By Kayla King-Heyer and Dawn Reddy Solowey
Seyfarth Synopsis: We may be past the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but decisions from COVID-19 vaccine litigation have the potential to affect far more than pandemic-specific employment practices. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently issued an opinion affirming the City of Boston’s power to impose certain health and safety policies on
Continue Reading SJC Weighs in on Fiery Debate Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
Seyfarth Synopsis: Please join attorneys from Seyfarth’s Labor & Employment group for part three of a micro-webinar series addressing important legal issues and considerations for health care employers across the Bay State.
This program will focus on the obligations health care employers owe to members of the public who seek access to their facilities under Title III of the
Continue Reading Micro-Webinar Series — Hot Topics in Employment Law for Massachusetts Health Care Organizations: Part 3: ADA Title III / Public AccommodationBy John R.Skelton, Anthony S.Califano, and Keval D.Kapadia
Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 24, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) issued a much-anticipated decision in Patel, et al. v. 7-Eleven, Inc., et al. answering a certified question from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit concerning the application of the Massachusetts independent contractor law
Continue Reading Patel, et al. v. 7-Eleven, Inc., et al – While the Massachusetts’ Independent Contractor Statute May Apply to Franchise Relationships, the SJC’s Decision Actually offers Protection for Franchisors
By Daniel B. Klein, Christina Duszlak, and Alex J. Reganata
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Insurance has announced that the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (“MEPSL”) will expire on March 15, 2022. Employers have until April 29, 2022 to file their applications for reimbursements.
On May 28, 2021, a temporary Massachusetts law providing
Continue Reading Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Will Expire On March 15th
By John Ayers-Mann, Daniel B. Klein, and Robert A. Fisher
Seyfarth Synopsis: As we previously reported, on July 24, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order announcing a $500 daily civil fine, effective August 1, for individuals traveling into the Commonwealth who fail to comply with the State’s mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement.
Pursuant to the Order,
Continue Reading Updated Massachusetts Guidance Clarifies Lodging Providers’ Responsibility For Ensuring Guest Compliance With Travel Order
By: John T. Ayers-Mann and Robert A. Fisher
Seyfarth Synopsis: With the advent of the CARES Act, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has taken steps to implement Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a new measure aimed at providing unemployment insurance to gig economy workers and independent contractors typically ineligible for benefits.
On Monday, the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance (“DUA”)
Continue Reading Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance Announces Implementation of CARES Act and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
By Robert A. Fisher and John Ayers-Mann
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 24, 2020, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination issued significant changes to its regulations regarding the processing of cases. The new procedural regulations are a mixed bag for employers. While some changes are helpful, other changes, such as expanded post-determination discovery and procedures for bringing charges on a class-wide
Continue Reading Newly Issued Regulations Modernize Massachusetts Agency Rules But Impose Burdens on Employers
By Jean Wilson
Seyfarth Synopsis: Massachusetts Attorney General steps up enforcement of Massachusetts “ban-the-box” law citing 19 businesses for asking impermissible questions about an applicant’s criminal history on an employment application.
Last week, Attorney General Maura Healey announced that she had cited 19 businesses for violation of the state’s ban-the-box law. This law prohibits employers from asking job applicants
Continue Reading Massachusetts Attorney General Is Checking Whether Employment Applications Contain Prohibited Criminal History Questions
By Daniel B. Klein and Christopher W. Kelleher
Seyfarth Synopsis: While we await the proposed regulations due by March 31, 2019, the new Department of Family and Medical Leave has provided several points of clarification of which employers should be aware, as we gear up for implementation of the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Law.
As we previously
Continue Reading Massachusetts Offers Further Clarification On Its Paid Family And Medical Leave Law: What Employers Should Know
By Michael Fleischer, Jean Wilson, and Barry Miller
Synopsis: Massachusetts Attorney General investigates 70 employers (both large and small – across all industries), citing 21 of them for violating the state’s “ban the box” law, which prohibits most businesses from asking about job candidates’ criminal backgrounds on initial employment applications.
Last week, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy
Continue Reading Mass. AG on the Lookout for Prohibited Criminal History Inquiries