The Massachusetts Act to Establish Pay Equity (“MEPA”) takes effect on July 1, 2018. The goal of the new law is to reduce pay differentials among men and women doing comparable work. The penalties for violating the new law include back wages (double the amount of the unpaid wages for up to three years), other compensation, and attorney’s fees. The new legislation also lengthens the statute of limitations for filing a claim to three years, and plaintiffs may choose to go directly to court to file suit or to file a claim with the Massachusetts Attorney General. 

Last year, Outside GC welcomed Gina Wodarski to the New England team. We are thrilled to have her onboard, drawing on her extensive employment, benefits and litigation background, as well as her commitment to service on behalf of our clients.

USCIS has published an updated handbook for employers, providing detailed guidance for completing Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification). This version - dated January 22, 2017 - replaces the previous handbook and supports the recently revised Form I-9 (November 14, 2016).

As you may know, federal law requires employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of all employees hired in the United States by completing and retaining a Form I-9 for each employee at the time of hire. This requirement applies to both citizens and non-citizens. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has just released a new version of this form, dated November 14, 2016.

As year-end looms in the distance, it is critical that employers focus on the upcoming changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which become effective December 1, 2016.

On July 1, 2015, the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (“MESTL”) went into effect, requiring all private sector employers to provide all employees working primarily in Massachusetts with up to 40 hours of sick leave per benefit year. We strongly recommend that all employers with employees working in Massachusetts review their paid time off policies, as well as the handbooks and other documentation in which they reside, in order to ensure proper compliance.

A regular review of your employee handbook ensures that it continually reflects the way you do business, and more importantly, that your company is operating in full compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations. Below is a summary of recent legal changes impacting employment policies in Massachusetts.