COVID-19: Key Considerations for Employers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

By Bello Welsh LLP

Businesses of all sizes are having to make significant changes in many areas of their operations and to respond to unprecedented issues stemming from the continuing spread of COVID-19.  The following are key business and legal consideration for all employers dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the workplace.  Read more

COVID-19: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Signed Into Law [SUPERSEDED]

By Bello Welsh LLP

This Alert has been superseded.  The updated Alert may be found here.

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”), which aims to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by, among other things, providing a limited period of paid sick leave for employees affected by COVID-19 and expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) for a public health emergency.  The paid sick leave and Emergency FMLA provisions of this new law apply to employers with fewer than 500 employees.  For employers with more than 500 employees, the new law does not impact or change existing legal obligations under the FMLA or other federal employment laws, which remain as is.

Read more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act: Updated

By Martha J. Zackin and Hayley Cotter

Following weeks of piecemeal changes and updates, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) has now issued the final regulations (effective July 1, 2019).  Click here for a revised Bello / Welsh alert, which has been updated to be consistent with both the final regulations and the bill passed last week. The most significant changes are as follows: Read more

New Deadlines Established for Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

On December 3, 2018, we posted about the new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (“PFML”).  Although the post was accurate at the time published, the Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”), has since pushed out some deadlines and made other changes.  We will be posting substantive guidance shortly, but in the meantime the updated deadlines are as follows:

  • April 29, 2019, the applications for private plan exemptions were made available online at MassTaxConnect.
  • June 30, 2019, written PFML notices must be distributed to all employees and contract works (pay reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC)
  • July 1, 2019
    • PFML laws and regulations effective (note that final regulations are now expected to be published on July 1, the effective date)
    • PFML posters posted
    • Payroll tax deductions begin (unless the company has applied for and been granted a private plan exemption)
  • September 20, 2019, applications for private plan exemption for Quarter 1 due
  • October 1, 2019, first quarterly report filed through MassTaxConnect
  • October 30, 2019, payments for Quarter 1 (July 1- September 30) remitted
  • January 1, 2021, most benefits available
  • July 1, 2021, all benefits available

Massachusetts Raises Minimum Wage and Establishes Paid Family and Medical Leave

By Jennifer Belli and Justin Engel

In June 2018, Massachusetts passed a law that will gradually raise the state minimum wage to $15.00 per hour and establish a paid family and medical leave program for employees in the state.  The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave, a newly established state agency created to administer the leave program, recently issued FAQs for employers and employees, available here.  The requirements of the new law, as clarified by the FAQs, are explained below. Read more