Author Archives: Amanda Marie Baer

About Amanda Marie Baer

Amanda Marie Baer is an associate in the firm's Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Group.  Amanda focuses her practice on representing employers in federal and state courts and before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, defending against claims concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, accommodations, and wage and hour laws.  Amanda also has experience in conducting workplace investigations into allegations of discrimination or harassment, enforcing and defending employment, noncompetition/nonsolicitation, and severance agreements and representing businesses in contractual, fraud, and general business litigation matters.

Massachusetts Employers: Don’t Forget to Submit the New HIRD Form by November 30

Posted on November 15, 2018

All Massachusetts employers with six or more employees must submit a Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure form (“HIRD Form”) to MassHealth through the MassTaxConnect web portal by November 30, 2018. In November 2017, Massachusetts amended Chapter 118E of the General Laws … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts Legislature Passes Long-Anticipated Act Limiting Noncompetition Agreements

Posted on August 7, 2018

On July 31, 2018, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the “Act relative to the judicial enforcement of noncompetition agreements” (the “Act”). If signed by Governor Charlie Baker, the Act will take effect on October 1, 2018 and limit the ability of … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts Employers: Review Your Job Applications ASAP

Posted on June 26, 2018

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey recently took action to enforce Massachusetts’ “ban the box” law for the first (publicly known) time since the law’s enactment in 2010. The AG’s actions and related statements send a clear message to Massachusetts employers … Continue reading →

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FLSA Amendment Eases Restrictions on Tip Pooling

Posted on April 11, 2018

On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2018-3 in response to Congress’ amendment to Section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, … Continue reading →

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IRS Issues New Withholding Tables

Posted on January 17, 2018

On January 11, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued Notice 1036, Early Release Copies of the 2018 Percentage Method Tables for Income Tax Withholding (“Notice 1036”) and published IRS Withholding Tables Frequently Asked Questions. Notice 1036 sets forth the … Continue reading →

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BREAKING: EEO-1 Pay Reporting Requirements Suspended Immediately

Posted on August 30, 2017

On August 29, 2017, Victoria Lipnic, the Acting Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), announced that the Office of Management and Budget’s (“OMB”) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has issued an immediate stay of the new … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts Enacts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Posted on July 27, 2017

On July 27, 2017, Governor Charlie Baker signed the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”).  Historically, courts have struggled with the issue of whether pregnancy is a “disability” that must be accommodated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”) … Continue reading →

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