Legal Question in Employment Law in Maryland

Re: unpaid training: illegal?

Your question about unpaid training raises a true legal dilemma. It is legal for an employee to agree to work as a volunteer. The employer may, however, face a legal challenge if the employer fails to hire the employee after a "trial period."

Federal requirements on the payment of overtime wages may be reviewed at the Department of Labor website (www.dol.gov). Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. Maryland law follows federal law as to overtime rates and time requirements.

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