Wages and Commissions

Court Award of 3X Wage Damages to Former Employee is a Warning for Employers

In a decision that sounds a warning to employers, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals recently concluded that triple damages under the Wage Act may be awardable even to former employees. … more →

Minimum Wage Rates Set to Increase January 1, 2020

Massachusetts minimum wage rates are set to make their next jumps on January 1, 2020. Effective that day, all employees must be paid at least $12.75 per hour. Tipped employees … more →

Governor Seeks to Reverse Recent SJC Ruling on Overtime Pay

Governor Charlie Baker saw something he didn’t like in a recent decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and he’s hoping to do something about it. In the wake of … more →

Recent SJC Decision Demonstrates Big Downside for Employers who Misapply Massachusetts Wage Laws, even in Good Faith

In a case that demonstrates the travails that sometimes plague employers who believe, at least, they are complying with Massachusetts wage laws, the Supreme Judicial Court recently decided that an … more →

Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Regulations Impose New Paperwork and Contribution Burdens on Employers

With implementation of a tax under the recently enacted Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Act less than five months away, the newly formed Department of Family and Medical Leave has … more →

In Case You Didn’t Know: Minimum Wage in Massachusetts is Now $12/Hour

For those either too busy to hear the news last July, or maybe just too forgetful to recall it, the minimum wage in Massachusetts rose to $12/hour on January 1, … more →

Lawsuits under the Revised Equal Pay Act are Out of the Gate Quickly

Well, that didn’t take long. On the first business day that amendments to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act were in effect, the first lawsuit was filed in Boston, according to … more →

Foreseeing Likely Outcomes on 3 Ballot Questions, Massachusetts Legislators Pass Law to Increase Minimum Wage, Grant Family and Medical Leave to Employees, and Require an Annual Sales Tax Holiday

They’re calling it a “grand bargain,” but the deal recently reached among legislators, activist groups, businesses and Gov. Charlie Baker is probably more of grand concession than anything else. Seeing … more →

Massachusetts Attorney General Issues Guidance to Help Employers Prepare for the Equal Pay Act

With just four months until a revised Massachusetts Equal Pay Act takes effect and unleashes what is likely to be a wave of pay discrimination lawsuits, the state’s Attorney General … more →

Massachusetts High Court Clarifies that Sick Leave is not Wages

Though most employment lawyers never thought of accrued sick leave benefits as a wage, it took only one, armed with a big enough sick leave balance, to test the question … more →