Maryland employers covered by the state’s Worker Freedom Act must display a workplace notice and provide a copy to every new employee beginning November 1, 2026. The Maryland Department of Labor has published the required notice in English and Spanish to help employers meet the upcoming requirements.
The notice explains employees’ rights under a state law that generally protects workers and job applicants from penalties for declining to attend certain employer-sponsored meetings about religious or political matters, including union membership.
Maryland Worker Freedom Act Notice Available in Two Languages
The Maryland Department of Labor has released the official Worker Freedom Act notice in both English and Spanish. Covered employers should review the applicable requirements and prepare to distribute and display the notice before the November 1 deadline.
Employers can access the notices through the following links:
- Download the Maryland Worker Freedom Act notice in English
- Download the Maryland Worker Freedom Act notice in Spanish
The department has also published information about the law and employer responsibilities on its official Maryland Worker Freedom Act webpage.
What Maryland Employers Must Do by November 1
According to the Maryland Department of Labor, covered employers must complete two notice-related requirements beginning November 1, 2026.
1. Display the notice in the workplace
Employers must physically post the notice where employee notices are customarily displayed or in another location where all employees can easily see it. The posted notice must measure at least 8½ by 11 inches.
2. Provide the notice to new employees
Covered employers must also give a copy of the notice to every new employee upon hire. Employers should review their onboarding procedures to ensure the notice is included in the hiring process.
These requirements are intended to make employees aware of their rights under Maryland’s Worker Freedom Act.
What the Worker Freedom Act Means for Employees
The Maryland Worker Freedom Act generally prohibits employers from penalizing employees or applicants who decline to participate in certain employer-sponsored meetings that communicate the employer’s views on religious or political matters.
The law covers meetings addressing subjects such as union membership. Its protections concern an employee’s or applicant’s decision not to attend covered meetings, rather than establishing a blanket prohibition on all workplace meetings about these topics.
Employers should review the law and applicable state guidance to understand its scope, exceptions and compliance obligations.
For additional background, see Maryland: Mandatory Employer Meetings Banned Beginning October 2026.
Employers Should Prepare Before the Deadline
With the November 1, 2026, effective date for the notice requirements approaching, covered Maryland employers should obtain the official notice, identify an appropriate location for workplace posting and update their new-hire procedures.
Employers should also consult the Maryland Department of Labor’s official guidance to confirm which requirements apply to their workplaces.
The key deadline is November 1, 2026, when covered employers must begin displaying the notice and providing it to each new employee upon hire.
For the latest details, visit the Maryland Department of Labor’s Worker Freedom Act webpage.
