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.

Update: Families First Coronavirus Act

Posted on March 30, 2020

The Department of Labor issued new guidance over the weekend regarding the Families First Act, including important definitions and clarifications.  I broke down the new guidance into the overall framework of the new EFMLA and EPSLA in this recorded webinar. … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19, DOL, Employment Discrimination, FMLA, Leave Laws | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

NLRB Issues Employer-Friendly “Joint Employer” Definition

Posted on February 26, 2020

On February 25, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB”) announced the final rule governing “joint employer” status under the National Labor Relations Act. The determination of whether an entity is a “joint employer” with a direct employer for purposes … Continue reading →

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Employers Should Continue to Use Expired Form I-9

Posted on September 5, 2019

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that employers should to continue to use the currently available version of the Form I-9, even though the form lists an expiration date of August 31, 2019. USCIS intends to issue … Continue reading →

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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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