Legal Question in Business Law in Maryland

Employement Bonus

Hello -

In January of 2005, I lost my job here in Maryland by a Florida based company, they fired me. Before they fired me they game a sheet of paper indicating my efficetive date of my new pay raise for 2005 and my work bonus based off my year end review (2004 review). My review was excellent, b not one bad comment. The effective date was before my ''fired'' date, but they never paied me my bonus. They said that the actual pay out was on February's first paycheck, but that is not indicated on the paper. I'm just trying to find out if I'm entitled to my bonus. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.


Asked on 1/26/06, 10:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Lease Smith, Lease & Goldstein, LLC

Re: Employement Bonus

In order to answer your question, more information will be needed. However, the critical issue is when was the bonus "earned." The Maryland Courts have held that a bonus is earned when all the work entitling the employee to the bonus has been completed, even if the bonus would be paid in the future. Additionally, bonuses are defined as wages under the Maryland wage payment collection law which provides for additional damages and attorneys' fees. If you would like to discuss the matter in more detail, please contact me.

Read more
Answered on 1/26/06, 11:15 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Business Law questions and answers in Maryland