Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has announced the state will advance to Step 1 of Phase IV of its COVID-19 Reopening Plan on March 22, 2021. At that time, the state will enforce a scaled back Travel Advisory.
Articles About Massachusetts Labor and Employment Law.
Massachusetts to Advance COVID-19 Reopening Plan; Boston to Delay Reopening
Governor Charlie Baker has announced that Massachusetts would advance to Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan on March 1, 2021, relaxing restrictions on most indoor gatherings.
Massachusetts Increases Capacity Limits from 25% to 40% for Many Businesses
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has announced that effective Monday, February 8th at 5:00 AM, businesses can operate at 40% capacity.
Massachusetts Appeals Court Reinforces Narrow Interpretation of Public Policy Exception to At-Will Employment
On January 20, 2021, an expanded five-judge panel of the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued its opinion in Terence Meehan v. Medical Information Technology, Inc., No. 19-P-1412, and affirmed a lower court decision granting the employer’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s wrongful discharge in violation of public policy claim.
Massachusetts Appeals Court Clarifies Issues Regarding Overtime Compensation Defenses
Employees who claim that their employers misclassified them as exempt from the overtime requirements of Massachusetts law frequently attempt to recover overtime pay for hours worked outside the statute of limitations applicable to statutory overtime claims. In pursuing these claims, employees often argue that the statute of limitations should be
Massachusetts Amends Holiday Premium Pay Law and Tips Act as Part of Economic Stimulus Package
On January 14, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law an economic stimulus bill, H.5250, An Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth, which includes two significant changes to Massachusetts wage and hour laws. First, the new legislation amended the law pertaining to holiday premium pay on New Year’s Day, Columbus
PFMLL Update: Noteworthy Department of Family and Medical Leave Webpages
As of January 1, employees in Massachusetts have been able to apply to the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) for job-protected time off and wage replacement benefits under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (PFMLL). The DFML has been hard at work implementing procedures to process claims
Massachusetts Leave of Absence Obligations and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Massachusetts employers have faced numerous challenges in the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite swift development of promising vaccines, the pandemic continues unabated, leaving many employers to confront pressing employee absence issues while navigating new employment leave laws.
Naturally, due to the novel issues presented, Massachusetts employers frequently
Boston Extends COVID-19 Restrictions, at Least Through January 27, 2021
In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect hospital capacity, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the City of Boston will remain in modified Phase Two, Step Two of the Reopening Massachusetts plan for at least three more weeks (through January 27, 2021).
Massachusetts Rolls Back Its COVID-19 Reopening Plan for Second Time in December
To slow the spread of COVID-19 and to avoid overwhelming Massachusetts hospitals, Governor Charlie Baker ordered (No. 59) further limitations on capacity at gatherings, events, and workplaces. These restrictions are effective at 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020, and will remain in place for at least two weeks, until noon on January 10, 2021.
MA Minimum Wage & Service Rate Set to Increase on January 1, 2021
The post MA Minimum Wage & Service Rate Set to Increase on January 1, 2021 appeared first on Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP.
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave: Latest Updates Ahead of January 1, 2021, Effective Date
Just as the whirlwind of 2020 winds down, Massachusetts employers are preparing for what is perhaps the most significant legislative update for worker leave in the past five years. On January 1, 2021, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML) will begin providing benefits to eligible workers for
Boston Enacts Additional COVID-19 Restrictions
Citing the increased strain on Boston hospitals from the continued spread of COVID-19, the Boston Public Health Commission ordered restrictions that impose limitations on Boston businesses that go beyond those announced at the state level that were effective on December 13, 2020.
Amid Surging COVID-19 Cases, Massachusetts Rolls Back Business Reopening, Mass Gatherings Orders
Citing significant increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases, positive COVID-19 tests, and hospitalizations for COVID-19, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has issued orders rolling back Massachusetts business reopenings and further limiting mass gatherings. These orders go into effect on December 13, 2020.
Massachusetts Federal Court Preliminarily Requires Employer to Allow Employee’s Teleworking
On September 16, 2020, in Peeples v. Clinical Support Options, Inc., No. 3:20-cv-30144, a federal district court in Massachusetts took the unusual step of precluding an employer from discharging an employee who claimed an inability to work in the office due to a disability, and ordered the employer to allow
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