Beginning on October 1, 2020, several new employment laws will take effect in Maryland. With October 1st right around the corner, employers should take the following steps to make sure they are not caught off guard. The CROWN Act When the “Creating a Respectful and...
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Employment Issues For Employers
Federal Court Strikes Down Department of Labor Regulations Limiting Paid COVID-19 Leave
As we previously blogged, employers are obligated under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to provide employees up to two weeks (80 hours) of paid sick leave and up to 10 weeks of paid emergency family and medical leave. Back in April, the Department...
Should You Do More To Prevent Workplace Bullying?
Not everything that is unpleasant in the workplace is also illegal. Moreover, the nation’s anti-discrimination laws were never meant to impose a code of civility on the workplace. Yet there is a qualitative difference between focusing on workplace equity versus...
A Guide to Virginia’s New “Ban the Box” Law
It’s not easy to apply for a new job when you have a criminal record. A conviction can hang over your application like a dark cloud and overshadow everything you have to offer. “Ban the Box” laws seek to address this worry by prohibiting employers from inquiring...
COVID-19 Related Pregnancy Discrimination on the Rise
As we previously blogged, employers who are reopening after the COVID-19 lockdown can expect an increase in lawsuits from employees for retaliation and whistleblowing. The latest emerging trend is COVID-19 related lawsuits by pregnant employees. Because pregnant...
How to Recall Workers After COVID-19 Furloughs
As Maryland moves through Phase Two of its plan to re-open, many employers will need to make difficult decisions about whether they will recall furloughed workers, which workers to recall, and how to recall them. This guide will help employers lawfully navigate the...
Potential Religious Hurdles Ahead in the Supreme Court’s Landmark LGBTQ Decision
On June 15th, the Supreme Court decided in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. The Court unequivocally held that firing someone...
New Law Eases Strict Rules on PPP Loans
On June 5, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. As I previously blogged, Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This $669...
When Can You Fire Someone Over A Social Media Post?
Does your organization have a social media policy? There may be situations in which an employee makes an unwelcome social media post on their own account. Can you fire someone for what they say on their own social media accounts? In many cases, you can. The fact that...
How Small Businesses Can Protect Themselves from Hackers
Telework has exploded in the era of COVID-19, and many Americans will likely continue working from home long after the virus-related shutdowns have ended and businesses are reopened. With teleworking on the rise, now is the perfect time for employers to make sure...