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
On March 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office issued its formal Guidance on the amendments to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (MEPA) taking effect on July 1, 2018. These amendments represent a significant change in the law, and employers will want to take prompt steps to determine if their pay practices
We reported previously about the unprecedented changes to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act that become effective on July 1, 2018. The new law provides more clarity regarding what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination and adds additional protections to promote greater fairness and equity in the workplace.
On February 21, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States narrowed the universe of whistleblowers who are protected by the powerful anti-retaliation provisions within the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank).
Waivers of rights arising from harassment and discrimination claims and disputes over wages and benefits may not be enforceable in Massachusetts for much longer.
Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) provided some clarity for employers about accrued sick time.
The Massachusetts CORI (which stands for Criminal Offender Record Information) regulations were amended effective April 27, 2017. A comparison of the old and newly amended regulations note the following changes.
With all that is in the news recently about the alleged sexual harassment and sexual assaults perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein, and more perpetrators being identified weekly, our attention has been (or should be) re-focused on what employers can and should do to identify and respond to employee complaints of sexual
On July 27, 2017, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “PWFA”) into law. Massachusetts joined twenty-one states and Washington D.C. in providing protections to pregnant workers. The PWFA supplements Massachusetts employment discrimination law, by adding pregnant employees and employees with pregnancy-related medical conditions (including breastfeeding)
