News: In the News
Employment Attorneys Prepare Clients for Paid Sick Leave Law
Russell B. Berger Featured in the Daily Record
Russell B. Berger and attorney, Attorneys at Offit Kurman. (The Daily Record/Maximilian Franz)
Mandatory paid sick leave is now law in Maryland after years of debate, and employment attorneys are making sure both employers and employees are prepared for changes that will impact 700,000 workers in the state.
“Most employers that we work with offer some type of paid leave policy,” said attorney of Offit Kurman in Baltimore. “The conversation is to then look at what their policies are, what they offer and see if they’re compliant.”
But even employers with paid sick leave policies will probably need to make some changes thanks to the Healthy Working Families Act, attorney said. Those modifications include examining the accrual method for leave (one hour for every 30 hours worked under the new law), carryover leave policies, how sick leave can be used and employee notice requirements.
The new law requires business with 15 or more employees provide at least five days of paid sick leave. The law also applies to employees working part-time for 12 hours a week. Businesses with 14 or fewer employees have to offer some form of unpaid leave for the same number of days.
“There is going to be more work in the details of leave policies than in the broad strokes, and it’s important that employers understand what’s going to affect them,” said Russell Burger’s colleague.
The definitions for what can qualify for paid sick leave is also broader under the new law, which now includes preventative care, care for family members, maternity and paternity leave and leave for domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking incidents.
ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 140 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City regions. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.
You can connect with Offit Kurman via our Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages. You can also sign up to receive Law Matters, Offit Kurman’s monthly newsletter covering a diverse selection of legal and corporate thought leadership content.
MARYLAND | PENNSYLVANIA | VIRGINIA | NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK | DELAWARE | WASHINGTON, DC
Skip to content