Individuals should be honest in all aspects of the clearance process. When an individual is dishonest during the clearance process, it could not only potentially bar the individual from receiving a security clearance, which would remain on his or her clearance record, but it could also raise a host of other legal issues, including potential criminal issues. It is much easier for a security clearance attorney to mitigate security clearance concerns involving financial, prior drug or alcohol usage issues than defend against an allegation involving dishonesty in the clearance application or interview process. An applicant should consult with a security clearance attorney for legal advice if there are any possible criminal disclosures or issues.
Review documents in advance
Take the necessary time to gather and review relevant documents related to any potential security clearance problem in advance. Taking this step will help an individual in two ways: (a) it will help an individual remember all the details of the potential security concern, such as an arrest or bankruptcy filing that occurred three years ago, in preparation for answering questions; and (b) the documentation may help to mitigate the security concerns later, if necessary.
Prepare for the investigative interview
If an individual believes that there is a good chance that problem areas exist in a security clearance application, he or she should expect to be asked about these areas by the assigned investigator. The investigative interview can vary in duration from an hour to several hours depending on whether significant security concerns exist. Early preparation for the security clearance interview can help minimize any problem areas. Unfortunately, many individuals go into the interviews without thinking about or preparing for the issues that could arise and often provide incomplete information. Interview preparation can also help the individual’s confidence when meeting with the investigator to explain application responses that raise any security concerns.
Don‘t react defensively to security clearance questions
Refrain from reacting defensively when asked by an investigator about potential security concerns in a security clearance application. It is important to be calm and positive about the issues when speaking to an investigator. In addition, arguing with an investigator will never benefit an individual since the investigator can have significant influence over the application process in the initial stages.
Be courteous and professional with the investigator
It is important for all applicants to treat the investigator with professionalism. If an investigator attempts to contact you, be timely and courteous in your response. Even if it is inconvenient to meet or return calls, not doing so could be detrimental. Promptly responding to the investigator can give the investigator a positive impression, especially if the investigator will be providing a recommendation regarding your ability to obtain or retain a clearance.
Be patient during the security clearance process
It is important to understand that the security clearance process can often take a few months to complete depending upon a number of other factors, including: (a) whether the individual is a federal employee or government contractor; (b) the number or significance of the security concerns; (c) delays in obtaining responses from federal agencies in seeking an investigative file; (d) the general investigative backlog; and (e) the specific employer involved. There are a multitude of other considerations that can also delay adjudication so it is important to remain patient during the investigation.
If you need assistance with an employment issue, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also like and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryBerryPllc.
This is a sponsored post from Becky’s Pet Care, a professional pet care service in Northern Virginia.
Meet Rose, a tabby kitten available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:
Rose is a very affectionate kitten. She loves to cuddle in laps. She is also a fun-loving kitten who enjoys chasing around after toys and after her sisters.
Rose will make a terrific companion to anyone looking for a cat to love and cherish.
Rose was about 3 months old the middle of August.
(Note: Little Buddies has adoption events every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Pet Valu in the North Point Village Shopping Center.)
Are you and Rose a match? If so, let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and prizes.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.
Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
