Setting the Terms of Employment - The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards

In the absence of a specific contract of employment limiting such action (and with due regard to the limitations imposed under applicable child labor laws), an employer may require an employee to work overtime, to work on holidays, to work at night, or to perform extra or different duties than the employee was originally hired to perform, as the need may arise for the employer. An employer may also treat one employee differently than other employees, such as by providing compensation at a different rate of pay. As in the case of employment termination, however, the power to do these things is limited by the prohibition against illegal discrimination/retaliation discussed in the section above. Although sometimes appearing unfair to an affected employee, such practices are not necessarily illegal.

Updated February 18, 2010