On March 28, 2019, the General Assembly overrode the gubernatorial veto to enact the Minimum Wage Act, which raises Maryland’s minimum hourly wage to $15.00 by 2025. Maryland now becomes the sixth state to enact a $15.00 hourly minimum wage.
WISE
Workplace Initiatives and Strategies for Employers
Latest from WISE - Page 12
New Jersey Employers May Not Discriminate For Employees' Use of Medical Marijuana
By mmacdonald
New Jersey Employers May Not Discriminate For Employees’ Use of Medical Marijuana
On March 27, 2019, the New Jersey Appellate Division reversed the lower court’s dismissal of a complaint that alleged discrimination based on an employee’s use of medical marijuana.
…
New Jersey Governor Signs Bill Impacting Non-Disclosure Agreements in Harassment Settlements and Arbitration Provisions
New Jersey Governor Signs Bill Impacting Non-Disclosure Agreements in Harassment Settlements and Arbitration Provisions
Over a year after its initial introduction, and after enough time to draw speculation (and perhaps some dust) on Governor Murphy’s desk, the Governor has signed
…
Paid Leave May Not Be Used to Expand FMLA-Entitlement
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for specified family and medical reasons. It is the employer’s obligation to designate leave as…
New York State Cancels Predictive Scheduling Regulations
By mmacdonald
On March 1, 2019, the New York State Department of Labor announced its withdrawal of proposed predictive scheduling regulations, which comes as a relief to businesses state-wide. Two years ago, the Department announced its intent to adopt predictive scheduling regulations.…
Courts Sanctions Defense for Ex-Parte Communications With Potential Class Members
By mmacdonald
Courts Sanctions Defense for Ex-Parte Communications With Potential Class Members
On March 4, 2019, a federal court sanctioned a company for interviewing warehouse workers to obtain declarations in support of its opposition to an FLSA opt-in collective and PA Minimum
…
DOL Proposes Increase to FLSA Exemption Threshold
By mmacdonald
On March 7, 2019, the Department of Labor released its long-promised proposed rule raising the minimum salary threshold required for workers to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act’s exemption threshold to $35,308 annually. Based on a 40-hour work week,…
Fourth Circuit Permits Sex Discrimination Claim Based on Rumors in the Workplace
By mmacdonald
The Fourth Circuit put employers on notice in a recent ruling that emphasizes the importance of training supervisors to identify and properly handle gender-based rumors that can lead to hostile work environment claims. In Parker v. Reema Consulting Services, the…
Please Join Us: “Hiring and Firing Without Headaches” a Pennsylvania Apartment Association Hosted Program
By mmacdonald
Please Join Us: “Hiring and Firing Without Headaches” a Pennsylvania Apartment Association Hosted Program
The Pennsylvania Apartment Association (PAA) hosts, “Hiring and Firing Without Headaches” on March 19, 2019 at our Firm’s Philadelphia office. The program will discuss human resource
…
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Approves Attorneys’ Fees for Private Settlements Under the Commonwealth’s Wage Act
By mmacdonald
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Approves Attorneys’ Fees for Private Settlements Under the Commonwealth’s Wage Act
On February 19, 2019, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) held that two employees asserting claims under the Massachusetts Wage Act (“Wage Act”) were entitled
…