Labor and Employment Law
The ever evolving legal constraints effecting businesses that employ people present great challenges to the employer. We represent employers in all areas from recruitment to retirement, involving the employer-employee relationship.

• Administrative Agency Charges and Complaints
• Arbitration of Employment Disputes
• Collective Bargaining
• Employee Handbooks
• Employment Contracts
• Executive Compensation Plans
• Family and Medical Leave Issues
• Grievance Arbitration
• Harrassment/Discrimination Issues
• Labor and Employment Law
• Non-Competition and Trade Secret Agreements and Litigation
• Occupational Safety and Health Matters
• Stock Option and Bonus Plans
• Union Avoidance and Union Maintenance
• Union Representation Elections
• Wage and Hour Disputes
• Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Issues
• Wrongful Discharge Claims

• January 13, 2010: EEOC Garners $1.5 Million Settlement Against Auto Dealer
  EEOC Garners $1.5 Million Settlement Against Auto Dealer
• July 24, 2009: Leadership, Overtime, and Willful Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act
  Leadership, Overtime, and Willful Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act
• July 14, 2009: On-The-Job Injuries – Don' t Forget About The ADA
  On-The-Job Injuries – Don' t Forget About The ADA
• June 30, 2009: Supreme Court Sides With Employers on Burden of Proof in Age Discrimination Cases
  Supreme Court Sides With Employers on Burden of Proof in Age Discrimination Cases
• July 1, 2008: Current Employment Opportunities for Attorneys
  Employment Oppertunities
• July 1, 2008: Current Employment Opportunities for Staff
  Employment Opportunities for Staff
• September 7, 2007: New I-9 Regulations Take Effect 9/14/07
  In 1986, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (?IRCA?)
• August 2, 2007: Highest Federal Maryland Court Decides That Employees Cannot Waive FMLA Claims
  
• April 1, 2007: Employer Policy Against Fraternization Violates NLRA
  Many employers adopt rules prohibiting employees from entering into romantic relationships to protect themselves against sexual harassment, or gender discrimination, complaints.
• January 29, 2007: Comparative vs. Contributory Negligence; Which Is Fairer?
  Maryland has long struggled with the tension caused when one party injures another through a negligent act, where the injured party was also negligent.
• January 29, 2007: Can Employers Make Salary Deductions for Weather-Related Absences?
  Recently, the Department of Labor (?DOL?) issued two opinion letters regarding weather-related absences involving employees who were exempt from overtime under Fair Labor Standards Act (?FLSA?), and w
• January 9, 2007: Is Your Business Complying with Overtime Rules?
  Recently, there has been a multitude of high-dollar penalties assessed against large companies (such as Walmart) for wage and hour violations.
• January 2, 2007: Robert A. Snyder, Francis R. Laws and Barry D. Berman Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2007
  Robert A. Snyder, Francis R. Laws and Barry D. Berman Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2007
• December 7, 2006: Are Independent Contractors Ever Really Independent under the FLSA, and Who is their Employer?
  
• December 7, 2006: Can The Offer Of Severance Benefits Constitute Retaliation?
  
• November 29, 2006: Plan Now For Compliance with New EEO-1 Reporting Form
  
• November 29, 2006: Military Leave Update
  
• November 29, 2006: Supreme Court Sets New Standard For Retaliation Claims
  Retaliation claims usually are treated more seriously than the underlying discrimination/harassment complaints by administrative agencies, courts, and juries.
• November 15, 2006: Frank Laws to Speak at FLSA and Sexual Harassment Law Seminar Sponsored by ADP
  Frank Laws, Chair of Thomas & Libowitz's Labor and Employment Law section, will be speaking at a seminar sponsored by ADP on issues related to the Fair Labor Standards Act and sexual harassment.
• November 8, 2006: NLRB Provides Guidelines for Determining Supervisory Status
  The NLRB issued a trilogy of decisions which provides guidance and clarifies whether an individual is a supervisor under the NLRA.
• August 16, 2006: Severence Offer Linked to EEOC Charge is Retaliation, Court Rules
  A federal district court in Maryland rules that Lockheed Martin Corp. unlawfully retaliated....
• August 15, 2006: Berman, Laws and Snyder Named as Maryland Super Lawyers
  Thomas & Libowitz is proud to announce that Barry Berman, Frank Laws and Bob Snyder were named as Maryland super lawyers....
• September 25, 2005: Former PBGC Assistant Chief Counsel Joins Growing Erisa Practice at Thomas & Libowitz
  Baltimore-based Thomas and Libowitz, P.A., announced today that John Paliga has joined the firm's growing ERISA practice.
• August 1, 2005: Fourth Circuit Holds That Fired Worker's Waiver of FMLA Rights Under Severance Agreement is Invalid
  As many employers are well aware, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is problematic...

• Francis R. Laws
• Anastasia Elena Thomas

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