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2025 Year in Review: Key Insights for Employees in Maryland
As we do every year, we published numerous articles on our blog throughout 2025. These articles provide important insights for employees (and former employees) who need help understanding, protecting, and enforcing their legal rights. In this article, Maryland employment attorney Jay Stafford and his team take a look back at some of the key insights we’ve shared throughout the year.
Dealing with Discrimination as an Employee in Maryland
Discrimination in employment is a very real issue. Despite clear prohibitions under both state and federal law, numerous employees in Maryland experience discrimination on the job every year. If you have experienced discrimination in the workplace, you have clear legal rights, and you will want to discuss your legal rights with a Maryland employment attorney promptly.
In 2025, we published a series of articles focused on different types of employment discrimination. If you have questions about your legal rights, we encourage you to read:
Dealing with Discrimination as a Job Applicant in Maryland
Along with discrimination in employment, discrimination in hiring is a very real issue as well. If you believe that you were denied a job opportunity because of your age, religion, pregnancy or any other protected characteristic, this is another situation in which it will be worth speaking with an attorney about your legal rights. For an introduction to what you can expect if you hire an attorney to represent you, you can read: Hiring Discrimination in the Private Sector: What Maryland Job Applicants Need to Know.
Dealing with Harassment as an Employee in Maryland
Harassment in the workplace is also a major issue—and it is an issue that affects numerous employees across Maryland each year. While we’ve covered common examples of physical harassment in the past, this year we published an article focused on non-physical sexual conduct. Non-physical conduct can provide clear grounds for employees to take legal action in various circumstances, and victims of all forms of harassment in the workplace are entitled to appropriate remedies under the law. Learn more: When Does Non-Physical Conduct Constitute Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
Proving Discrimination or Harassment in the Workplace
If you have a claim for discrimination or harassment in the workplace, it is up to you to prove what happened. You will need clear documentation of the basis for your claim, and it will be up to you to establish that your employer (or prospective or former employer) deserves to be held accountable.
This is easier said than done, and this is one reason why it is important to hire an experienced Maryland employment attorney to represent you. For an overview of some of the steps you can take to help your attorney prove your claim, you can read:
Filing a Discrimination or Harassment Complaint with the EEOC
If you have a discrimination or harassment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), or any other federal statute, seeking accountability may involve filing a complaint with the EEOC. Employees who have grounds to file EEOC complaints must follow strict procedures, and they must meet strict deadlines and other requirements as well. For an overview of the EEOC complaint process, you can read: How Do You File an Employment Complaint with the EEOC in Maryland?
Filing a Discrimination or Harassment Complaint with the MCCR
If you have a discrimination or harassment claim under state law, seeking accountability may involve filing a claim with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) instead. Here too, there are specific (and strict) requirements you need to meet in order to seek the remedies you deserve. For an overview of the MCCR complaint process, you can read: Filing a Claim with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR): What You Need to Know.
Severance Agreements and Non-Competes
Employers often use severance agreements and non-competes to protect their interests when parting ways with employees. If you have been asked to sign one of these agreements, it will be important to ensure that you make an informed decision. For an overview of some key considerations, you can read:
How Professional Disciplinary Action Can Impact Your Employment
If you are a licensed professional, facing disciplinary action can impact your employment in various ways. While the specific risks you are facing depend on the specific circumstances at hand, there are some overarching considerations that apply. For an overview of these considerations, you can read: How Will a Professional Disciplinary Action Impact Your Employment?
What To Do (and What Not To Do) if You Have Questions About Your Legal Rights
Finally, regardless of the specific circumstances you are facing, it is critical to ensure that you are making informed decisions when it comes to protecting your legal rights. There are both steps you need to take and mistakes you need to avoid; and, in this scenario, it is strongly in your best interests to seek advice from an experienced Maryland employment attorney. To learn more, we encourage you to read:
Request an Appointment with a Maryland Employment Attorney at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford
Do you have questions about your legal rights as a job applicant, employee or former employee in Maryland? If so, we invite you to get in touch. To request an appointment with a Maryland employment attorney at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, please call 410-514-6099 or contact us confidentially online today.