Legal Solutions At Work

While the much-anticipated increase to Virginia’s minimum wage has been postponed until 2021. This week, Virginia employers will be directly impacted by four new employment laws that went into effect on July 1, 2020. These new laws provide more protections and rights to employees in the areas of employment discrimination, narrow the reach (and use)… More

On July 1, 2020, the Montgomery County Minimum Wage Rate will increase as follows: from $13.00 to $14.00 for large employers with 51 or more employees; from $12.50 to $13.25 for mid-sized employers with 11 to 50 employees; and from $12.50 to $13.00 for small employers with 10 or less employees. Tipped employees must still… More

  On May 15, 2018, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed into law the Disclosing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act of 2018 (the “Act”). The Act, which went into effect on October 1, 2018, prohibits employers, regardless of size, from requiring employees enter into mandatory arbitration for sexual harassment or retaliation claims. Additionally, employers with… More

The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) has released a notice providing a template for use by employers in communicating to employees the availability of unemployment compensation via letters, emails and text messages.   Employers can find a link to the notice HERE. Contact info: Meredith S. Campbell Chair, Employment and Labor Group,… More

As businesses look toward reopening their doors to staff and customers in the wake of COVID-19, we thought it would be helpful to provide an overview of considerations you should take into account moving forward. Best Practices * Review government guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health… More

Webinar: Guidance for Reopening Your BusinessMay 14, 202012:00 PM ET REGISTER HERE Join us for an upcoming webinar with Merry Campbell and Greg Grant, Chairs of the Shulman Rogers Employment and Labor Law Group. The program will provide valuable information for employers as they contemplate reopening their businesses following the COVID-19 shutdown. Topics will include:Plan AheadKnow the RulesDeliver Clear… More

Last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (the “Act”). The Act created a new category of eligibility under the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (“DCFMLA”), permitting employees to take unpaid “declaration of emergency” leave if they are unable to work as a result of the circumstances… More

Earlier this month, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law House Bill 123, amending the Virginia Wage Payment Act to create a private cause of action for employees who are the victim of “wage theft.” This will significantly increase an employer’s liability for failing to fully compensate their employees for all hours worked. Previously, when… More

A Q & A with my partner Joy Einstein: Paul McGee of Helios HR recently spoke with Joy Einstein for a Q&A on teleworking. According to Einstein, a partner in the Employment and Labor Law Practice Group for Shulman Rogers Law Firm in Potomac, Maryland, remote work is most likely here to stay for a large segment of… More

Gues Post from my colleagues in the Shulman Rogers NEXT program: Fast-growing companies usually hire ahead of need. This was especially true as the end of the long bull-run screeched to a halt last month.   But in the last few weeks, even the strongest are taking uncommon measures to reduce their personnel costs and extend their… More