Employer Liability

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Effective July 1, 2023, Maryland became the 21st state to legalize recreational cannabis.  Individuals 21 and over may now purchase, possess, and use cannabis products without fear of criminal repercussions in the state.  Cultivation of no more than two plants is also permitted.  Because Maryland has a developed dispensary system for medical cannabis, progressing…

It’s no secret that non-compete agreements have recently come under greater scrutiny by the federal government.  In July 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” that, among other things, directed the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to consider curtailing the use of non-compete agreements.  Then, in January…

Now more than ever, it seems that employees are willing to express themselves.  While open communication with and among employees is usually a good thing, sometimes an employer’s rules are broken in the process.  A worker might call her supervisor a nasty name while complaining about her production team’s overtime assignments.  An employee could use…

On January 10, 2023, Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Wright addressed the question that has been plaguing employers since the passage of the PA Medical Marijuana Act (the “Act”) – what constitutes being “under the influence” for purposes of the Act’s safety exception?  As a reminder, when the Act was passed, the…

As part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, Congress passed two new pregnancy-related laws requiring covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees due to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. The two new laws are the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), effective June 27, 2023, and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing…

A recent press release by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) demonstrates that Equal Pay Act claims are becoming increasingly common.  The EEOC in Baltimore, MD announced that an auto dealership agreed to pay $62,500 to resolve an Equal Pay Act claim by a female employee.  The employee had alleged that she was being…

As the negative economic outlook continues to fill our news and social media feeds, many organizations are pondering what an economic shift may mean for their business.  Others have moved on to the next stage of grief, acceptance, and have started to plan ahead.  For some organizations, this means considering, and possibly implementing, a reorganization…