As votes in yesterday’s elections continue to be tallied, there were several developments of interest to employers and to labor and employment practitioners alike. Age: The ADEA Applies To Public Sector Employers Of All Sizes First, yesterday morning, the Supreme Court announced its first decision of the 2018-19 term. In a unanimous (8-0) ruling, the […]
State Law
D.C. Creates New Training And Reporting Obligations For Employers With Tipped Employees
You may recall that earlier this year, voters in the District of Columbia passed an initiative (Initiative 77) that would have increased the minimum wage for tipped employees (who predominantly work in the restaurant, hotel, and retail service industries) incrementally up to $15.00 an hour by 2025. Recently, however, the D.C. Council changed course by […]
New Maryland Employment Laws That Took Effect October 1
On October 1, 2018, several new employment laws take effect in Maryland. A previous blog post addressed new general contractor liability for its subcontractors’ failure to pay the subcontractors’ own employees. Under the new law, subcontractors’ employees can sue not only the subcontractor for wage claims, but also the general contractor, who likely has no […]
Think You Understand Employment Discrimination Law? Here’s a Test.
If you are a student of employment law, you likely know the basics of employment discrimination and the concept of “disparate treatment” – the theory that it is impermissible to intentionally treat someone differently because they are a member of a protected class. That’s where you get the most typical claims of discrimination. The “I […]
Expanded Construction Contractor Wage Liability Takes Effect October 1, 2018
Beginning on October 1, 2018, construction contractors doing business in Maryland may be held liable if their subcontractors fail to pay their workers. To say that this expanded liability is significant would be an understatement. First, a bit of background. The Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Law permits an employee who has not been paid […]
New Minimum Wage Rates Effective July 1 For Maryland And D.C.
On July 1, 2018, new minimum wage rates went into effect for both Maryland and the District of Columbia. All employees who do not qualify for an exemption must be paid in accordance with the new rates. The changes provide a good opportunity for employers to audit pay practices to ensure compliance with wage and […]
Maryland Enacts “Disclosing Sexual Harassment In The Workplace Act of 2018”
On May 15, 2018, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed into law the “Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 2018” (“Act”). The Act, which can be found here, goes into effect on October 1, 2018, and sunsets without any further action on June 30, 2023. The Act, which is codified at Md. Code Ann., […]
New York City Introduces Disconnecting From Work Law
Disconnecting from work may be à la mode. And no, I do not mean topped with ice cream. Rather, it appears that laws restricting or prohibiting employers from requiring employees to check work e-mails after work hours could be catching. Last year, a law in France granting employees a “right to disconnect” from work went […]
Maryland General Assembly Strengthens Internal Sex Harassment Rules
The Maryland General Assembly ended its session this week with approval of House Bill 1342, legislation aimed at strengthening policies for the investigation and resolution of sexual harassment complaints involving members of the State lawmaking community. The Bill is designated emergency legislation. If Governor Hogan signs as expected, it will become effective immediately. A report […]
Maryland General Assembly Considering Bills Aimed At Workplace Sexual Harassment
Maryland’s House and Senate have passed competing versions of legislation that would ban employment agreement that limit rights to sue for future claims of sexual harassment. Senate Bill 1010 — the “Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 2018” — would make void any provision in an employment contract, policy, or agreement that waives any […]
Contact
Kollman & Saucier, P.A.
1823 York Road
The Business Law Building
Timonium, Maryland 21093- Tel: (410) 727-4300
- Fax: (410) 727-4391
- Email: jstrong@kollmanlaw.com
- Jo Ann Strong, Office Manager