The Challenge of Writing up Employees—and How to Do a Better Job at It

Our clients recognize how important it is to write up employees when situations call for it.  Yet, most companies struggle terribly with getting supervisors actually to fill out a disciplinary form when a problem arises with an employee.  Why is that?  And what can employers do to fix it? The most common explanation we hear…

A Renaissance for Private-Employer Unions – Real or Fake News?

Depending on where you get your news, you might think that unionization at private employers is experiencing a drastic rise.  Nearly every week, news articles highlight unionization efforts at high-profile companies like Starbucks, Amazon, and Mcdonald’s.  Despite being only three-quarters of the way into FY22, union election petitions for FY22 have already exceeded the total…

Maryland Law Makes It Easier for Employees to Win Sexual Harassment Lawsuits

All employers know that maintaining a workplace that is free from sexual harassment is the right thing to do.  A harassment-free workplace shows respect for all employees at work and creates a safe work environment.  It also happens to be good for business.  Complaints of sexual harassment are unsettling, distracting, time-consuming, and expensive. But from…

Litigation FAQ: Are My Attorneys’ Fees Recoverable?

One of the first questions many attorneys are asked when a client is considering filing a lawsuit is whether the fees and costs they will incur in the litigation are recoverable. In virtually all personal injury and property damage cases and in many business disputes, under what courts have dubbed the “American Rule,” the answer…

How to Handle Freedom of Speech at Work

The end of the current session of the United States Supreme Court has seen the Court issue rulings on many hot-button political topics including gun control, abortion, immigration, and environmental protection laws.  These rulings, along with the January 6th Commission’s ongoing public hearings, have created an environment of heightened political tension and stress.  While the…

When is Paid Sick Leave Coming to Maryland?

During the most recent legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Time to Care Act.  The big takeaway from the passage of this law: Maryland will, eventually, have a paid leave program for employees who need time off due to childbirth or serious health conditions.  Unfortunately, the coverage of the law’s passage has created…

Are Your Employees Ready to Go Back to “Normal”?

Across the country, government mask mandates are being lifted, students are attending schools without masks, and people are beginning to resume activities that were curtailed when the Omicron variant was spreading like wildfire only a few short weeks ago.  Many employers are watching these trends carefully as they make plans to resume, expand, or modify…

Is Hybrid Remote Work the New Normal?

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, no one could have predicted the ongoing transformation it would have on our home and work lives. This transformation is particularly obvious in how we talk about remote work and how many companies have adapted to, and in some cases embraced, remote work.  Once a perk offered…

Recent Circuit Court Split Creates Confusion About Mealtime Pay

How do three Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals hear separate but factually identical cases, yet come to three distinct holdings? That is what happened recently when one set of facts with different plaintiffs was litigated in the Ninth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits. The result? A split in the circuits regarding when employers must pay for…

How Employers Can Help Ease Mental Health Issues Due to the Pandemic

As the pandemic creeps on into year three, many are noticing a significant deterioration in their mental health—either through an exacerbation of their existing mental health conditions or simply from exhaustion. Fortunately, all is not lost! There are several strategies that employers may implement to assist their employees through this difficult time, and some are…