Entries by Martha Zackin

Mandatory Paid Sick Time- Massachusetts Voters Say “Yes”

By Jennifer Belli On election day, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot initiative requiring employers to provide sick time to their employees.  Absent legislative repeal, the mandatory sick time law will become effective on July 1, 2015.  Organizations with eleven or more employees will be required to provide paid sick time, while organizations with fewer than […]

Workshop: Employment Law Basics for Start-Ups and Small Businesses

On October 29, 2014, Bello Welsh will present a session on HR and Employment Law Issues for Start Ups and Small Businesses at the Cambridge Innovation Center, 1 Broadway, Cambridge, MA. Start-up companies focus on developing their idea and bringing their product or service to market.  Small existing businesses work to implement their core business […]

OSHA announces new requirements for reporting severe injuries

By Steven D. Weatherhead Commencing on January 1, 2015, employers must report the following to the nearest OSHA-area office:  Within 8 hours, a death in the workplace (regardless of reason or cause)  Within 24 hours, and as a result of a workplace incident, the (1) hospital admission of one or more workers; (2) an amputation; […]

Domestic Violence under Massachusetts Law: Massachusetts Establishes New Category of Job Protected Leave

By Leigh C. Tinmouth On August 8, 2014, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill relating to domestic violence that, among other things, establishes a new category of job-protected leave for employees (the “Law”).  Effective immediately, Massachusetts employers with fifty (50) or more employees must permit employees to take up to fifteen (15) days […]

DOL Publishes Proposed Rule Requiring Submission of Compensation Data to OFCCP

On August 6, the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would require government contractors and subcontractors to submit an annual report on employee compensation to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.   Under the terms of the proposed rule, which will be published on August 8 in the Federal Register, companies that file […]

New Executive Order Signed Requiring Federal Contractors to Disclose Employment and Labor Law Violations

By Martha J. Zackin On Thursday July 31, Obama signed a new Executive Order requiring contractors to disclose whether there has been any administrative merits determination, arbitral award or decision, or civil judgment rendered against the contractor  within the preceding 3 years for violations of any of the following laws:  the Fair Labor Standards Act; […]

EEOC Issues New Guidance on Treatment of Pregnant Employees

By Leigh C. Tinmouth The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently issued an  enforcement guidance relating to the treatment of pregnant employees (the “Guidance”).  The Guidance reaffirms the EEOC’s position that, although pregnancy itself is not a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), many temporary pregnancy-related impairments may qualify as disabilities.  Temporary impairments […]

Inflexible Leave Policies – EEOC Position is Clear Despite Court’s Disagreement

On June 30, 2014, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission touted its recent agreement with Princeton HealthCare System to settle litigation challenging PCHS’s “inflexible” leave of absence policy under the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the press release published by the EEOC, PHCS maintained a fixed leave policy whereby employees were terminated if they were […]