Employment and Labor Law

By: Mary E. Pivec and Ashley W. Winsky
Williams Mullen (North Carolina and Virginia, USA)

The Maryland General Assembly recently adopted legislation that would prohibit Maryland employers from conditioning hire or continuation of employment upon an applicant’s or employee’s disclosure

of any user name, password, or other means for accessing an online personal account such as Facebook or Twitter.  The law will take effect on October 1, 2012 if signed by Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley.  As a general rule, it will prohibit Maryland employers from retaliating, or threatening to retaliate, against applicants and employees who refuse to provide access to their private media accounts. For example, an employer may not terminate or discipline an employee who refuses to provide the requested information. Similarly, an employer may not refuse to hire an applicant who refuses to provide the same. Click here to read entire article.