Massachusetts Employment Law Blog

Recently, Boston Globe spoke with employment attorney Philip Gordon about the impact of new overtime rules issued by the US Department of Labor. The article titled Low Income Managers May Started Getting Paid for Overtime—breaks down how wage protections may soon reach workers previously excluded under federal exemption rules. Gordon explains that these rulings reflect…

Before class action lawsuits can proceed, they must be certified as such by the court. In order for this to occur, the individuals bringing the suit must present evidence that “questions of law or fact common to the class members predominate over any questions affecting only individual members,” as required under 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules…

How do you prove you worked? Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must compensate employees for any work that the employer did “suffer or permit” the employee to perform. It is a highly debatable standard that is often contested by workers who are classified as exempt employees, but seek compensation for overtime work that they…

The Massachusetts legislature stood up for fathers when it expanded the state’s family leave act. The Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act provided female employees with eight weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, without fear of termination or retaliation. On April 7, 2015, the law will officially become the Massachusetts Parental…

The Massachusetts legislature recently gave workers a boost, with an increase in the state’s minimum wage. As of January 1, 2015, the wage increased to $9 per hour. The increases will continue over the next two years, reaching $10 per hour as of January 1, 2016 and $11 per hour as of January 1, 2017. Employees…

Every day, countless employees undergo security screenings before and after their work shifts. While many of these individuals believe that their employers should pay for the time it takes to complete these screenings, the Supreme Court disagrees under certain circumstances.  In a unanimous decision, the Court held that security screening time is non-compensable, because it…

Massachusetts voters spoke up for workers’ rights when they approved a law requiring sick leave for employees in the private sector. As of July 1, 2015, virtually all employers must allow up to 40 hours per year of sick leave. Variations on the Sick Leave Law Under the law, employees may use their accumulated sick…

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts enacted legislation to support employees impacted by domestic violence, abuse, stalking, or similar traumatic workplace risk factors. This law provides up to 15 days of job-protected leave within a 12-month period for qualifying employees, ensuring that victims of abuse can prioritize safety, medical recovery, and legal intervention without automatic loss of…

Massachusetts is set to revamp its existing noncompete laws and pass new legislation favorable to employees, as well as companies seeking to grow in Massachusetts. Philip Gordon spoke in front of Senators and Representatives about the proposed legislation, and the bill eventually passed in the Massachusetts Senate by 32 votes to 7. Massachusetts is moving…

In 2010, former employees filed a lawsuit against Goldman Sachs, alleging that the company perpetuates employment discrimination against female workers. USA Today recently reported that two plaintiffs are seeking to certify the lawsuit as a class-action case, which will expand the time frame of the lawsuit. They reportedly hope to include allegations spanning back over two…