Maryland Worker Freedom Act now in effect; required notice form yet to be issued

Among the new Maryland statutes that took effect on October 1 is the Maryland Worker Freedom Act. The new law prohibits employers from taking action against employees who refuse to attend or participate in workplace meetings where the employer shares opinions on religious or political matters.

What the new law says

The statute doesn’t prohibit a private employer’s ability to hold meetings where those topics are discussed, but it does restrict employers from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise penalizing employees who decline to attend or participate in those events. 

As defined in the statute, “religious matters” include issues relating to religious beliefs, affiliations, and practices, as well as the decision to join or support a religious organization. The term “political matters” is defined to include issues relating to elections, political parties, legislation and policy proposals, and the decision to join or support a political party or civic, community, or labor organization. This last reference—to discussions of issues relating to support for a labor organization—obviously carries potential legal implications on an employer’s ability to require employees to attend pre-election meetings in the context of a union organizing campaign.

Exemptions