We’ll let the major media talking heads comment on most of the big races and results across the country from Tuesday’s midterm elections while we highlight some of the issues and results that might be of greater concern to franchisees and other small business owners. That said, we note that once again, the results were…
Read More »In May, 2022, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed legislation that repealed and reenacted certain provisions of Maryland state law relating the anti-discrimination statute. Those provisions all became effective on October 1, 2022. First off, the obligation to provide a reasonable accommodation for an employee’s disability has been expanded to include applicants for employment as well.…
Read More »The Maryland Supreme Court ruled this month that hourly employees must be compensated for time spent traveling from one workplace to another under certain circumstances. The court determined that the federal Portal-to-Portal Act, which provides that travel to and from a primary worksite is generally non-compensable, was never adopted in Maryland. Conversely, Maryland wage laws…
Read More »As we turn the calendar today July 1, 2022, are a number of employer obligations become effective around the country that employers need to be aware of. In Maryland, employers of 50 or more workers are required to submit a report to the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights regarding any sexual harassment settlements they’ve entered…
Read More »Maryland became the 10th state in the nation (in addition to the District of Columbia) to enact a paid family and medical leave law when the democratic-led General Assembly overrode a veto of the bill by Governor Larry Hogan earlier this month. The Time to Care Act, as it is called, establishes an insurance program…
Read More »As we move closer to the New Year, we’ll focus more attention and provide you with details on upcoming increases in state minimum wages across the country. In the meantime however, we want to keep you abreast of some of the wage trends and initiatives we’re still seeing around the country. We told you a…
Read More »Washington DC is lifting its indoor face mask mandate for the first time since it was reimposed back in July. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is running for a third term, will lift the mandate effective next Monday, November 22. Masks will still be required in a number of settings – transit, schools, libraries, nursing homes,…
Read More »As we advised you last week, a Maryland court in Baltimore had ordered the restoration of the federal $300 weekly premium for unemployed individuals, notwithstanding the severe labor shortage that businesses are currently facing. Well, this week in that same Baltimore City Circuit Court, Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill replaced his 10-day restraining order with a preliminary…
Read More »As the labor shortage continues to wreak havoc with small businesses across the country, the issue is being fought out in a host of different venues. First off, there are the many states that have announced (or already) that they are suspending or ceasing the extra bonus payments as we’ve reported in prior issues. That…
Read More »Following more slowly on the trend set by Texas and Mississippi when last week they removed all COVID related restrictions and shutdowns, a number of states this week have further relaxed their COVID related mandates on businesses operating at a percentage of full capacity. Specifically, the states of Arizona and Maryland have each announced that…
Read More »