Seyfarth Synopsis: Massachusetts municipalities have a lot on their plate. They are large and complex organizations that provide critical services to their constituents in accordance with (often strict) budgets. As cities...more
Seyfarth Synopsis. On June 4, 2021, Massachusetts released a mandatory COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Notice. Effective immediately, all Massachusetts employers are required to provide the Notice to their Massachusetts...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 28, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law legislation that grants employees emergency paid sick leave for COVID-related illness, quarantine and vaccinations (“COVID-19 emergency...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 28, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law legislation that grants employees emergency paid sick leave for COVID-related illness, quarantine and vaccinations (“COVID-19 emergency...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: 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: 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
Among the most common types of wage and hour lawsuits in Massachusetts are independent contractor misclassification suits. These actions arise when an individual who provides a service claims that: (1) he or she was...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The SJC issued two important decisions in April and early May. In early May, the SJC found that commission-only salespeople are entitled to additional compensation for overtime and Sunday work, even though...more
Even fair-minded employers, with sound policies, face “off-the-clock” claims. That is, employers have to defend against lawsuits in which employees argue that they worked hours for which their employers failed to pay them. ...more
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: The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office (“AGO”) issued Guidance on March 1 about the changes to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (“MEPA”) that will take effect July 1. Employers preparing to comply with...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
Seyfarth Synopsis: In an important decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified the scope of personal liability for unpaid wages under the Massachusetts Wage Act. The SJC held that board members and directors...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective April 1, 2018, Massachusetts will expand its anti-discrimination statute to specifically prohibit the discrimination against, refusal to hire, and the termination of individuals due to pregnancy...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On February 5, 2017, in M.C.A.D. v. Country Bank for Savings, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD”) held that an employer engaged in unlawful disability discrimination when it...more