Attempting to increase the effectiveness of its wage laws, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB0136 which makes it illegal to retaliate against employees complaining about violations of various wage laws and gives enforcement powers to the DOL to pursue claims of retaliation against employees. The law, expected to be signed by the Governor, prohibits employers from taking or threatening to take adverse action against employees who take specified actions relating to several wage statutes. The bill creates new anti-retaliation provisions for the Employment of Minors, Maryland Wage Payment and Collection, and Living Wage laws and standardizes and/or strengthens existing anti-retaliation provisions and enforcement within the other laws. Additionally, an employer may not hinder or delay the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (or its authorized representative) from enforcing the six affected statutes, and a person may not make or cause to be made a groundless or malicious complaint to the commissioner or in bad faith bring an action or proceeding related to the six affected statutes.

The new law will be effective July 1, 2024, and is a good reminder for all employers to revisit their Handbooks and evaluate job descriptions and positions to verify compliance with wage laws.  If you need assistance, please reach out to RKW’s labor and employment group.

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