Employers often make the mistake of drafting overly broad non-compete agreements. Courts in Maryland have found broad non-compete agreements unenforceable unless they are specifically tailored to protect the company's legitimate business interests. As a good rule of...
Employment Contracts
Employment Contracts
How do non-compete agreements impact employees and employers?
Non-compete agreements, also known as covenants not to compete, are common in many professions. These agreements bar employees from working within a specific industry for a certain period of time after leaving their job. Non-competes can also place limitations on what...
Mistakes to Avoid in the Employee Handbook
A poorly written employee handbook can expose a company to a litany of issues and unforeseen liability. A well-written handbook is a valuable investment that will save a business countless resources in the long term. has drafted and...
What is ‘continuous for-cause employment’?
A recent Maryland Court of Appeals case asked the court "to re-examine the contours of the firmly established doctrine of at-will employment." The court was asked to look at a written contract that contained "a for-cause provision but no definite term of employment."...
What does “employment at-will” mean to a Maryland worker?
It’s always important to know the protections afforded by Maryland law to employees, as well as the limits of those protections. For instance, because Maryland is an at-will employment state, employees work “at the will” of employers. That means that unless you have a...
After rejecting non-compete, she went to competitor and got sued
Competition among Maryland gambling houses has become increasingly heated in recent months. Baltimore's Horseshoe casino is a recent entry in the business, ratcheting up pressure on the Maryland Live casino just a few miles away. While the two establishments go head...
Federal employee pay freeze ends
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....
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...