A new Massachusetts law providing for COVID-19-related emergency paid sick leave (“EPSL”) was signed into law on May 28. Effective until the earlier of September 30, 2021 or the exhaustion of $75 M in program funds, as determined by the Commonwealth, employers must offer Massachusetts employees leave time for the reasons set forth below. Full-time employees […]
By John Welsh and Martha J. Zackin As per our recent post, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) provides fully subsidized health care continuation coverage to certain individuals, among other things. Those who are eligible for the COBRA subsidy (“assistance-eligible individuals” or “AEIs”) include workers and their dependent family members who lost group health insurance coverage due […]
By Alexandra D. Thaler Effective March 29, 2021 and continuing through September 30, 2021, California employers with 25 or more employees must provide up to 80 hours of paid COVID-19 sick leave, under the 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave law (SB 95). Pay is generally determined based on the employee’s regular rate (for non-exempt […]
By John Welsh and Martha J. Zackin The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”), signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides fully subsidized health care continuation coverage to certain individuals. These “assistance-eligible individuals” or “AEIs,” include workers and their dependent family members who lost group health insurance coverage due to involuntary employment termination […]
By Alexandra D. Thaler As we approach the new year, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) is gearing up to begin administering leave requests for time off starting January 1, 2021 by preparing its online benefits application system (which may be piloted in December), updating employers on its responses to frequently asked […]
By Alexandra D. Thaler In a decision issued on June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation or transgender status.
By Bello Welsh LLP On June 4, 2020, the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. It has already passed the House, so it now goes to the president for signature. The primary changes are as follows: The period in which employers must spend the funds has been extended from 8 weeks […]
On May 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued revised guidance for when employers are required to record cases of COVID-19. As before, COVID-19 is a recordable illness if: The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The case is work-related; and The […]
By Alexandra D. Thaler On May 18, 2020, the federal Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division issued a final rule that expands the types of industries that may be able to take advantage of the overtime pay exemption for certain employees paid primarily on a commission basis. Specifically, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) […]
By Bello Welsh LLP What safeguards should employers consider implementing to protect employees (and customers, visitors, and vendors) after state and local authorities allow non-essential businesses to reopen? The following list is compiled from guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and OSHA: Develop an infectious disease preparedness and response plan Identify a workplace […]