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
In response to President Trump’s Executive Orders taking action against “illegal DEI” programs, individual federal agencies have begun incorporating certification requirements into grant programs, including the General Services Administration (“GSA”). On January 28, 2026, the GSA announced for public comment its intent to issue a new certification that recipients of federal financial assistance must sign as a condition of receiving federal funds.… Continue Reading
On February 26, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or the “Board”) published a final rule formally withdrawing its 2023 joint employer regulation and reinstating the narrower 2020 standard for determining joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”).
Under the reinstated 2020 rule, joint employer status only will be found where “two employers share or codetermine the employees’ essential terms and conditions of employment.”… Continue Reading
On February 26, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a decision on bathroom access in federal workplaces, establishing that intimate spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters in federal settings are to be designated by sex rather than gender identity. In its decision, the EEOC held that “Title VII permits a federal agency employer to maintain single-sex bathrooms and similar intimate spaces.… Continue Reading