Author Archives: Amanda Marie Baer

About Amanda Marie Baer

Amanda Marie Baer is a Senior 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 and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. Amanda defends employers against claims concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, interference, and accommodations. Amanda also has experience in conducting workplace investigations into allegations of discrimination or harassment, and litigating to enforce (or defend claims regarding) employment, noncompetition/nonsolicitation, and severance agreements. Amanda's litigation experience makes her a valuable resource for employers seeking counsel on a myriad of day-to-day human resources issues and/or employment actions.

President Biden Issues Executive Order Regarding Workplace Discrimination

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Amanda Marie Baer

That was quick! On his first day in office, President Joseph Biden issued the Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. With the Executive Order, President Biden instructed each federal agency … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

COVID-19 Related Updates for Massachusetts Employers

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

New COVID Relief Bill On Monday, December 21, 2020 the United States Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which includes several provisions aimed at providing COVID-19 relief (the “Relief Bill”). As public employers and employers with less than 500 … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 | Tagged COVID-19, FFCRA, Massachusetts, Relief BIll | 2 Comments

Massachusetts’ Sector Specific Workplace Safety Standards for Office Spaces Updated

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

Governor Baker’s administration updated Massachusetts’ Sector Specific Workplace Specific Safety Standards for Office Spaces to Address COVID-19 (the “Standards”). While all employers operating office spaces are advised to review the complete Standards, key provisions are: Face coverings: workers and visitors … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 | Tagged COVID-19, Massachusetts, Office, Safety Standards | Leave a comment

What does the December 8th Rollback Mean for Massachusetts Employers?

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

On December 8, 2020, Governor Charles Baker issued COVID-19 Order No. 58, which returns all of Massachusetts to Step 1 of Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan, effective December 13, 2020. As a result, all “Phase 3, Step 2” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged COVID-19, Massachusetts | Leave a comment

Employers Must Ensure Compliance with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as they Re-Open and Recall Employees from Furlough

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued new Questions and Answers regarding its interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”). In relevant part, the DOL made clear that if an employer is calling employees back from furlough, the … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID-19 | 1 Comment

Update: Families First Coronavirus Act

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

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 Coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Labor, Department of Labor; DOL; Overtime; Final Rule; White Collar Exemption; Salary Threshold; HCE Threshold, Discrimination, Employment, FMLA, Massachusetts, Paid Family and Medical Leave | Leave a comment

NLRB Issues Employer-Friendly “Joint Employer” Definition

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Amanda Marie Baer

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 →

Posted in NLRB | Tagged joint employer, NLRB | Leave a comment

Employers Should Continue to Use Expired Form I-9

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Amanda Marie Baer

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 →

Posted in Form I-9 | Tagged Form I-9, I-9, USICS | Leave a comment

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

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Amanda Marie Baer

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 →

Posted in Employee Benefits | Tagged health insurance, health insurance responsibility disclosure, HIRD, HIRD Form, MassHealth, MassTaxConnect | Leave a comment

Massachusetts Legislature Passes Long-Anticipated Act Limiting Noncompetition Agreements

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Amanda Marie Baer

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 →

Posted in Non-Competition Agreements | Tagged Massachusetts, noncompetition | Leave a comment