Scots Genealogy Expert, Beth Gay, Sues Her Former Employer

My friend, Beth Gay, is an institution in the area of Scots genealogy. Now it looks like she’s scrambling to survive in the genealogy field. I know the feeling. Been there – done that. But life goes on, and I’m sure it will for Beth. The following excerpt is from an article, written by Lori Glenn, and published in the September 10, 2006 edition of The Moultrie Observer. Here’s wishing Beth all the best. By the way, in checking out Beth’s attorneys, I certainly would not want to be on the opposite side of the courtroom from them. I can’t imagine the Odom Library in Moultrie, Georgia without Beth…

“MOULTRIE — Fired from her job at the Odom and Moultrie-Colquitt County libraries, the former editor and publisher of genealogical newspaper The Family Tree is seeking back pay from the libraries and city and county governments which contribute to the libraries’ funding.

“Represented by Atlanta firm Beard and Chang, LLC, Beth Gay currently is seeking $4,160, the alleged difference between what she said she was paid and minimum wage for two years; $19,325 in alleged uncompensated overtime; $15,000 for compensation for pain and humiliation in relation to her termination; and attorney’s fees.

“Gay, a former columnist for The Moultrie Observer and The Mailbox Post, is making her claims pursuant to the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act that requires employers to pay employees a minimum wage, currently $5.15 per hour of work for up to 40 hours per week, plus overtime at one and a half times the employee’s regular rate of pay, attorney Kelly Beard said in recent correspondence to the library board.

“In her 17 years tenure with the libraries, Gay built up the The Family Tree to be largest genealogical newspaper in the world, the claim said. Gay traveled often to various events and festivals in the course of promoting and gathering material for The Family Tree. She was responsible for raising $225,000 per year to publish it, Beard said. Gay’s networking also contributed to more than 130 Scottish clans loaning their archival and genealogical materials to the Odom Library.”