5 Situations Where You Need a Maryland Employment Lawyer

You may think that only high-powered, highly-paid executives ever need employment attorneys, but that assumption could not be further from the truth. In reality, employment issues arise across the entire labor spectrum, all the way from CEOs of large corporations to high school students working their first summer job. Below are 5 situations that may arise in which you need a Maryland employment lawyer.

1. You Are Asked to Sign a Non-Compete Agreement

Non-compete agreements are common in employment agreements among skilled professionals. Although every agreement differs, they all contain provisions that limit the employee’s ability to practice their profession in one way or another, such as by preventing the employee from working with the company’s clients directly or by preventing him or her from going to work for a competitor. While courts generally enforce these types of agreements, they must be reasonable in time and scope, and an employment lawyer can help you protect your rights.

2. You Believe You Are a Victim of Discrimination

Discrimination in employment is prohibited by law at the federal, state, and local levels. Each jurisdiction’s laws cover different and sometimes overlapping forms of discrimination, but some of the most common are:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Age
• Sexual orientation

If you believe that you are being discriminated against — for example, by being passed over for promotions in favor of less-qualified candidates — an employment lawyer can help you evaluate the strength of your claims and pursue legal action on your behalf.

3. A Manager or Coworker Is Making Sexual Advances toward You

Like certain forms of discrimination, sexual harassment is illegal at the federal, state, and local level. “Sexual harassment” encompasses a wide range of behaviors, such as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and lewd comments. An employment attorney can assist you in investigating your claims and pursuing action, whether that be through your employer’s internal complaint process, a government agency, or a civil suit.

4. You Believe You Were Wrongfully Terminated

Most employees in Maryland are at-will, which means that their employment is not contractual, and they may be fired at any time and for any reason or no reason. However, there are limits on an employer’s ability to fire at-will employees. Generally, termination of employment for the following reasons is unlawful:

• Discrimination
• Harassment
• Retaliation
• Breach of implied contract
• Violations of public policy

If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, an employment lawyer can help you pursue the appropriate remedies, including back pay.

5. Your Professional License Is at Risk

Almost all skilled professions — such as law, medicine, and accounting — require their practitioners to hold a license to practice. If a practitioner is alleged to have committed a violation of his or her profession’s code of conduct, the profession’s regulatory body may suspend or even terminate the practitioner’s license. Losing your professional license is a serious threat to your ability to work, and an employment attorney can help you defend it.

Contact The Law Office of J.W. Stafford Today

While hiring an employment attorney is the most obviously appropriate in the above situations, not all situations are so clear. If you suspect that you may need the help of an employment attorney to handle a contractual matter or a dispute, you should act swiftly to ensure that you maintain your professional reputation. To get started, contact the attorneys at the Law Firm of J.W. Stafford for a consultation by calling 410-514-6099.