An Employer’s Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining a Peace Order on Behalf of an Employee
In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly enacted the Workplace Violence Act, which allows an employer to address workplace violence by seeking a Peace Order on behalf of an employee. A Peace Order instructs an individual (the “Respondent”) to stay away from the workplace and to refrain from specific, prohibited conduct. Violating the terms of a Peace Order is a crime, subject to punishment by incarceration and/or a fine. In June 2024, Goodell DeVries Risk Management, Investigations, and Compliance Group practice chair Jared M. Green provided a guide to handling criminal incidents in the workplace . A Peace Order can be obtained in response to a criminal incident whether or not the police were contacted, or criminal charges were filed. Below is a step-by-step guide to obtaining a Peace Order on behalf of an employee for incidents of workplace violence. What Conduct is Prohibited by the Peace Order Statute? Not all criminal acts can form the basis for a peace order. Instead, t...