Seyfarth Synopsis: Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced today that the Commonwealth will end most COVID-19 restrictions by May 29. Some industries, including health care, schools, and the transportation sectors,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 27, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that between April 30 and August 1, 2021, the Commonwealth will advance through the final stages of the COVID-19 reopening plan. Subject to...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 1, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a new law that, among other issues, addresses the solvency of the Commonwealth’s unemployment compensation fund by imposing an excise on wages...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development has issued updated guidance for Massachusetts industries for the reopening order’s Phase IV, Step One transition. The updated guidance...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On February 25, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that Massachusetts will advance to Phase Three, Step Two of the Reopening Plan on March 1, 2021. Governor Baker also announced that...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In response to increasing COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker issued COVID-19 Order No. 59, which will impose temporary capacity limitations on businesses and gatherings. ...more
12/28/2020
/ Capacity ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Non-Essential Businesses ,
Public Health ,
Retail Market ,
State and Local Government ,
Workplace Safety
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have issued new restrictions on Massachusetts residents and businesses. The restrictions include a Stay-At-Home Advisory, an Order Requiring...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: In response to a rise in COVID-19 cases, including those associated with large social gatherings, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has issued a new order limiting outdoor gatherings to 50 people and...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As we previously reported, on July 24, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order announcing a $500 daily civil fine, effective August 1, for individuals traveling into the Commonwealth...more
7/30/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Baker ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
State and Local Government ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee
Seyfarth Synopsis: As Massachusetts has entered Step 1 of Phase 3, the Commonwealth has updated its reopening guidance for several sectors, including office spaces, lodging providers, laboratories, restaurants, manufacturing,...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
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 we prepare to enter 2020, employers with a presence in Massachusetts should be mindful of certain changes to the wage and hour laws that will take effect in the new year. Most of these changes stem...more
12/30/2019
/ Blue Laws ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Food Service Workers ,
Holiday Pay ,
Labor Regulations ,
Medical Leave ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Over-Time ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Rate of Pay ,
Restaurant Industry ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Sunday Pay Laws ,
Tipped Employees ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Seyfarth Synopsis: On November 27, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that, under Massachusetts law, a terminated employee asserting a claim for being deprived of lost compensation in breach...more
12/24/2019
/ At-Will Employment ,
Bonuses ,
Breach of Implied Contract ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Contract Terms ,
Corporate Executives ,
Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Litigation ,
FDA Approval ,
Former Employee ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Regulations ,
Lost Wages ,
Medical Devices ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Termination
Effective July 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (the “Act”) requires employers to pay employees of different genders equal wages for comparable work unless the difference in pay is explained by the Act’s enumerated...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: A recent decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court limits the scope of the Wage Act to exclude sick time payments and potentially other types of contingent compensation. ...more
2/12/2018
/ Accrued Benefits ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Hiring & Firing ,
MA Supreme Judicial Court ,
Popular ,
Port Authority ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Treble Damages ,
Unpaid Wages ,
Wage Act ,
Wage and Hour