Kathleen O’Toole – Employment & Business Litigation Resource

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Issues New Guidance Labeling COVID-19 A “Direct Threat” Under The ADA, And Granting Employers Greater Flexibility To Maintain The Safety Of Their Workplace

Kristyn Brophy 2020-03-27T12:39:09+00:00 March 27th, 2020|Categories: COVID-19, Disability, Human Resources Compliance, Julie M. Muller, Kathleen O'Toole, Laws & Regulations|Tags: ADA, Coronavirus, COVID-19, EEOC, Employers, Legal Updates, pandemic|

On March 18, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) updated its guidance titled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act to account for the novel issues employers face in the wake of COVID-19. The guidance, originally written in response to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, provides

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COVID-19 Legal Update, March 26, 2020

Kristyn Brophy 2020-03-26T20:16:41+00:00 March 26th, 2020|Categories: COVID-19, Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole|Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Employers, FMLA, Legal Updates, Paid Sick Leave|

The legal landscape, as related to COVID-19, is changing on a daily basis, and we want to keep you up to date on changes that will have an impact on your business. Below is a quick overview of the most recently posted resources, and key updates. New Guidance Released that Changes Effective Date from

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Key Takeaways For Employers From the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Kristyn Brophy 2020-03-23T21:54:03+00:00 March 23rd, 2020|Categories: FMLA, Human Resources Compliance, Julie M. Muller, Kathleen O'Toole|Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, Families First Response Act, FMLA, Paid Sick Leave|

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) into law in response to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. This is a sweeping legislation that has an immediate impact on millions of employees and employers. The FFCRA is divided into eight sections (Divisions

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Reliable Resources for Employers Managing the Impact of COVID-19

Kristyn Brophy 2020-03-23T17:36:01+00:00 March 19th, 2020|Categories: FMLA, Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole, Thomas J. Gallitano|Tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Employee Furlough, Layoffs|

As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues to have a major impact on individuals and businesses on a global scale, we are working to stay abreast of the latest updates for our clients.

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The Amended Massachusetts Equal Pay Act Goes Into Effect on July 1, 2018. Is Your Business Prepared?

Kristyn Brophy 2018-06-26T20:20:04+00:00 June 26th, 2018|Categories: Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole, Laws & Regulations, Wage & Hour|

The Amended Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (“MEPA”) will become effective in less than one week, on July 1, 2018. MEPA was a landmark pay equity law that inspired dozens of states, cities, and even private companies to require and to make similar changes with the goal of reducing and eliminating

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Preparing for the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act — Effective April 1, 2018

Kristyn Brophy 2018-03-19T16:16:42+00:00 March 19th, 2018|Categories: Accommodation of an Employee’s Pregnancy, Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole, Laws & Regulations, PWFA|

The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “Act”) goes into effect on April 1, 2018 and has immediate implications for all Massachusetts employers who employ six or more employees. Broadly speaking, the Act amends the current statute prohibiting discrimination in employment, G.L. c. 151B, §4, and prohibits discrimination on the

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Massachusetts’ Highest Court Recognizes Employment Protections for “Qualifying Patients” under the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Act

Kristyn Brophy 2017-07-25T14:52:48+00:00 July 18th, 2017|Categories: Accommodation of Employee’s Marijuana Use, Disability, Handicap Discrimination, Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole, Mary E. (Beth) O'Neal, MCAD & EEOC|

In a case of first impression, the Supreme Judicial Court held that an employee who is a “qualifying patient” under the Massachusetts’ 2012 medical marijuana law (“An Act for the humanitarian medical use of marijuana”) (the “medical marijuana law”) may pursue a claim for handicap discrimination under the state’s anti-discrimination

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Major Revisions to Federal Trade Secrets Law Now in Effect – Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 Signed by President Obama

oneildev 2017-01-13T17:39:10+00:00 May 17th, 2016|Categories: Intellectual Property, Katherine Kelter, Kathleen O'Toole, Laws & Regulations, Litigation, Trade Secrets|

On May 11, 2016, President Obama signed into law the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”). This law substantially revises federal trade secret practice in the United States. Most notably, the DTSA creates a mechanism for private civil trade secret claims to be pursued directly in federal court. The law is also significant for

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Meal Breaks in the Workplace: Food for Thought

oneildev 2017-01-13T17:16:24+00:00 September 29th, 2015|Categories: DOL, Human Resources Compliance, Kathleen O'Toole, Laws & Regulations, Mary E. (Beth) O'Neal, Wage & Hour|

If you are an owner or manager of a business, do your employees take lunch breaks? If so, how long are their breaks? Are the breaks paid or unpaid? Massachusetts provides strict protections for employees with respect to meal breaks, as well as harsh penalties for employers who fail to comply. An overview of the

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