On July 18th, the Raise the Wage Act. was passed in the House, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour over five years and then have an automatic index to increase on an annual basis. This pattern of increasing wage is on the rise among many states, including Maryland. On a different legislative note, on July 11th, The House Financial Services Committee heard testimony and approved for the entire House if it will consider a bill which will amend The Fair Credit Reporting Act in more employee favorable directions.

In Maryland, modifications to workplace harassment laws will go into effect on October 1st. The changes will establish strict liability on employers for harassment committed by an employee’s supervisor. Another law is set to take place on October 1st, passed by the Maryland General Assembly, called the Gender Diversity in the Boardroom Act. The Act’s purpose is to promote gender diversity in corporate management boardrooms. Finally, on October 1st Maryland will enforce penalties for those employers who do not pay similarly situated employees the same wage, without regard to sex or gender identity.

Questions about labor and employment law or other topics from this week’s Telebrief?

Contact Howard Kurman at hkurman@offitkurman.com or 410-209-6417.

About the Telebriefs®

The Telebriefs^® are 30-minute, information-packed phone calls geared towards executives, HR directors, supervisors, managers, and business owners. Join Howard K. Kurman, as he discusses employment law developments occurring over the past two weeks that will most significantly impact employers nationwide. These twice-monthly phone calls are an easy way to stay current and compliant with the latest employment law developments that will significantly affect you and your company. The goal is to provide information and insights to help executives stay current with the latest workplace law developments and in front of trends, to enable proactive policy-making and management. Our guarantee: You will learn something useful on every call!

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ABOUT THE PRESENTER

hkurman@offitkurman.com | 410-209-6417

Howard K. Kurman is an employment attorney. Mr. Kurman regularly counsels clients on all aspects of proactive employment/labor issues. He represents employers ranging in size from as small as 20 employees to those employers with geographically disparate locations consisting of over 4,000 employees. Mr. Kurman assures, through regular contact with his clients, that they promulgate and maintain the most effective employment policies that will, to the extent possible, minimize their legal exposure in today’s litigious workplace. Mr. Kurman offers advice on employee handbooks, employment agreements, and covenants not to compete as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Previously, Mr. Kurman was the chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing full-service law firms in the United States. With over 200 attorneys in 14 offices that stretch from New York to North Carolina, we represent privately-held companies and families of wealth throughout their business life cycles. Our mission is to provide our clients with “The Better Way” to grow their organizations, protect their businesses’ and families’ wealth, and resolve their most challenging legal conflicts. In addition to our quality of attorneys and breadth of legal services, Offit Kurman is distinguished by our unique operational structure, which encourages collaboration rather than internal competition. The same approach that makes our firm attractive to legal practitioners gives clients unlimited access to experienced counsel in every area of the law. Trust, Knowledge, Confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

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