In 2021, trade secrets and non-competes continued to garner attention on the national stage. Non-competes were the focus of significant legislative activity at both the federal and local levels, while trade secrets lead to...more
On October 13, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) once again issued updated FAQs concerning the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title...more
10/27/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Confidentiality Policies ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
EEO ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Pregnancy Discrimination ,
Religious Exemption ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Effective May 28, 2021, Massachusetts employers are required to make paid leave time available to employees for COVID-related illnesses, quarantine, and vaccinations. Paid leave benefits are paid by the employer and then...more
As increasing scrutiny was cast at the state and federal level on noncompetition agreements and other restrictive covenants, companies were forced to assess their ability to safeguard trade secret information. Not to mention...more
3/8/2021
/ Anti-Raiding ,
Confidentiality Agreements ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Intellectual Property Litigation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
The Copyright Act ,
Trade Secrets
Both practical and legal issues will need to be resolved, but as of today, the EEOC has signaled that mandatory COVID vaccinations are lawful for the vast majority of employees.
On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment...more
12/17/2020
/ ADEA ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
GINA ,
OSHA ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Religious Exemption ,
Title VII ,
Undue Hardship ,
Vaccinations
SB 1159 expands the presumption of workers’ compensation liability for employees who contract COVID-19 due to a workplace outbreak.
A. Presumption of Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Certain COVID-19 Cases -
New...more
On August 24, 2020, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-5 addressing employer obligations for tracking time worked by remote workforces.
The guidance is timely, given the transition...more
On March 23, 2020, Governor Baker issued an executive order closing the “brick and mortar” operations of all non-essential businesses. Nearly two months later, on May 18, he announced his four-part plan to “reopen” the...more
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) recently issued emergency regulations creating a new “standby” status for employees who find themselves out of work as a result of COVID-19.
"Standby" refers to...more
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment (DUA) has taken steps to streamline the process for securing unemployment benefits in light of increased demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the impact of COVID-19...more