On April 15, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced an enforcement action against one of the nation’s largest pest-control companies, Rollins, Inc., ordering the company to stop enforcing noncompete agreements against more than 18,000 workers nationwide. The FTC simultaneously sent warning letters to 13 other pest-control companies, signaling broader scrutiny of noncompete practices across the industry.… Continue Reading

Employers hiring employees in Colorado beware! You may inadvertently commit a hate crime without even knowing it. 

The Colorado legislature ended the 2026 regular session by passing a law that makes it a hate crime for an employer, or that employer’s agent, to “demand, confiscate, retain, or otherwise require an individual who is an employee or an applicant for employment or who is performing work or seeking to perform work for the employer in any capacity .… Continue Reading

This year’s 14th Annual HR Legal Summit, co-hosted with Ballard Spahr’s Labor & Employment Group, will feature keynote speaker, Christina Butler.

Christina is a former Emmy-nominated television news anchor and reporter with two decades of experience connecting with audiences during breaking news and major stories. Today, she brings that same energy and on-camera expertise to help audiences around the world become stronger, more effective communicators.… Continue Reading

Maryland employers can now register early for the State’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (“FAMLI”) program as part of the Maryland Department of Labor’s employer registration “soft launch.”

The soft launch gives employers an opportunity to create their FAMLI accounts, add team members, connect with third-party administrators, and provide feedback to the Department of Labor before registration opens to all employers on September 1, 2026.… Continue Reading

As online shopping and rapid delivery services continue to reshape the economy, employers increasingly rely on individuals who transport goods for their “last mile,” from warehouses and distribution centers to retail locations and consumers. A recent Supreme Court decision may make it more difficult for employers who operate in the “last mile” arena to enforce arbitration agreements against those drivers.… Continue Reading

As HR professionals face increasingly complex legal challenges, having a reliable “compass” is critical. Join us for the 14th Annual HR Legal Summit, co-hosted with Ballard Spahr’s Labor & Employment Group, to learn how to navigate the law in an era where workplace regulations shift faster than ever. 

Attendees will take part in interactive sessions led by Ballard Spahr attorneys and industry experts, who turn complex legal topics into clear, actionable guidance for HR professionals.… Continue Reading

Consistent with the Trump Administration’s longstanding stance on “gender ideology,” several recent legal developments have curtailed or sought to limit LGBTQ rights.  Collectively, these actions reflect a broader trend of renewed efforts to limit LGBTQ protections at the federal and state levels.  Despite these efforts, sexual orientation and gender identity remain protected characteristics under federal and many state and local antidiscrimination laws.… Continue Reading

On April 13, 2026, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill granting graduate assistants at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County collective bargaining rights. The bill passed both chambers with amendments, and pending Governor Wes Moore’s signature, the legislation will take effect on July 1, 2028.… Continue Reading

On March 26, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14398, “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors,” the latest in a series of executive actions targeting DEI practices in the federal contracting space. This latest Executive Order requires federal contractors and subcontractors to affirmatively agree to not participate in “racially discriminatory” activities or risk legal and financial consequences.… Continue Reading

Maryland is set to join a growing number of states banning so-called “captive audience” meetings, in which employers require their employees to hear their views on political or religious matters, including membership in a labor union.  If signed by Governor Wes Moore, the law will be effective October 1, 2026.

Maryland’s SB 417

Maryland’s SB 417 makes it unlawful for an employer to discharge, discipline or otherwise penalize an employee (or threaten these actions), because the employee declines to attend, participate in, or listen to the employer’s communications on political or religious topics in an employer-sponsored meeting. … Continue Reading