Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) recently published FAQs that provide guidance on the state’s new pay transparency law, formally titled the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act. The Act...more
In Jinks v. Credico (USA) LLC (December 13, 2021), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court concluded that the appropriate method for determining whether two companies were “joint employers” for purposes of the Massachusetts...more
On Friday, July 24, 2020, Governor Baker signed a bill designating Juneteenth (June 19th) as an annual state holiday in Massachusetts. In doing so, Governor Baker stated that this designation would help “recognize the...more
On June 13, 2019, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed an emergency bill amending the Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) law. The bill, and subsequent guidance provided by the Massachusetts Department of Paid Family...more
On May 1, 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (Department) offered Massachusetts businesses a temporary reprieve by extending two key deadlines critical to the implementation of the Massachusetts...more
5/3/2019
/ 1099s ,
Department of Revenue ,
Employee Contributions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
IRS ,
Medical Leave ,
Paid Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Trust Funds ,
Wage and Hour
On March 15, 2019, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that the “agricultural” exemption to the Massachusetts Overtime Law, M.G.L. c. 151, § 1A, does not apply to workers who perform post-harvesting activities. ...more
3/19/2019
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Agricultural Workers ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Farms ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
MA Supreme Judicial Court ,
Over-Time ,
Popular ,
Seasonal Workers ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On January 23, 2019, the newly-created Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (Department) released proposed regulations clarifying the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees under the new...more
The recently-enacted Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act (“Act”) provides a roadmap for employers to follow to ensure enforcement of noncompetition agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2018. ...more
On August 10, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) completely preempts the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (ESTL). ...more
8/15/2018
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employment Litigation ,
Preemption ,
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) ,
Railroads ,
Remand ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Summary Judgment ,
Transportation Industry
On June 28, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker executed legislation that makes sweeping changes to Massachusetts law. As part of this so-called “Grand Bargain” legislation (the “Act”), Massachusetts will incrementally...more
6/29/2018
/ Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Payroll Deductions ,
Retail Workers ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect on April 1, 2018. This new law requires employers with six or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees. As the effective date...more