Federal employees will get a one percent pay raise in 2014, ending a four year pay freeze. The pay raise is consistent with current budget proposals but had to be finalized by executive order so that agencies could prepare to enact the raises by the first of the year....
Employment Contracts
Employment Contracts
Employee misclassification remains widespread
At least 30 percent of employers in the United States misclassify workers, calling them independent contractors instead of employees for tax and regulatory purposes. Experts estimate that this impacts millions of workers across sectors. Being misclassified as an...
Tax case puts spotlight on severance pay
The United States Supreme Court will hear a highly influential case having to do with severance payments for employees. Specifically, the case deals with the tax status of these payments and whether or not they are considered "wages" for purposes of the Federal...
Frederick Community College reveals former president’s severance
Back in February, Frederick Community College announced that its new president had departed the institution due to "philosophical differences." The man, who had served only about six months as the community college's president, left his post after the college's board...
Is Maryland doing away with non-compete agreements?
Several months ago, a bill was introduced in the Maryland legislature that would greatly restrict the enforcement of non-compete agreements. While that bill has yet to be passed into law, several other states have now introduced similar legislation, which suggests...
Employment contracts at issue in wage theft class action
Several weeks ago in this Greenbelt Employment Law Blog, we discussed a class action wage theft lawsuit that had been filed by exotic dancers in West Virginia who accused their employer of illegally taking a portion of their tips. This case has now been complicated as...
Baltimore restaurant violated federal law with lay-offs
Although Maryland is an employment-at-will state, meaning employees and employers can generally choose to terminate employment at any time for almost any reason, there are exceptions to this rule. One exception applies to mass layoffs. Under the federal Worker...
Nicollette Sheridan may file contract dispute under another law
Here in Maryland, fans of the television show "Desperate Housewives" may be following the legal drama of one of its former stars now that the show no longer on the air. However, even those that do not miss the show, and are not interested in entertainment news, may be...
Does Maryland need a domestic workers’ bill of rights?
Two years ago, the nation's first bill of rights for domestic workers was enacted. Now, it appears several additional states may follow suit, including Maryland. These statutes that apply to domestic workers are meant to ensure they are paid at least minimum wage and...
Cast of ‘Modern Family’ engages in contract dispute
Greenbelt area "Modern Family" viewers may have heard that the cast of the hit show recently filed a lawsuit against the show's producer in an effort to get out of their employment contracts. Television contracts are somewhat different than an ordinary contract, as...