Tag Archives: Massachusetts

Update Policies to Comply with the Massachusetts CROWN Act

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Amanda Marie Baer

At the end of October 2022, the Massachusetts Act Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Natural and Protective Hairstyles (the “CROWN Act”) went into effect. The CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” under Chapter 151B to include “traits historically associated with … Continue reading →

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Employers Must Remember Their Obligations under the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Ashlyn Dowd

The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “Act”), which went into effect on April 1, 2018, amended Massachusetts General Law c. 151B to include “pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy, including, but not limited to, lactation, or the need … Continue reading →

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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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The Times They Keep A-Changing: The New Illinois Restrictions on the Use of Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Agreements

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Rich Van Nostrand

The state-by-state non-compete reform movement keeps rolling – this time in the state of Illinois.  Effective January 1, 2022, the Illinois Freedom to Work Act has dramatically changed the landscape for employers in that state who desire to use non-compete … Continue reading →

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Don’t Forget! Minimum Wage Rates in Massachusetts Increase, Effective January 1, 2022

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Amanda Marie Baer

The minimum wage in Massachusetts will increase from $13.50 to $14.25 an hour, effective January 1, 2022. In addition, the minimum wage for tipped employees who make more than $20/month in tips will increase from $5.55/hour to $6.15/hour. Employers may … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Adopts FLSA’s Joint Employer Test

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Ashlyn Dowd

Jonathan R. Sigel and Ashlyn E. Dowd On December 13, 2021, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) considered whether the so-called “ABC Test” set forth in M.G.L.c. 149, §148B (“Section 148B”) should be applied to determine whether an entity is … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Benefits Extended

Posted on October 1, 2021 by Reid Wakefield

As employers know, in May 2021, Massachusetts passed a law, “An Act providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave,” which requires employers to provide employees up to 40 hours of paid leave for reasons related to the effects of … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 and Masks: Updated Guidance from OSHA and Massachusetts

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Brian Casaceli

On the heels of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) revised guidance that fully-vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in many indoor or outdoor settings, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced May 17th … Continue reading →

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Massachusetts Federal Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Defamation Claim After Employee is Escorted Out of Work Following Termination

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Ashlyn Dowd

By: Jonathan Sigel, Esq. and Ashlyn Dowd, Esq. The Federal District Court of Massachusetts recently denied a defendant company’s motion to dismiss a defamation claim following the termination of the company’s Vice President.  The plaintiff former employee, Sandra Madden, was … Continue reading →

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Link Fixed! Minimum Wage Increases to $13.50 Per Hour While Holiday and Sunday Premium Pay for Retail Employees Continues Down The Path To Abolishment

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Brian Casaceli

As of January 1, 2021, the minimum wage for regular employees (i.e., non-tipped minimum wage employees) increased to $13.50 per hour.  The minimum wage is scheduled to increase twice more, to $14.25 and $15.00 per hour, on January 1, 2022 … Continue reading →

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