Massachusetts Employment Law Blog

New York City Council passes six bills today protecting gig economy workers. The legislation, all expected to be signed by Mayor de Blasio, provide sweeping protections for delivery drivers and hotel workers. The bills include new requirements for minimum pay, bathroom access, distance and route limits, recordkeeping, requirements to provide insulated food deliver bags, and…

Governor Baker signed an emergency law extending Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave to April 1, 2022. The law also expands the reasons for taking leave to now include taking care of family members who need vaccinations or are recovering from a vaccination.

Some welcome news for employees now struggling with “long COVID”:  the EEOC has just announced that long COID may be a disability under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act:  https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/civil-rights-covid19/guidance-long-covid-disability/index.html If long COVID substantially limits one or more of your major life activities, you may be entitled to…

Our office gets calls every day from workers with concerns.  The short answer is, yes, under most circumstances your employer can require vaccination.  Typically, the mandate must be job related and consistent with business necessity.  This can include a requirement that an individual “not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of individuals…

Philip Gordon was quoted in an article published in Lawyers Weekly concerning a Supreme Court case that will decide whether wait staff are entitled to tips under a practice that collected charges from patrons as a “service charge.”  (view article)

Last week, the First Circuit vacated an order of the Federal District Court that found against a Gordon Law Group executive.  The victory was the subject of an article today in Lawyers Weekly (view article). If you are an executive evaluating your severance package, give us a call.

The “grand bargain” tucked into the Economic Stimulus package will bring some changes to hourly wage ruled rules, phasing out the holiday premium pay by 2023 and broadening the definition of “wait staff employee” covered by the Wage Act.  Under the new laws, employers will no longer be required to pay higher wages to employees…

Happy New Year everyone!  Great news for employees.  Massachusetts minimum wage increased to $13.5o on January 1, 2021, and the minimum wage for tipped employees increased to $5.55, as long as those tipped employees earn more than $20 per month in tips. For those following the minimum wage increases in Massachusetts, this is no surprise…

Following the successful jury trial on behalf of Russel Lopes, the Gordon Law Group is pleased to announce that the Court has approved the class action settlement on behalf of minority applicants to the Department of Public Works for the City of Brockton. Judge Daniel O’Shea called the settlement “an amazing piece of work.” You…

Once again, noted employment law firm Gordon Law Group is proud to announce that the firm and 2 of its lawyers named to the 2020 “Best Law Firms” and “Best Lawyers” list released collaboratively every year by U.S. News and Best Lawyers®. The firm will continue to provide rigorous, award-winning representation to clients throughout Massachusetts…