Employer – Employment Law

Massachusetts Adds “Natural Hairstyle” as a Protected Category to Anti-Discrimination Laws

The list of characteristics protected by Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws has become a bit longer with the addition of “natural hairstyle” to long-standing items such as race, gender, disability, and color. … more →

Federal Government Bans Mandatory Arbitration in Workplace Sexual Assault and Harassment Cases

The federal government recently acted to permit employees who allege sexual assault or sexual harassment to avoid mandatory arbitration provisions in agreements they signed, regardless when they signed them, as … more →

SJC Rules that Employers are Liable for Triple Damages and Legal Fees For any Late Payment of Wages, Regardless of Reason

Reversing a years-long, widely accepted approach by employment attorneys and courts, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled early this month that, regardless of the reason or length of delay, employers must pay … more →

Massachusetts Moves Towards Making COVID-Related Sick Leave Mandatory

With COVID threats dissipating but not yet gone, Massachusetts is moving toward enacting a law that would require employers to provide sick leave that is targeted to deal solely with … more →

COVID Risks may be Lower in 2021, but Safety Rules Remain Important for Employers as Worker Complaints Increase

There is little question that effective vaccines and safety protocols have COVID-19 on the run in 2021, at least locally, and there is hope for eradicating the disease altogether. But … more →

The New Paid Family and Medical Leave Act: What’s an Employer to Do?

While it may not  have been top of mind amid the COVID turmoil of 2020, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML) was not impacted by the pandemic … more →

Massachusetts Appeals Court Refuses to Expand Exceptions to At-Will Employment Rule

Once again, Massachusetts courts have refused to expand exceptions to the state’s general rule that employers can terminate employees whenever they see fit. This time, though, it was a closer … more →

New Covid-19 Relief Bill Provides Important Benefits to Small Employers

After months of negotiations, discussions, and hiccups, Congress finally passed and President Trump signed into law a new Covid-19 relief bill. Ongoing debates about additional required actions notwithstanding, the law … more →

Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits will become Effective in Massachusetts on January 1, 2021

As 2020 closes with hope that the coronavirus will soon become a thing of the past, employers need to begin implementing Massachusetts’ new Paid Family and Medical Leave law (PFML). … more →

The Vaccine Dilemma: Can Employers Require them as a Condition of Employment?

With all the talk about vaccines lately, both those that already exist for influenza and others  that may soon arrive in the battle against Covid-19, employers are asking a fundamental … more →