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As an employee in Maryland, you have clear legal rights. However, understanding your legal rights can be challenging, and determining when you can (and should) take legal action to assert your rights can be even more challenging still. As a result, if you are wondering, “When should I talk to a Maryland employment lawyer?”, you are not alone.
Making sure you know the answer to this question is extremely important. Unfortunately, this is a step that far too many employees fail to take. As a result, they end up facing adverse employment actions (or other adverse outcomes) unnecessarily. If you need to take legal action, hiring an experienced employment lawyer is the first step in the process—and you may need to take this step promptly in order to preserve the legal options and legal remedies that are available to you.
You Should Talk to a Maryland Employment Lawyer If . . .
So, when should you talk to a Maryland employment lawyer? We recommend scheduling a confidential consultation if you are dealing with any of the following scenarios:
1. You Have Experienced Discrimination in the Workplace
Various federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace. If you have experienced discrimination based on your age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic, you may have grounds to take legal action.
2. You Are a Victim of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Sexual harassment is considered a form of sex-based discrimination, and this means that sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited under state and federal laws as well. Whether you were solicited for a quid pro quo or you are dealing with a hostile work environment, you can—and should—hire an experienced Maryland employment lawyer to help you.
3. You Have Been Denied FMLA Leave or Job Restoration
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles many employees in Maryland to job-protected leave when they need time off from work to take care of themselves or their loved ones. If you believe that your employer has wrongfully denied your request for FMLA leave, or if your employer has refused to restore your job after you took FMLA leave, you should talk to a lawyer in this scenario as well.
4. You Have Been Denied a Reasonable Accommodation
Employees who have disabilities and those whose religious beliefs or practices require a departure from the typical structure of their employer’s work environment are entitled to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you have requested (and been denied) a reasonable accommodation, your employer may have violated your statutory rights.
5. You Have Been Denied Equal Pay, Minimum Wage, or Overtime
State and federal laws entitle employees in Maryland to equal pay for substantially equal work. They also entitle employees to the applicable minimum wage and entitle non-exempt employees to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. If you believe that you have been underpaid for your work, you should talk to a Maryland employment lawyer about your legal options.
6. You Received a Severance Agreement
Employers use severance agreements to protect themselves from potential liabilities. If you have received a severance agreement from your employer, it is important to make sure that the agreement includes adequate protections for you as well. An experienced Maryland employment lawyer can help.
7. Your Employer is Seeking to Enforce an NDA or Non-Compete Agreement
Likewise, if your employer is seeking to enforce a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or non-compete agreement that you signed during your employment, an experienced Maryland employment lawyer can help in this scenario as well. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to be very careful, and an experienced lawyer will be able to help you chart your next steps.
These are just examples. As an employee in Maryland, you may need to take action to protect your legal rights in a wide range of scenarios. If you have any questions about what you need to do to protect yourself, you should talk to a Maryland employment lawyer promptly.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation with Maryland Employment Lawyer Jay Stafford
Do you need to speak with a lawyer about a situation related to your employment (or former employment)? If so, we invite you to get in touch with us. To schedule a confidential consultation with Maryland employment lawyer Jay Stafford, please call 410-514-6099 or contact us online today.