Author: Joyce Smithey

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Articles written by Joyce Smithey

Joyce Smithey, a seasoned employment and labor law attorney, has over 22 years of experience representing both employers and employees in Maryland and D.C. Her practice, rooted in a deep understanding of employment law, spans administrative hearings to federal litigation. Joyce's approach is comprehensive, focusing on protecting client interests while ensuring legal compliance. A Harvard graduate, her career began in Fortune 500 companies, transitioning to law after a degree from Boston University School of Law. Joyce's expertise is recognized by numerous awards, including Maryland’s Top 100 Women. At Smithey Law Group LLC, which she founded in 2018, Joyce continues to champion employment rights, drawing on her rich background in law and business.

Here are the Top 5 FLSA Mistakes That Employers Make

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the primary law controlling overtime and minimum wage requirements in the United States. Also, the FLSA establishes the basic requirements employees need to meet to earn overtime or be exempt from earning...

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What You Should Know About the Pregnancy Discrimination Act

If you are pregnant and working, you may have questions about what your rights are as an employee. Certain stages of your pregnancy might make the demands of your job more challenging or impossible. Fortunately, there are a number of...

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Can My Boss Fire Me if I Share My Political Beliefs on Social Media Platforms?

When it comes to sharing your thoughts online, poster beware! Social media has been a great tool for the dissemination of ideas, and it can make you more visible around the world. But what happens when you become more visible...

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What Constitutes Harassment by a Supervisor?

There are many laws at both the federal and state level that prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is comforting to know that legislators enacted these laws to protect workers from harassment. But people still struggle when it...

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What Defenses Does an Employer Have to a Charge of Discrimination?

In America, there are many laws that exist at both the federal and state level that protect workers from discrimination in the workplace. And on October 1, 2019, Maryland workers gained even more protections than provided by federal and previous...

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What Can Be Considered Workplace Retaliation?

Employees in the United States have certain rights under both state and federal law. If your employer violates those rights, you have the right to report them. Additionally, if you witness a co-worker’s rights being violated, you have the right...

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Is Wrongful Termination Difficult to Prove?

Like most states, Maryland is an “at-will” work state. This means employees can leave their jobs at any time for any reason. It also means that employers can fire people at any time for any reason or no reason at...

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Chambers and Partner Reviewed Smithey Law Ranked Number 1

1 Ranked Lawyers | Band 1 | Maryland USA 2021 What the team is known for Respected employment boutique with significant experience in plaintiff representation. Handles a broad spectrum of contentious and noncontentious matters, including wrongful termination, wage and hour,...

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Six Facts About Religious Discrimination

America is a melting pot of nationalities and religions. People in our country come from all walks of life and embrace many types of faith. The nature of faith is highly personal and can affect how we spend our time...

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Wrongful Termination Settlements: What You Need to Know

If you believe that your employer terminated you wrongfully, you may wonder what type of compensation you could get if you decide to sue. Or, if you are an employer, you may wonder what your liability could be if one...

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