Depending on all the facts and circumstances, an argument could possibly be made that the employer is retaliating against you for asking for anticipated foreseeable FMLA/maternity/Maryland leave (even if you might not yet be eligible at the time of the request). However, the pandemic and layoffs... View More

To speculate, given the lack of facts- perhaps the company is alleging a violation of their confidentiality agreement, rather than alleging that you signed one with another company. It might be advisable to discuss with a labor/employment attorney.

It's not entirely clear what the substantive difference between being on administrative leave and laid off/furloughed would be in this situation. Also, if the entire building was laid off prior to the complaint (or leave request?) being made, it might be difficult to establish a case of... View More

The question raises several issues, and requires more facts and discussion to fully answer. Generally speaking, entitlement to union benefits (or eligibility for membership) depends on the applicable CBA scope. There are federal (FMLA and the recent COVID-19 changes) and Maryland (sick/safe... View More

If you are still an employee, then you should still be in compliance with your visa.

On the limited facts given, USERRA would seem to apply to this situation, and might protect the right to reinstatement following the change in ship out date. However, you'd need to discuss all the facts and circumstances with an attorney. It might be a situation where hiring an attorney to... View More

Depends on what sort of motion. Most "motions" are ruled on by judges by applying the law and facts to whatever it is the party is requesting the judge to do. If the "motion" is something like a timely filed notice of appeal, then there would generally be no discretion to... View More

Generally speaking, you are working in an "at-will" state which means an employer may terminate you for any reason or no reason at all. Unless the termination was based on your membership in a protected class or you engaging in a protected activity, you likely do not have any recourse. I... View More

Unfortunately, there is no clear definition of supervisor or manager in the 2018 amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Nor is there guidance on how an employer should handle a situation where a "manager" does not always act in that capacity. There are policies and practices... View More

There isn't generally a civil cause of action for nepotism or conflict of interest for an aggrieved employee. Depending on who the employer is, there might be an internal grievance procedure. Or, if it can be established that there was discrimination against the employee on the basis of a... View More

Possibly- it depends on all the facts and circumstances, but the employer's action could be a violation of FMLA or the MD Sick/Safe Leave law. Employees faced with an unforeseeable medical emergency generally only have to give notice as soon as is practicable under the circumstances. But... View More

The general rule is that actual damages are all that can be recovered- a fancy upgrade to a piece of equipment might not be in that category. But additionally, there are separate Maryland and federal laws regarding withholding pay from an employee (as opposed to demanding they pay).

Contact a member of the Md. Assn for Justice. They give free consultations. Not clear if you were in a car, on the bus, or what, so I can't advise you further.

There are limits to how much an employer can get away with. One question is if the employee is appropriately classified as exempt, given their overall duties and responsibilities. Another is if the employee is actually performing two separate jobs (one exempt, and the other non-exempt), and... View More

It depends on exactly how the policy is worded. Or if it is silent about this situation, it becomes a matter of interpretation. You can either inquire with them (assuming you've already given notice, of course)- or wait and see what happens. If they deny it, then depending on how much you... View More

Unless the staff has some cognizable injury from the recording (like by publishing scandalous parts online), it is not likely that you will be sued. But if you get a demand from an attorney, you should hire one yourself.

There are two considerations here. The first is that if you are an hourly employee, you should be paid for all time and overtime you are "suffered" to work by the employer. Overtime might also apply if you are salaried/non-exempt. The second is how much it is worth to you to get paid... View More

This sounds like a hypothetical question. An employer can always come up with a reason to deny you a clearance, no matter how high or low the level of the clearance.

An employer must pay employees for time worked. An employer cannot refuse to pay an employee who could not take a break and who actually worked through the break. If this is the situation, you may wish to consult with an employment lawyer. The laws are set up so that the employer can be forced... View More

File a complaint with the Maryland Wage and Labor Board on the DLLR website; or retain an employment lawyer. You can check whether payroll taxes are being properly paid by checking with Maryland SDAT and the IRS. An accountant can assist you with obtaining those records, if you are not able to... View More