Shawe Rosenthal’s Guide to the Family & Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program Overview

This law applies to all employers with employees in Maryland. It provides eligible employees with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, with the possibility of an additional 12 weeks of paid parental leave (for a possible total of 24 weeks of paid leave). This $1.6 billion program will be administered by the State and funded by contributions from employers and employees. The Maryland Department of Labor has created a new FAMLI Division to administer the program, and it will issue regulations to implement the provisions of the law.

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 Noteworthy

Hey Employers – This Is What Federal Agencies Are Planning to Do in 2023!

Happy New Year – or is it for employers? The federal agencies are planning a slew of actions that will impact the workplace, some of which may pose interesting challenges for businesses. For more, click here.

January 31, 2023
The EEOC Updates Its Resource Document for Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a series of Q&A documents addressing particular disabilities in the workplace, one of which is an updated Hearing Disabilities in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more, click here.

January 31, 2023
D.C. Circuit Strikes Down Three Provisions of NLRB’s 2019 Election Rule

A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down three provisions of the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) 2019 election rule (the “2019 Rule”) that amended policies and procedures related to union elections. In AFL-CIO v. NLRB, however, the D.C. Circuit, upheld two provisions and concluded that the rule, as a whole, was not arbitrary and capricious. The upheld provisions will be remanded to the federal district court where it will hear the AFL-CIO’s other arguments against the two provisions. For more, click here.

January 31, 2023
The EEOC’s Proposed Strategic Enforcement Plan – What Employers Can Expect for the Next Four Years

On January 10, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released its draft Strategic Enforcement Plan for 2023-2027, which gives employers valuable insight into the Commission’s top priorities in the coming years. While the draft plan is open for comment through February 9, (and you may submit comments here) the final plan is likely to look very similar to the current draft, which outlines four key subject matter priorities, in addition to numerous operational priorities. For more, click here.

January 31, 2023
Why Do You Need a Handbook Disclaimer and What Should Be In It Anyway?

A recent Alabama state court decision offers valuable lessons to all employers with employee handbooks (not just those in Alabama) on the importance of a properly drafted handbook disclaimer. For more, click here.

January 31, 2023
Support/Service Animals in the Workplace – What Should Employers Do? by Courtney Amelung,

Support/Service Animals in the Workplace – What Should Employers Do? by Courtney Amelung,

January 25, 2023
Employers – Remember that the Required Salary Level for FLSA-Exempt Status Will Increase on January 1!

Based on a few conversations with clients, we thought it would be helpful to remind employers that, following the July 1, 2024 increase in the salary threshold to qualify for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the required minimum salary will increase again on January 1, 2025 – […]

October 30, 2024
Maryland’s New Heat Stress Standards: What Employers Need to Know

Back in 2020, the Maryland General Assembly enacted a law that required the State Commissioner of Labor and Industry to develop regulations (by October 1, 2022) to protect workers from heat stress. Rather delayed, the Maryland Department of Labor finally issued the heat stress regulations (or standards) on September 20, […]

October 30, 2024
Maryland DOL Adds to Its Guidance on the New Pay Transparency and Paystub Notice Obligations

As of October 1, 2024, employers with Maryland employees are subject to new wage range posting and paystub notice obligations, as detailed in our April 10, 2024 E-lert. In September, the Maryland Department of Labor issued FAQs and other resources to assist employers in complying with the new obligations, which […]

October 30, 2024
Employers’ Use of AI Tracking or Monitoring Reports May Trigger Obligations Under FCRA

In light of companies’ increasing use of AI technologies to track worker productivity and activity, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau asserts that it is “tak[ing] action to curb unchecked worker surveillance.” On October 24, 2024, it issued guidance to warn employers that their use of certain data reports from third-party […]

October 30, 2024
Employers, Be Aware of Voting Leave Laws for Your Mid-Atlantic Employees!

With the upcoming election, we thought that it would be helpful to remind employers with employees in the mid-Atlantic about voting leave laws. Maryland: Under Maryland law, employees may take up to two hours of paid leave to vote on Election Day if they do not have two consecutive off-duty […]

September 27, 2024
Federal Appellate Court Upholds NLRB’s Decision Prohibiting Non-Disparagement and Confidentiality Clauses in Severance Agreements

In 2023, the National Labor Relations Board issued a disturbing case applicable to all employers – union and non-union alike – asserting that severance agreements may not contain general non-disparagement or confidentiality clauses. According to the Board, such clauses violate the rights of employees under Section 7 of the National […]

September 27, 2024

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