Barry Miller and Anthony Califano

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a refreshing break for business in the Bay State, two recent appellate court decisions have confirmed that legitimate independent contractor relationships are alive and well in Massachusetts.  Those decisions are Patel, et al. v. 7-Eleven, Inc., et al., 494 Mass. 562 (2024) (“Patel”) and Weiss v. Loomis, Sayles & Co., Inc.

Continue Reading Appellate Courts Restore a Measure of Sanity to Independent Contractor Classification Under Massachusetts’ Wage Law

By Jean M. Wilson and Barry J. Miller

Seyfarth Synopsis: After an extended legislative process, pay transparency requirements are coming for Massachusetts employers.  On July 24, 2024, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed a bill requiring employers with over 25 or more employees in the Commonwealth to disclose salary range information on job postings, and to provide pay range information

Continue Reading Massachusetts Legislature Passes Pay Transparency Bill

By Ariel D. Cudkowicz and Adrienne Lee

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employees at a Cresco Labs cannabis cultivation facility in Massachusetts recently made an unexpected and significant decision: they chose to say goodbye to their union membership just shy of their first contract’s expiration in June 2024.

Back in November 2020, the gardeners, shift leads, and other agricultural workers at Cresco’s Fall

Continue Reading Budding Issues? The Fading Smoke of One Union at a Cannabis Workplace in Massachusetts

By Daniel B. KleinAriel CudkowiczChristina Duszlak, and Jean M. Wilson

Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective November 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law will allow employees to supplement (i.e. “top off”) benefits received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with any available accrued paid leave (e.g., sick time, vacation, PTO, personal time, etc.). 

Continue Reading Important Change to Massachusetts PFML Law: Employees May Supplement (Top Off) PFML Benefits with Vacation, PTO, and Sick Time

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 Accommodation

By 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-MannDaniel 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