Massachusetts has enacted a new law imposing pay transparency and pay data reporting obligations on employers in the state. The law will take effect on July 31, 2025.
Articles About Massachusetts Labor and Employment Law.
Massachusetts Enacts a New Pay Transparency Law
Massachusetts is the latest state to mandate salary transparency in job postings and disclosure of demographic and pay data to the government.
On July 31, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law the “Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act,” H.B. 4890. The law is named after Frances Perkins, the first woman
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rejects Compensation Plan Allocating Commissions to Overtime and Premium Pay
On March 28, 2024, in Sutton v. Jordan’s Furniture, Inc., the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) upheld a Massachusetts Superior Court decision finding the furniture retailer’s commission-based compensation scheme violated the Massachusetts Wage Act for paying commission-based sales employees their overtime and Sunday premium pay out of their earned commissions.
Massachusetts Latest State Expected to Restrict Access to Credit Reports for Employment Purposes
On March 14, 2024, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation that would add a new provision to the Massachusetts Consumer Protection law and would bar the use of true credit reports for employment purposes, i.e., for the purpose of evaluating an individual for employment, promotion, reassignment, or retention as
Massachusetts Superior Court Finds Incentive Payment Under Profit-Sharing Scheme Is Not a Commission Under Wage Act
On January 31, 2024, in Mehra v. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge held that a percent-of-profit incentive payment under a profit-sharing scheme is not a commission subject to the Massachusetts Wage Act.
Construction Contractors and Certified Payroll Reports Under Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law
Under the Massachusetts prevailing wage law (and most prevailing wage laws around the country), construction contractors performing construction on state-funded construction projects are required to pay employees the prevailing wages set by the state for work on the project. In addition, contractors are supposed to ensure that all subcontractors working on the project pay the proper prevailing wage.
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Program: December 2023 End-of-Year Update
The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) recently provided several significant updates related to the Commonwealth’s paid family and medical leave (PFML) program as 2023 comes to a close. Most recently, the DFML issued its updated 2024 notices, posters, and rate sheets. In the past month, it also
Massachusetts Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave Revises Guidance on Topping Off Benefits With Accrued Paid Leave
After several years of evolving guidance, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has announced that starting November 1, 2023, employees who apply for paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits directly through the state program will be able to supplement (or “top off”) their PFML benefits with
Critical Updates to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
Recent amendments to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave law (PFML) now allow employees to supplement their weekly PFML benefit amount with accrued paid leave (vacation, sick time, PTO, etc.). PFML contribution rates and weekly benefits are also set to change.
Topping off With Accrued Paid Leave
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The Legislative and Ballot Initiative Landscape in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts legislature has introduced a series of employment- and labor-related bills that, if enacted, will require employers across the Commonwealth to establish, revisit or revise policies and practices. In addition, there are certified ballot initiatives that, if they ultimately make it on the November 2024 ballot, will allow
U.S. District Court in Massachusetts Weighs in on the ‘Material Change’ Doctrine and Nurse Noncompetition Exemption
A recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in a restrictive covenant case, Ascend Learning, LLC v. Bryan and SPIN-Learning, LLC, No. 22-cv-11978 (August 16, 2023), has implications for the “material change” doctrine under Massachusetts law, the state’s prohibition against noncompetition covenants for registered nurses,
Massachusetts SJC Holds That COVID-19–Related Tolling Does Not Extend Time to File a Complaint at the MCAD
On July 11, 2023, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) declined to extend its early COVID-19 emergency orders to the time limits established for filing a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
Is Pay Transparency and Reporting Coming to Massachusetts?
Massachusetts employers should keep an eye on a flurry of proposed legislation recently filed in both the state House of Representatives and Senate. One bill would impose new pay transparency obligations on Massachusetts employers. Another would require Massachusetts employers to report pay data to state regulators and create reporting obligations
Remote Work Arrangements Pose Travel-Related Reimbursement Challenges for Massachusetts Employers
For many employers in Massachusetts, remote work has become part of the new normal, with nearly a quarter of employees in the state having worked remotely in 2021, according to one recent media report. While such arrangements can be convenient and even allow for cost savings, they present novel challenges
Massachusetts Unveils New Workplace Poster, Notifications for Employers
The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) recently published a new workplace poster, notifications, and new rate sheets for all employers in the state for 2023 regarding the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. Employers are required to notify their employees of new contribution and benefits rates