As described in our prior publications, an Act to Establish Pay Equity in Massachusetts (the “Equal Pay Law”) will go into effect on July 1, 2018. In basic terms, the Equal Pay Law requires Massachusetts employers to pay the...more
The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) has finally released its proposed regulations, 260-RICR-30-05-5 regarding the Rhode Island Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act (the “Sick Leave Law”). As we...more
The time has come for Massachusetts’ employers to start preparing for the implementation of the law entitled An Act to Establish Pay Equity (the “Law”) that will go into effect on July 1, 2018. The Law represents a...more
Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and the use, sale and possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, however, a majority of states (at last count, 29...more
In May 2017, we reported on Callahan v. Darlington Fabrics and the Moore Company, a Rhode Island Superior Court decision that applied workplace anti-discrimination protections to medical marijuana users. Massachusetts has now...more
On May 23rd, the Rhode Island Superior Court ruled that a local company is guilty of discriminating against a prospective employee for refusing to hire the employee because the employee actively used medical marijuana...more
Sorry folks but unlike last year, when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) extended the September 30 deadline for a month, those required to file in 2016 have no such luck. The deadline remains September 30.
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As we previously reported, in March of 2014, President Obama unilaterally directed the Department of Labor (DOL) to review and update the requirements necessary for an employee to be considered “exempt” from overtime. The DOL...more
As we first reported in June of last year President Obama directed the Department of Labor to review and update the regulations governing exemptions for executive, administrative, professional and other employees under the...more
In June we alerted you to the fact that the Department of Labor (“DOL”) was planning to increase the minimum weekly salary an employee must be paid in order to qualify for an exemption from overtime. Since that time, the DOL...more
On June 29, 2015, President Obama announced a Department of Labor rule change aimed at raising wages for up to five million people as soon as 2016. Currently, with some exceptions, Americans who make less than $23,660...more
Attorney General Maura Healey has revised the "safe harbor" provision for the new sick leave law which is effective on July 1, 2015.
The original safe harbor allowed employers who already provided at least 30 hours of...more
As we have previously indicated, the Massachusetts Sick Leave law will go into effect on July 1, 2015. The Attorney General’s office recently published a safe harbor provision for employers who currently have a sick leave...more
The Massachusetts paid sick leave law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2015. A recent client alert provides a summary of the law: Massachusetts Voters Pass Mandatory Paid Sick Time.
While regulations have been...more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has revised the definition of “spouse” under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to include marriages legally entered into by same-sex couples. This revision expands the FMLA’s reach...more
On his last day in office, Governor Patrick signed Senate Bill 865, the so-called Parental Leave Act (“Parental Leave”), which amends the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (“MMLA”) to provide unpaid leave to all eligible...more
On December 15, 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule regarding representation case procedures to become effective on April 14, 2015. In doing so, the NLRB sought to update its rules to better...more
It’s official; the longstanding rule of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that employees have no statutory right to use work email for communications with each other regarding unionizing activities has changed. On...more
Are Employers in the 34 States Without Exchanges Subject to Penalties? -
Despite the fact that there is no longer any disagreement in the lower courts, the Supreme Court on Friday, November 7, 2014, made the unusual...more
Massachusetts Ballot Question 4 on mandatory sick leave passed. This change to the law makes Massachusetts one of only a few states that requires paid sick time. Under the law, employers with 11 or more employees are...more
As we prepare to go to the voting polls on November 4, one issue attracting attention from smaller employers is Ballot Question 4 on mandatory sick leave. This proposed change to the law would make Massachusetts one of only...more
Employers have many ways of getting into trouble. We hope that after reading this you will avoid one of them; namely, misclassifying employees as independent contractors. ...more
In a surprising reversal, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia yesterday granted request by the federal government to have its full 11-judge bench re-hear the case on whether the government, by...more
Are Employers in States Without Exchanges Subject to Penalties?
In two highly technical and comprehensive rulings out July 22, 2014, two federal districts came to opposite conclusions on a key remaining challenge to...more
It is summertime and the schools are out. You get a call from an eager college student offering to intern at your company for free. It seems like a win-win situation, right? Your company wins by having someone finally get...more