Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 11, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker outlined the state’s Four-Phased Approach to Reopening the Massachusetts economy, and provided Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards, which will apply...more
On Friday, May 8, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) published proposed amendments to the regulations governing the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Law. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 4, 2020, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (“EOHED”) issued guidance relaxing its previous COVID-19 related restrictions on Massachusetts retailers and...more
On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) published important guidance from the Division of Insurance (DOI) for employers opting out of the Commonwealth’s Paid Family and...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 7, 2020, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (“EOHED”) issued its updated COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs, providing more details on what is and what is not...more
4/8/2020
/ ABC Test ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Definition ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Essential Functions ,
Freelance Workers ,
Gig Economy ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Regulations ,
Misclassification ,
Payroll Taxes ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: As reported through our “Paid Leave and Coronavirus” series, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA” or the “Act”) went into effect on April 1, 2020. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA” or the “Act”) continues to evolve as we march closer to the Act’s April 1, 2020 effective date. Most recently, the Senate passed H.R. 748, its...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Emergency Order regarding COVID-19 issued Monday, March 23rd, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (“DPH”) issued a two-part Public Health Advisory...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 24, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a Q&A document which provides important information regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), as well as a Fact Sheet...more
3/25/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Guidance Update ,
Paid Leave ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Quarantine ,
Relief Measures ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour
The Senate just approved H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, including the "technical corrections" passed March 16 in the House. The legislation will soon go to the President for signature. We summarized...more
3/23/2020
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Monday, March 23, 2020, Governor Baker announced increased COVID-19 restrictions on Massachusetts businesses and residents. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As reported in Part II of our “Paid Leave and Coronavirus” series, the U. S. House of Representatives (the “House”) passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“HR 6201” or the “Bill”) in the early...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As the country continues to adjust to new realities created by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response...more
3/17/2020
/ China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Sick Leave ,
Sick Pay ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: Yesterday, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) reported on guidance it received from the Department of Revenue regarding how employers participating in the Commonwealth’s Paid Family and...more
1/27/2020
/ Compensation & Benefits ,
Department of Revenue ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Contributions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Medical Leave ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Payroll Records ,
Quarterly Report ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tax Planning ,
W-2 ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: As the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”) law enters the first quarter of PFML contributions, the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) has released additional guidance on...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Yesterday, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) issued new guidance clarifying when a business should include 1099-MISC workers in the company’s workforce count for contribution, coverage, and...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Earlier yesterday, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) issued its final regulations for the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Law. ...more
6/19/2019
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Labor Regulations ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Required Forms ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 13, 2019, Governor Baker signed into law S 2255, officially delaying the start of the payroll deductions for the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program by three months to...more
6/19/2019
/ Delays ,
Employer Contributions ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Implementation Day ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Payroll Deductions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: This week, the Massachusetts Governor, Senate President and House Speaker issued a joint statement confirming that they have agreed to adopt a 3-month delay to the start of required contributions under the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has clarified that employers are not required to provide their 1099-MISC contractors the written notice of Paid Family and Medical Leave...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In important breaking news, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has changed its position and has confirmed that employers may receive approval of a private paid family or medical...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In response to feedback from the public listening sessions held around the Commonwealth, as well as engagement efforts, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) announced several...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As previously announced, yesterday, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) made available the online application for private plan exemptions under the Paid Family and Medical Leave...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Wednesday afternoon, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) posted template notices for employers to provide to each Massachusetts employee and self-employed 1099-MISC contractor...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Friday evening, the Massachusetts Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave (DFML) published its revised version of the highly anticipated proposed Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) regulations that...more