Maryland Flexible Leave Act Amended to Enhance Retaliation Protection: Employment Law Manual Updated, Legal Timetable Entry Added

Authors: Melissa Burdorf, Marta Moakley and Beth Zoller, XpertHR Legal Editors

Maryland has amended its Flexible Leave Act to prohibit an employer from disciplining, suspending, demoting, terminating or otherwise taking or threatening to take an adverse action against an employee who requests leave. The law already prohibits retaliation against an employee who takes leave; opposes a practice that violates the law; makes a charge; or testifies, assists or participates in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under the law. The law has also been amended to render void any agreement between an employer and employee in which the employee waives any leave entitlements. The amendments take effect October 1, 2015.

In light of this development, the following Maryland sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated:

Plus, a Legal Timetable entry has been added.