The First Circuit has recognized for the first time that sexual orientation can be the “plus” in a “sex-plus” discrimination case. The facts upon which a Rhode Island federal district court jury (and ultimately the First Circuit) found gender discrimination premised on the “sex-plus” theory are vile. The plaintiff, a
As of July 1, 2016, products offered for retail sale in Vermont that are produced entirely or partially with genetic engineering must be labeled as such or face stiff financial penalties. Vermont’s genetically-modified-organisms law, or “GMO” law, aims to promote public health and food safety, increase consumer consciousness of how their food is produced, and
UPDATE – In our blog post on July 14, 2015, we described the Department of Labor’s proposed updates to the FLSA’s overtime regulations. As of today, May 18, 2016, President Obama and Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced the publication of the DOL’s final rule updating the overtime provisions, which will now extend automatically to
On January 28, 2016, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed S. 2107: “An Act to Establish Pay Equity” (the “Act”), which would lower the threshold for employees to litigate gender-pay inequality claims. The Act, which would replace G. L. c. 149, § 105A in its entirety, would allow employees to discuss wages with one another and
Now that the holiday season is in full swing, many Massachusetts employers will find themselves asking whether or not they can, or should, remain open on major holidays and what their employees’ rights are concerning pay and time off. Massachusetts remains one of the few states with staunch “Blue Laws” that place prohibitions on
On Labor Day, President Obama issued an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to provide paid sick leave for their employees. The Order, entitled “Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors,” arrives on the heels of a similar Massachusetts law that, as of July 1, provides all Massachusetts employees the opportunity to earn up to 40
What’s the first thought that pops into your head when someone says, “overtime?” If you’re like me, you’ll think of the bonus period the Boston Bruins get to trounce the Montreal Canadiens in pulse-pounding, heartbreaking, devastating fashion. “Quick shot from the blue line, deflects off the post, SCORE! BRUINS WIN!” A nice thought, though the
In our blog post on May 22, 2015, we discussed traps that unwary employers must avoid when the Earned Sick Time law, or “EST law” for short, becomes effective on July 1. Well, that day is today, meaning all employers must revisit their sick time policies to ensure compliance with the EST law. On June
Now that Massachusetts has passed a comprehensive earned sick time law—the broadest sick time law in the nation—employers must ensure that they do not fall into any traps for the unwary. What traps may the unwary encounter, you ask? A stray banana peel? A furious, ravenous, giant squid?! Perhaps not. There are, however, provisions of
