Category Archives: Wages

Don’t Delay: MA Employers Are Now Strictly Liable for Three Times the Amount of Wages for Late Payments With No Safe Harbor for Paying in Full Prior to Suit!

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Jonathan Sigel

Under the Massachusetts Wage Act (the “Wage Act”), if an employee voluntarily quits their employment, the employer must pay the employee their final wages, including any earned, unused vacation pay, on the employer’s next regular pay day. However, when an employee … Continue reading →

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New DOL FLSA Rule Issued September 24, 2019

Posted on September 26, 2019 by D. Moschos

The United States Department of Labor issued its final rule on the earnings threshold for exempt employees under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on September 24, 2019 (the “Overtime Rule”). The Overtime Rule will require employers to pay … Continue reading →

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MA Paid Family and Medical Leave Act

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Jonathan Sigel

On June 14th, we reported that Massachusetts delayed the implementation of the payroll tax under the Family and Medical Leave law by three months (i.e., until October 1, 2019). At the time, the government informed the public that the contribution rate … Continue reading →

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A Rebalancing for Wage Act Claims and Class Actions?

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Rich Van Nostrand

Citing three Wage Act cases in 2018, I raised the question in this space whether the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was now taking a more pro-employer view. With appointees of Governor Baker now holding a majority of the Court, did … Continue reading →

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WARN Act Violations ≠ Wage Act Violations

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Rich Van Nostrand

Early in 2018, the Massachusetts Wage Act, G.L. c. 149, §148, was in the news with two noteworthy decisions by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Bookending 2018, the Supreme Judicial Court closed the year with yet another decision narrowing the … Continue reading →

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FLSA Amendment Eases Restrictions on Tip Pooling

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Amanda Marie Baer

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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Attorney General’s Office Releases Guidance Interpreting an Act to Establish Pay Equity

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Brian Casaceli

On March 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office released guidance in the form of an “Overview and Frequently Asked Questions” (the “Guidance”) interpreting An Act to Establish Pay Equity, which goes into effect July 1, 2018.  A copy of … Continue reading →

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Violation of Sick Time Payout Policy Not a Wage Act Violation

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Rich Van Nostrand

The Massachusetts Wage Act, G.L. c. 149, §148, is in the news again, the subject of another noteworthy decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Like the decision declining to extend personal liability to Board members and investors for Wage … Continue reading →

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IRS Issues New Withholding Tables

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Amanda Marie Baer

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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Employment Law Ballot Initiatives May Go To Massachusetts Voters

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michael Murphy

Massachusetts voters may soon get another chance to significantly impact employment relationships in Massachusetts through the ballot box, just as they did in 2015 with their approval of the Earned Sick Time law.  This past week, the Attorney General of … Continue reading →

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