On July 26, 2022, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (“CROWN”) Act that bans discrimination based upon natural and protective hairstyles in workplaces, school districts and certain school-related organizations. Specifically, the new Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination on the
Articles About Massachusetts Labor and Employment Law.
U.S. Court of Appeals Offers Guidance on Applicability of Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws to Out-of-State Workers
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently affirmed a district court finding that the Massachusetts Wage Act did not apply to a person who mostly lived and worked in Florida. While the court’s decision in Viscito v. National Planning Corp.
Massachusetts Supreme Court Triples Wage Protections for Workers
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices ruled that employees terminated in the state are entitled to triple their accrued wages if employers do not settle financial obligations the same day they separate.
This is a significant decision that holds employers accountable for their employees’ due earnings without
State Law Remedies Not Available for Violations of FLSA, Massachusetts High Court Holds
Employees who assert wage claims available only under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) cannot recover the greater remedies available under the Massachusetts Wage Act (MWA), the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has held. Devaney v. Zucchini Gold, LLC, 2022 Mass. LEXIS 156 (Mass. Apr. 14, 2022).
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds That FLSA Preempts Wage Act Remedies for Federal Overtime Violations
On April 14, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled that when an employee pursues and succeeds on a claim for the failure to pay overtime wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the employee may not recover treble damages and other remedies under the Massachusetts Wage Act
Late Pay Entitles Employees to Triple Wages Regardless of When Paid, Massachusetts High Court Holds
When an employer does not pay an employee earned wages within the time frames set forth in the Massachusetts Wage Act (MWA), the employee is entitled to three times the wages owed, regardless of the length of the delay or whether the wages are paid prior to a civil suit being filed, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has held.
Payment of Final Wages Upon Separation: New SJC Decision Increases Employer Exposure
Under the express language of the Wage Act¹:
(i) “any employee discharged from such employment shall be paid in full on the day of his discharge”, with “wages” being defined to include all earned vacation time,
(ii) an aggrieved employee may file a lawsuit “for injunctive relief, for any damages
Massachusetts High Court Expands Employer Liability for Late Payment of Wages
In Reuter v.
Massachusetts SJC: Employers Are Strictly Liable for Treble Damages for Late, Pre-Suit Wage Payments
On April 4, 2022, in Reuter v. City of Methuen, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) held that employers are strictly liable for treble damages for making late wage payments, even when an employee has not yet filed suit asserting a wage claim. In so holding, the SJC rejected an
Massachusetts Top Court Issues Key Ruling Impacting Independent Contractors
On March 24, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) handed down a key ruling that could have a significant impact on franchising across the state. In Patel v. 7-Eleven, Inc., the SJC was asked whether the three-prong test for independent contractor status set forth in Massachusetts’ state-law independent
Massachusetts Poised to Grant Driver’s Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants
Massachusetts is on its way to joining 16 other states that grant driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
On February 16, 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed The Work and Family Mobility Act by an overwhelming majority vote of 120 to 36. The bill is expected to pass the Massachusetts
Massachusetts to End COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave
The Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program will end on March 15, 2022, the state has announced.
MA COVID-19 Sick Leave March 15, 2022 Expiration / April 29, 2022 Reimbursement Deadline
The law, as amended, requires employers to make paid leave time available to employees for COVID-related illnesses, quarantine, and vaccinations until the earlier of April 1, 2022 or the exhaustion of $100 million in program funds. On February 28, 2022, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance sent official notice
Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act to End on March 15, 2022
On May 28, 2021, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law an act requiring eligible Massachusetts employers to provide emergency paid sick leave to employees who are unable to work for COVID-19–related reasons. On September 29, 2021, Governor Baker approved an extension of the law, titled “An Act Providing for
Massachusetts Legislature Evaluates Its Own Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law
The Massachusetts Information Privacy and Security Act (MIPSA) continues to advance through the state legislative process, and is now before the full legislature. While the Act has several hurdles to clear before becoming law, its notable for two reasons. First, the comprehensive nature of the MIPSA exemplifies the direction state
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