House Bill 40, known as the Flexible Leave Act, was signed by the Mayor and enacted into law.  It will go into effect on October 1, 2008. 

The new Flexible Leave Act requires Maryland employers with 15 or more employees that offer any type of paid leave to permit employees to use such leave for the illness of the employee's immediate family member defined as the employee's child, spouse or parent.  Additionally, covered employers:

• Must permit the employee to choose the type and amount of leave s/he wishes to use if more than one type is offered (sick or vacation, for example);
• May require the employee to comply with the terms of a related employment policy (such as following call-in procedures);
• May not take adverse employment action (discharge, demote, suspend, discipline) or otherwise discrimination against an employee who exercises his or her rights under the new law.

The law will apply to the use of paid leave that accrued prior to October 1, 2008 as well as leave accrued on or after that date.

The full text of the bill can be found on:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/chapters_noln/Ch_644_hb0040E.pdf

View other news articles from June 2008