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What To Do If You Have Been Sexually Harassed at Work
Sexual harassment is a significant issue in the workplace, accounting for just under thirty percent of all harassment charges filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Workplace sexual harassment at work is illegal and actionable, meaning you may make a claim in court if it is not properly managed. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, our experienced Rockville, MD employment law attorney can advise you on the steps you should take to protect yourself legally.
What is Workplace Sexual Harassment?
Employees have the right to work free of unwanted sexual comments, physical contact, or sexual advances. Employees who experience sexual harassment are likely to face emotional suffering and may face fear of retaliation and lost wages if they report the harassment. There are two types of sexual harassment at work:
Virginia Jury Awards Over $313,000 to Freedman Law Client
On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, a jury in Winchester Circuit Court awarded our client over $313,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. Following the verdict, our client is also entitled to petition the court for her attorneys' fees and costs. It was a privilege to represent our client, who demonstrated remarkable courage in standing up against unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace.
What Can Federal Workers Facing Whistleblower Retaliation Do?
A federal employee who reports workplace wrongdoing is called a "whistleblower." Whistleblowers play a vital role in protecting the integrity of the federal government and strengthening the rule of law when they report illegal activities in the federal government. They also must act with bravery as they may potentially put their jobs and reputations on the line.
Federal law provides protections for federal employees who whistleblow. An experienced Maryland whistleblower retaliation defense lawyer can advise you on your rights and provide legal assistance if you face retaliation for whistleblowing.
What is Whistleblower Retaliation?
Retaliation happens when an employer fires, harasses demotes, or in any other way punishes you because you have reported misconduct. The Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) protects certain current and former employees against retaliation for reporting fraud, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, health and safety violations, abuse of authority, and more. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) extends this whistleblower protection to federal contractors and grant recipients. The U.S. Department of Labor enforces additional whistleblower and anti-retaliation laws.
Can Your Employer Discriminate Against You During Pregnancy?
If you have found out that you are pregnant, this can be an exciting time full of activities to prepare for the baby’s arrival. Yet, for some people, a positive pregnancy test may also bring anxiety about how you may be treated when your employer finds out you are pregnant.
Thankfully, the law has protections in place forbidding discrimination during pregnancy. An experienced Maryland pregnancy discrimination attorney can advise you on your rights during this time and represent you if you believe you are facing discrimination during pregnancy.
What is Pregnancy Discrimination?
If your employer has treated you differently because you are pregnant by, for example, demoting or firing you, denying you reasonable accommodations related to your pregnancy or childbirth, or treating you unfairly, this may constitute pregnancy discrimination.
Building a Strong Wrongful Termination Case
Losing a job is never easy. It can be emotionally and financially draining. In Maryland, employees work "at will," meaning that they can be hired or fired for any reason. There are exceptions to this rule, however, and if an employer fires an employee for a legally prohibited reason, that is called wrongful termination and can be grounds for a lawsuit. Employees facing what they believe is a wrongful termination should consult with an experienced Silver Spring, MD employment attorney who can represent their rights and build a strong wrongful termination lawsuit.
What Is Wrongful Termination?
Wrongful termination occurs when an employee is fired in violation of the terms of their employment contract or certain laws. Common situations that can be characterized as wrongful termination in violation of the law include:
Do You Have a Claim for Wage Theft?
What is an obvious example of wage theft? An employee comes in to work as usual and at the end of the pay period, no money is deposited into their account as payment for time worked. This is thankfully a rare scenario in most workplaces in the United States today.
Yet it is a misconception that wage theft refers only to the scenario where an employer does not pay an employee any of their wages. If an employer does not pay minimum wage, overtime pay, or benefits, that can qualify as wage theft as well. An experienced Silver Springs, MD employment attorney can provide advice to employees about whether their employer is violating wage and hour laws and committing wage theft.
What Is Wage Theft?
When an employer does not pay an employee according to the law, that is considered wage theft, also known as wage and hour violations. Wage theft occurs whether or not the employer acts intentionally. Federal and Maryland law prohibit employers from committing wage theft.
Is Remote Work a Reasonable Accommodation?
The COVID-19 pandemic made remote more commonplace. Since then, some employers have moved away from remote work and either expect employees to return to the office or offer a hybrid work schedule. Against this backdrop, some disabled employees may wish to remain remote in order to alleviate the difficulties that come with being a disabled employee. But is remote work a reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)? An experienced Montgomery County, Maryland employment law attorney can help answer this question.
What is a Reasonable Accommodation Under the ADA?
The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. One of the protections it offers is the requirement that employers provide "reasonable accommodations." Some types of reasonable accommodations include installing a ramp to the restroom, providing sign language, or adjusting work schedules so employees can attend doctors’ appointments.
Litigating a Breach of Employment Agreement in Maryland
Maryland employers work "at will," meaning that they may be hired or fired at any time and for any legal reason. However, where the parties have signed an employment agreement, its terms will determine the parties’ rights and responsibilities.
Both parties to an employment agreement are bound by their terms and may face legal consequences for breaching the contract. An experienced Baltimore, MD employment agreement dispute attorney can represent either employees and employers in a lawsuit on a breach of an employment agreement.
What Should You Do if You Believe There is a Breach of an Employment Agreement?
If you suspect that the other party has breached the employment agreement, the first thing to do is to review the agreement, particularly the sections related to the breach and to the resolution of disputes. Next, you should document the breach by collecting any pertinent written evidence. If you are an employer or employee at a workplace with a human resources department, have an HR representative review the terms of the agreement and company policy. It may be possible to come to a negotiated solution by communicating with the other party. If you cannot amicably resolve the dispute, it may be time to consider filing an employment agreement breach of contract lawsuit.
5 Biggest Myths About Workplace Discrimination
Most of us are aware that nondiscrimination law prohibits employer discrimination against employees on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability, age, and other characteristics. Beyond that, however, there are many myths or misconceptions about employment discrimination. These myths can be harmful to both employers and employees: they may stop employees from reporting discrimination, and they may cause an employer to think they are complying with the law when they are not. Either way, a Maryland employment discrimination attorney has the experience to advise employees and employers on employment discrimination law.
Myth: Only Large Employers Are Covered By Discrimination Law
There are multiple federal laws that prohibit workplace discrimination, and Maryland does as well. Not all federal laws have an employer size requirement. For example, under the Federal Equal Pay Act, employers may not discriminate against women by paying them less than men for doing the same work, and this law applies regardless of company size. Even when there is an employer size provision, it is not very large. Many federal anti-discrimination laws and the Maryland employment anti-discrimination law apply to employers with 15 or more employees.
A Guide to Maryland Severance Agreements
When an employee leaves a place of employment, the employer may have the employee sign a severance agreement outlining the terms of their termination, including any severance pay and other compensation. In return, an employee will also agree to certain provisions, such as not to compete under certain geographic and time circumstances. An experienced Howard County, MD employment attorney can advise employees and employers on Maryland severance agreement best practices.
Why are Severance Agreements Important?
A severance agreement can provide an employer and an employee with certainty about their future dealings for a long period of time. It can also avoid disputes by outlining the terms of the parties’ agreement about the employee’s termination. By offering severance agreements, employers can also protect their company’s proprietary information as well as their reputation. Some common severance agreement components include:
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