Read more about the article Comments Due Sep 29 on Updated Draft Paid Leave Claims Regulations
Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Comments Due Sep 29 on Updated Draft Paid Leave Claims Regulations

The Maryland Department of Labor has released an updated outline of draft regulations overseeing claims processes for the state’s paid leave benefit. Written comments are due on September 29. The Maryland Department of Labor’s FAMLI Division — tasked with implementing and guiding the statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) law — has released a "FAMLI Claims Reguls Outline" for stakeholders to weigh in on. The revised outline reflects stakeholder feedback from the original discussion…

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September 22, 2023
Read more about the article Talbot County Government Celebrates 2023 Years of Service Awards
Office of State’s Attorney for Talbot County. From left: Council Vice President Pete Lesher, State’s Attorney Joesph Cole, Tracy Soper (20 yrs), County Manager Clay Stamp
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / News You Can Use
Talbot County Government Celebrates 2023 Years of Service Awards

Talbot County recently honored 54 County employees with the annual Years of Service Awards. Awards were delivered to each department by County Manager Clay Stamp, Assistant County Manager Jessica Morris, and Council Vice President Pete Lesher. Each employee received a recognition certificate and gifts to commemorate the occasion. County employee appreciation will culminate with the Annual Employee Cookout later this week, where employees, friends, and family gather to celebrate with food, games, and prizes. “We…

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September 21, 2023
Read more about the article Montgomery Considers Raising County’s Tipped Minimum Wage
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
Montgomery Considers Raising County’s Tipped Minimum Wage

Montgomery County will consider a bill to raise the tipped minimum wage inside the county to $6 by July 2025.8 The Montgomery County Council introduced a bill to raise the base minimum wage for tipped employees working inside the county. Currently, workers who rely on tips -- primarily restaurant and hospitality staff, like servers -- are required by county law to be paid $4 per hour (before tips). Council Bill 35-23 would require employers of…

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September 20, 2023
Read more about the article Flexibility is Key to Attracting, Keeping County Workers
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
Flexibility is Key to Attracting, Keeping County Workers

According to public service labor experts, offering flexibility is key to hiring and retaining public servants in a post-pandemic work environment. Around the country, local governments and states are struggling to hire and retain talent in the post-pandemic world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 1 million public service government jobs are open in the U.S. --  the vast majority in state and local agencies. Maryland is no exception, with counties and the…

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September 12, 2023
Read more about the article National Board Charts Path for Workers to Unionize Without Formal Elections
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues
National Board Charts Path for Workers to Unionize Without Formal Elections

In a recent decision, the National Labor Relations Board announced a new framework for determining when employers must bargain with unions without a representation election. On August 25, the National Labor Relations Board issued a decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, with wide-sweeping implications for labor negotiations. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent federal agency created in 1935 and vested with the power to safeguard employees’ rights to organize, engage with one…

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September 7, 2023
Read more about the article Prince George’s County Gets New Deputy Director in the Office of Central Services
County Government and Structure / County News / Finance and Procurement / Labor / News You Can Use
Prince George’s County Gets New Deputy Director in the Office of Central Services

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced today that Ms. Pamela Ford Dickerson has been hired as the new Deputy Director for Procurement, Supplier Development, and Compliance in the Office of Central Services (OCS). Ms. Dickerson joins Prince George’s County Government as a forward-thinking and results-driven contracting professional with more than 19 years of progressive experience and expertise in government budgeting, public procurement, contract compliance, and public policy. “We are excited to welcome Ms. Pamela Ford Dickerson…

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September 7, 2023
Read more about the article Regulation Roundup: All of MACo’s Public Comments on Draft Paid Leave Regulations
Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Policy Deep Dive
Regulation Roundup: All of MACo’s Public Comments on Draft Paid Leave Regulations

This article is part of MACo’s Deep Dive series, where expert analysts explore and explain the top county issues of the day. A new article is added each week – read all of MACo’s Deep Dives. The Time to Care Act (TCA), passed by the Maryland legislature earlier this year, requires employers with at least 15 employees in the state to offer State-mandated paid family leave benefits beginning in 2025. All 24 of Maryland’s counties — as…

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September 6, 2023
Read more about the article Labor Department Taps MACo to Guide Public Service Apprenticeship Policy
County News / Education / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor
Labor Department Taps MACo to Guide Public Service Apprenticeship Policy

MACo is part of a group of stakeholders helping to guide policy development for a new public service apprenticeship program and grant. The Maryland Department of Labor (MDL) recently received $6.6 million through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to help expand apprenticeships throughout the state. Maryland was one of only seven states to receive a competitive award under the program and received the second-highest award overall. Registered apprenticeship is a proven model of…

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September 5, 2023
Read more about the article MACo and MABE Form Collaborative Co-Op for Family Leave Benefits
Corporate Partners / Employee Benefits and Relations / Finance and Procurement / Human Resources
MACo and MABE Form Collaborative Co-Op for Family Leave Benefits

MACo and the Maryland Association of Boards of Education have collaborated to form a new co-operative offering for members seeking to streamline the administration of family leave benefits under Maryland's "Time To Care Act." County governments are asked to indicate their interest soon, as the timeline for forming the co-op is necessarily brisk. Maryland employers will soon be required to offer a prescribed series of family and medical leave benefits to employees - either by…

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September 1, 2023
Read more about the article Meeting Aug 31; Comments Due Sept 6 on Remaining Paid Leave Considerations
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Meeting Aug 31; Comments Due Sept 6 on Remaining Paid Leave Considerations

The Maryland Department of Labor has released a discussion document on remaining draft regulations overseeing the state’s paid leave benefit. Written comments are due on September 4. The Maryland Department of Labor’s FAMLI Division — tasked with implementing and guiding the statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) law — has released a “Phase 6 Discussion Document" on remaining considerations for benefit implementation for stakeholders to weigh in on. An email from the FAMLI Division states:…

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August 30, 2023
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