On January 25, 2024, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD – see Note 1) announced new draft guidelines titled “Guidelines on Harassment in the Workplace” (the “Draft Guidelines”). The Draft Guidelines are...more
On the heels of the FTC’s proposed rule to ban non-compete agreements, (which remains pending), the NLRB General Counsel has decided to get in on the anti-noncompete action. The General Counsel released a memo on May 30...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a proposed new rule that would have a seismic effect on employment relationships throughout the United States, by barring the future use of non-competition agreements and...more
Join us for part one of the 14th Annual Law Update, when we will look ahead at hot topics that HR professionals and senior administrators of your organization or campus need to know in 2023.
- Do you have employees...more
A Massachusetts Federal District Court has held that an employer’s garden leave payments to a former employee pursuant to a non-compete provision are not considered “wages” under the Massachusetts Wage Act.
As a...more
When writing his famous line in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare clearly was not thinking of the Massachusetts Tips Act. The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) recently issued a reminder that, in fact, a name can be critical to...more
On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued an Order requiring federal contractors to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations and provide other COVID-19 safeguards, as reported in our client alert dated September 10, 2021. On...more
9/27/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Exceptions ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Masks ,
Social Distancing ,
Subcontractors ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
As people continue to get vaccinated and Massachusetts fully reopens, businesses must stay knowledgeable about how to keep employees and customers safe. In some instances, masks and social distancing will still be...more
5/26/2021
/ Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Privacy ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Vaccinations ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
In light of the recent expanded access to COVID-19 vaccines, many employers have considered how to encourage their eligible workforce to voluntarily receive vaccinations in lieu of mandating vaccines in the workplace. One...more
5/7/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Incentive Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
As COVID-19 vaccines have become more widely available, many employers have been faced with the questions of whether and how to request vaccination information from employees. As discussed below, Massachusetts employers...more
Teaming up with its craft brewing industry, the State of New Jersey recently announced a new public health program, “Shot and a Beer.” Under this program, which the Governor announced over Twitter, individuals (21+, of...more
As the calendar (finally) flips from 2020 to 2021, brewers should keep in mind a few changes to the Massachusetts wage and hour laws that go into effect in the new year.
The Massachusetts minimum wage is set to increase...more
Join us (virtually) for a two-part program as we recap 2020 hot topics in employment law and look ahead to 2021. The two programs will cover different topics so please sign up for both.
Topics will include:
- COVID – Best...more
12/21/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Leave ,
New Legislation ,
New Rules ,
Paid Leave ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
Join us (virtually) for a two-part program as we recap 2020 hot topics in employment law and look ahead to 2021. The two programs will cover different topics so please sign up for both.
Topics will include:
- COVID –...more
12/21/2020
/ Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Leave ,
New Legislation ,
New Rules ,
Paid Leave ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
On November 2, Governor Baker issued a Revised Order Requiring Face Coverings in Public Places. Under the Revised Order, all persons over 5 years of age must wear face masks at all time when in any place open to the public,...more
Bob Young will be speaking at the webinar, “Legal aspects of returning high-risk employees to work in Massachusetts” hosted by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Panelists will cover a wide range of topics, including:
-...more
9/3/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Health and Safety ,
High Risk Covid Employees ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Job Duties ,
Remote Working ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Webinars ,
Workplace Safety
The no-end-in-sight government shutdown has thrown a wrench into the operations of brewers across the country. One brewer, DC-based Atlas Brew Works, is trying to do something about it. On January 15, Atlas filed a lawsuit...more
One brewery in England has decided to take the headline of this post to heart. Seven Bro7hers Brewery has teamed up with Kellogg’s to put unwanted Corn Flakes (e.g., those that do not fit Kellogg’s standards to be sold as...more
On July 17, the Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB”) issued a new Procedure, Number 2018-1, which provides guidance to brewers on transferring beer from one brewery to the other without the payment of tax where the two breweries do...more
At a recent media event to preview new concession items for the upcoming season, the New York Yankees tried out an intriguing new product. Blue Point Brewery, a vendor at Yankee Stadium, utilized a machine that allows images...more
Who says trademark disputes can’t be fun? Well, plenty of people, but that’s beside the point. Anheuser Busch InBev recently showed that a serious legal message can be delivered in a humorous form....more
Coming up with unique beer names can be a frightening prospect. With so many brewers cranking out so many outstanding beers, it can sometimes seem like all of the best names are already taken. Brewers can let out shrieks of...more
News that Anheuser Busch laid off approximately 400 workers in its so-called “The High End” division (that is, the group that is buying up craft brewers and brands) serves as the most recent reminder that the business...more
In a guidance issued on May 24, 2017, the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission announced a loosening of the Commonwealth’s stringent growler-filling requirements...more