On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that employers may not require confidentiality or non-disparagement as a condition of severance agreements because those clauses would improperly waive rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The decision issued in the McLaren Macomb and Local 40 RN Staff Council case, where it was
As the summer months approach employers will see an influx in applications by teens seeking summer employment. It is surprising how many companies employ teen worker without understanding the Child Labor Laws in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Child Labor Laws apply to all child workers ages 14 to 18; children under the age of 14 are
It has been a long-time coming, but it is finally here, Non-Compete reform in Massachusetts. The new law, which was recently signed by Governor Baker, places significant restrictions on how employers can use non-compete agreements with employees and independent contractors. Here are the highlights: The new law, M.G.L. c. 149 §24L (Massachusetts Non-Competition Agreement Act)
On July 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (“MEPA”) will go into effect in the Commonwealth, requiring companies to ensure that they pay male and female workers equally for “comparable work.” On March 1, 2018, the Attorney General’s office issued guidelines aimed at clarifying certain provisions of the law. The below answers the most
Two prominent franchises were recently found in violation of the child labor laws by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Burger King was found to have more than 800 child labor violations at stores across the state. Among the violations uncovered were minors working shifts that exceeded the total maximum daily hours allowed or shifts that
Although Massachusetts private employers are not required to grant vacation time to their employees, many do as benefit to employment. When an employer decides to offer paid vacation time they must be aware that the vacation time accrued or earned under an oral or written agreement with the employee is treated the same as an
The Massachusetts Legislature recently enacted a bill that will go into effect in July of 2018 titled “An Act to Establish Pay Equity”, a sweeping new law aimed at ensuring equal pay for comparable work for all Massachusetts employees. The Act has several important ramifications for employers. First, the new law bans pay discrimination for
On May 18, 2016 the Department of Labor announced that it will publish a Final Rule updating the exemption of executive, administrative and professional employees from the minimum wage and overtime pay protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Final Rule updates the salary level required for exemptions to ensure that the Fair Labor
Attorneys Susan Molinari and Theresa Barbadoro Koppanati have been hosting presentations to different business groups to discuss the new Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law, M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C, and its accompanying regulations, 940 CMR 33.00 which went into effect on July 1, 2015. The new law and regulations can be daunting, but there are