Massachusetts Employment Law Blog

In October 2015, the state of New York reshaped its employment law framework by dramatically expanding discrimination protections for workers and job applicants. The legislative package, signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, strengthened employer obligations under key sections of the state’s New York State Human Rights Law. These changes were widely seen as response to evolving…

A significant gender discrimination lawsuit recently reached a proposed settlement of $3 million for 101 women working for Publicis group. The lawsuit grew out of concern by women about the public relations giant’s practices concerning equal pay, promotion and opportunities, as well as specific allegations of open gender inequity. Specific claims by the lead plaintiff…

The United States federal government introduced updated paid sick leave requirements that apply to federal contractors, expanding protections for eligible workers nationwide. Under this change, covered employers must now provide employees with up to 56 hours of earned paid sick leave per calendar year. Accrual Structure Permitted Use Sick leave may be used for: Benefit…

The 2014-15 football season delivered one of sports’ most debated controversies. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were accused of deliberately deflating footballs a scandal widely labeled “Deflategate.” NFL Arbitration and Suspension Federal Court Overturn Key Legal Takeaways for Workplace Arbitration Although this controversy is rooted in professional sports, the legal implications reach far…

The University of Denver could face significant financial liability after federal findings indicated that female faculty at its law school may have been paid less than male colleagues for decades. In August 2016, the EEOC notified the university that an investigation uncovered evidence of a gender-based pay disparity, possibly dating back to 1973. According to…

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering new rules and regulations for compensation claw back policies. If the proposal is adopted, it will implement specific requirements from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, where companies listed with national securities exchanges and associations will have to develop and implement clawback policies. In…

Final guidance on Massachusetts’ Earned Sick Time (EST) law has been released by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, providing long-awaited clarification for employers and employees statewide. The EST law, effective since July 1, 2015, requires all Massachusetts employers to allow workers to earn and use up to 40 hours of sick time per calendar year.…

Uber is more popular than ever in large American cities, but a serious question exists: are Uber drivers employees or independent contractors? One California judge with several Uber cases on his docket may be on the verge of answering that question. Two of the cases currently before the judge include: In June of 2015, the New…

New York recently joined the growing number of states that allow employers to pay workers with payroll debit cards. Instead of a paper check or direct deposit into a banking account, wages are placed on a payroll card for the employee to use at his leisure. Prior to this new legislation, direct deposit was the…

New York City has enacted a major amendment to its Human Rights Law, banning employers from using credit history to make hiring, pay, or promotion decisions. This legislative shift is driven by the Stop Credit Discrimination in Employment Act, which officially took effect on September 3, 2015 in NYC Credit. For many years, companies relied…