In addition, certain state and local laws may provide you with additional legal protection and remedies, which you should consider before filing a lawsuit in court. Below is a summary of some of the laws and ordinances that may be of use for employment discrimination claims in Maryland.
If you have suffered discrimination or retaliation, contact our Maryland discrimination lawyers today to learn about your rights. Our Maryland office is located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, about one block from the Friendship Heights Metro station. You can take a virtual tour of our offices in Chevy Chase, MD here.
To schedule a confidential consultation, click here or call us at (202) 769-1681.
Click here to see our videos answering frequently asked questions about discrimination and retaliation.
Maryland state law (State Government Article, § 20-602, Annotated Code of Maryland) protects Maryland employees from discrimination based on their:
Important: Maryland’s law applies to employers who have 15 or more employees.
The Maryland anti-discrimination law makes it unlawful for an employer to engage in the following conduct because of the protected characteristics listed above:
Whether the conduct you experienced meets the legal definitions of these unlawful practices must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, unions and labor organizations may not deny membership or otherwise discriminate in apprenticeship opportunities for qualified candidates based on a protected characteristic.
Likewise, it is unlawful for your employer to retaliate against you for filing a complaint of discrimination or assisting the investigation of a discrimination claim.
Several different counties in Maryland provide additional statutory protections against employment discrimination, including:
These county laws vary in terms of the protected classes they cover, the deadlines by which complaints must be filed, and the damages and remedies that are available. It is thus important to speak with an experienced employment discrimination lawyer to explore and understand your legal options in Maryland.
Notably, the Montgomery County Code recently enacted a legal standard for hostile work environment/harassment claims that is more protective of employees as compared to federal law.
For example, the Prince George’s County Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination based on familial status and marital status.
The Washington Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights has a helpful comparison of local human rights laws available by clicking here.
If you believe you have been discriminated against at work and want to file a complaint, the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) has a website with helpful information about how to file your complaint. You should contact MCCR or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as soon as possible if you are considering filing a complaint because strict deadlines apply.
Also, you may be able to file a complaint with your county’s government agency. The “Helpful Resources” section below provides additional information.
NOTE: if you are employed by a federal, state, or local government agency, different remedies and complaint procedures will apply and you should consult with your agency’s EEO office or an experienced attorney as quickly as possible to understand the requirements.
In most employment discrimination claims against private employers, you may be awarded some of the following types of relief:
NOTE: if you are employed by a federal, state, or local government agency, different remedies and complaint procedures will apply and you should consult with your agency’s EEO office or an experienced attorney as quickly as possible to understand the requirements.
Zuckerman Law advises sexual harassment victims about their rights and vindicating those rights. Although every case is unique, the following frequently asked questions provide an overview of the key legal issues that often arise in sexual harassment cases.
Eric Bachman is frequently quoted in the media about the rights of victims of harassment and workplace discrimination, including in these recent articles:
Download our Sexual Harassment Survival Guide for Employees
A glass ceiling generally refers to an unfair, artificial barrier that prevents certain employees (women; people of color; lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or transgender) from fairly competing for upper management jobs in companies. In practice, it keeps qualified employees from reaching their full potential and, depending on applicable law, illegally blocks them from occupying the best-paid and most powerful positions. The glass ceiling can be caused by, among other things:
To learn more about glass ceiling discrimination, download our guide Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Tips for Combatting Promotion Discrimination:
Bachman writes frequently on topics related to promotion discrimination, harassment, and other employment discrimination issues at the Glass Ceiling Discrimination Blog.
U.S. News and Best Lawyers® have named Zuckerman Law a Tier 1 firm in Litigation – Labor and Employment in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Contact us today to find out how we can help you. To schedule a preliminary consultation, click here or call us at (202) 769-1681.
Our office is located in Chevy Chase, and we serve workers in several Maryland cities, towns and municipalities, including: