We often discuss wage and hours disputes or issues that affect employers and employees across Maryland in this blog. The most common topics that we discuss in this subject are those involving minimum wage compliance and unpaid overtime.
However, there are many other types of violations and rules in regards to what a person earns through employment. In this post, we will look at some wage and hour laws that set rules for issues with which people may be less familiar. Violations of any of these laws can lead to serious employment disputes that can prove to be quite costly.
For instance, there is the Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work law. This law states that an employer cannot pay men and women differently. They are required to compensate workers equally for the same work, regardless of gender. If this unequal pay is happening at a business, the employer is prohibited from reducing the pay of the higher-paid employee in order to be in compliance with the laws.
There is also a law protecting flexible leave for eligible employees. The Flexible Leave Act allows workers to take paid leave to care for a family member without being fired, demoted or having their pay docked.
Should a situation arise where an employer owes money to an employee, that employee is allowed to file a lien against that employer’s property in accordance to the Maryland Lien for Unpaid Wages law. This can allow the employee to collect the debt owed for work that has been done.
There are several other federal and state laws that set rules and guidelines for how wages are to be paid. However, it can be extraordinarily difficult for a person to gain a comprehensive understanding of all these laws without the benefit of a legal background. This is why it can be crucial for employers and employees to discuss questions about wage and hour compliance with an attorney.