Get free answers to your Employment Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
In the spirit and intent of minimum wage is there minimum hours per week an employer shall provide for part time employment according to the law ?
answered on Aug 31, 2024
Maryland law does not set any kind of minimum hours per week for part-time employees. It is up to the employer and employee to determine the schedule. Except for a few limited exceptions, minimum wage is not dependent on the number of hours worked and applies whether an employee works 1 or 40... View More
paid for when you work, when you are on vacation?
answered on May 15, 2024
If you have an employment contract that will be the first place you will want to look for the answer. In Maryland, employers are not required to give you a lunch break unless you a minor (under 18 years of age). Maryland employers are also not required to issue you benefits like paid or unpaid... View More
They exposed my SS# and other private info. What recourse do I have?
answered on Mar 14, 2024
Discovering that your employer accidentally sent your Form 1095-C, containing sensitive information like your Social Security Number, to another employee is understandably alarming and frustrating. Such incidents can lead to concerns about privacy and the potential for identity theft. In terms of... View More
They exposed my SS# and other private info. What recourse do I have?
answered on Mar 15, 2024
Perhaps there is a federal or state governmental agency that has regulatory authority to impose a fine or other sanction for failing to safeguard employees’ personally identifiable information. You would need to consult an employment lawyer in your area as to the existence of such a legal... View More
answered on Feb 26, 2024
A Maryland attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. The type of case you describe can be complex because such cases sometimes involve multiple parties in potential third party actions - you could reach out to law firms to try to set up a free initial consult. That... View More
Employer made me sign a contract and said I have to ask and be approved to work at another business within the same industry (flight instruction). There is a termination fee of $2500 if I breach the contract or quit before 12 months working for them.
answered on Feb 25, 2024
I do not believe either provision in your contract is enforceable. The financial “penalty” of $2,500 smacks of an unenforceable penalty; however, if it is tied to an actual out-of-pocket cost to the employer, such as reimbursement for a paid training course the employer incurred to train you in... View More
answered on Feb 5, 2024
Employers may implement policies for searching employees' bags and persons as part of their efforts to protect company property, ensure workplace safety, or prevent theft. However, these searches should be conducted in a manner that respects employees' privacy rights and is consistent... View More
I represent several Security Officers who worked for a security company that subcontracted with the University of Maryland Hospital system. The company received shift deferential and holiday pay. The company does not pay it to officers. I believe that this isn't mandatory in Maryland but... View More
answered on Jan 22, 2024
Given that your question is one of ethics, this would be difficult to answer from a purely legal perspective. I have to refrain from providing my general opinion, but I will echo your sentiments regarding the mandatory nature of the shift deferential and holiday pay flowdown. Holiday and shift... View More
During my transition from temporary hire to permanent position was rewritten as a lower role than my counterparts due to varying education levels. The job function and responsibilities are identical but I’m paid $25k less.
answered on Dec 15, 2023
An employer can generally make any kind of job classification they wish, and change descriptions and set pay scales for most any reason except they cannot do this for reasons that are illegal. Setting different pay bands based on educational attainment or years in the industry is on its face... View More
For example, I have refugee residence in Poland of three years and 2 years of Geneva Passport can I work Germany
answered on Oct 22, 2023
Having refugee status and a Geneva Passport in one EU country generally grants you certain rights within that specific country. However, when it comes to working in another EU country, like Germany, the rules can vary. Typically, if you want to work in another EU country, you would need to apply... View More
equal pay, unpaid wages, withheld wages, medical bills and damages. My case is in federal court and despite the defendant’s attempt to dismiss, my case has moved to mediation. I was paid 83k less than the male I replaced. I was also paid up to 20k less than other males in lesser positions. I was... View More
answered on Oct 15, 2023
Determining the exact value of an employment discrimination case can be complex and depends on various factors, including the jurisdiction, specific details, and evidence supporting the claims. Based on the information you provided, there are tangible damages, such as the wage disparity (83k plus... View More
I was hired and terminated from a job within one week due to not being able to submit my I-9 Documents such as my Driver's License amd Social Security card within only a limited
timeframe. I did one week of training before they terminated me.
answered on Aug 2, 2023
In Maryland, like in many states, employment is generally considered "at-will," which means that an employer can terminate an employee for any reason, as long as it is not illegal or discriminatory. However, there are certain circumstances under which a lawsuit for wrongful termination... View More
My former employer received a wage garnishment on me from a past debt. She is actually handing it to customers and employees talking badly on me.
3 customers and 2 employees have come to me about this. I am so embarrassed.
answered on Aug 1, 2023
You should speak with a local attorney that practices in this jurisdiction. Many states have confidentiality rules with respect to wage garnishments, and these are not public documents, others are different. Whichever, these are clearly being revealed for the purpose of negatively impacting your... View More
I work for two people and live with them in a big house together with no contract, with another roommate. In Maryland. I accidentally broke the sprinkler and caused water damage in the house, they want me to pay what the insurance will not pay and the repair expenses and if not they will take the... View More
answered on Jul 13, 2023
If you were just a tenant, then you would be liable; however, as an employee, that adds a new wrinkle. They cannot simply dock your pay for the excess cost of repairs. They would need to sue you, get a judgment, and then have a writ of garnishment issue against your wages, not to exceed 25% of... View More
I am planning on working the week following my vacation. They have known about my honeymoon since February and it is July now. There are no guidelines on PTO in the handbook.
answered on Jul 8, 2023
Laws on this vary from state to state, however, in my opinion, if you are employed both before and after you take the approved PTO, the employer has to pay you for it in accordance with their policies. You should not have given notice until you returned from vacation, you created the problem by... View More
I work for a ride-share company and recently had my account deactivated because a rider lied that I had drugs with the intent to sell. This is absolutely false. I need to know the name of the rider who defamed me, but the company will not share the contact information for the rider. Is there any... View More
answered on Jul 4, 2023
You will need to discuss the issue with an employment attorney, and explore whether you have a wrongful termination lawsuit or other type of claim you can file. In a civil legal action you can compel responses to interrogatories (written questions that must be answered under oath), demand... View More
Can I sue for being accused of smelling like alcohol. I had to take an alcohol test which i passed.
answered on May 24, 2023
Sorry that you were treated this way by the Police. The Police have an obligation to act when they have a reasonable suspicion, they don't have to be 100%. If you feel that the request was motivated by some improper reason, your civil rights may have been violated and you should consult with... View More
answered on Apr 4, 2023
I would say yes. As an independent contractor, you are typically considered self-employed and not an employee of the company for which you are providing services. But this is just a practical request to keep track of the work completed and ensure accurate invoicing rather than an employee-employer... View More
answered on Mar 19, 2023
When a married federal employee retires and claims their benefits, they have to choose whether to take a full or partial survivor benefit- or waive the survivor annuity altogether. To take a reduced benefit, or waive it, their spouse (you) must consent by signing a waiver that is included in the... View More
There was a clerical error between myself and another admin staff. I was supposed to be covering emails on Monday and was not aware of it until Tuesday. On Tuesday however I worked through the emails from Monday for 3 hrs. We are paid per 8hr work day & I added it to my time sheet. My employer... View More
answered on Mar 2, 2023
You must always be paid for hours worked, so long as the employer permitted the work or you had a reasonable expectation (based on policy or lack of an opposite policy). You should ask for a more definite statement of what company policy or MD law you supposedly violated.
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