BELLO / WELSH LLP NEWS & ALERTS
The information on this blog, and the materials published on this website generally, are provided by Bello Welsh for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. We strongly recommend that readers seek specific legal counsel before taking any actions that could have legal implications.
CLIENT ALERT – Department of Labor Issues Revised FMLA Regulations
The United States Department of Labor has issued revised regulations to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that go into effect March 8, 2013. The revised regulations implement recent statutory amendments to the military leave provisions of the FMLA, update the FMLA notice employers must post, and contain other minor changes. The revised regulations also […]
CLIENT ALERT – Massachusetts High Court Clarifies Rule for Release of Wage Claims
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently clarified that a general release between an employer and employee will only be enforceable as to claims under the Massachusetts Payment of Wages Act if the agreement is stated in “clear and unmistakable terms” and is “plainly worded and understandable to the average individual.” An enforceable release also must […]
B/W NEWS – 2012 Company Achievement Highlights
Bello / Welsh once again has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the “Best Law Firms” in the area of labor and employment law, both nationally and in the Boston Metropolitan area. On October 1, 2012, Steve Weatherhead was a panelist at the FirmFuture – Practice Management & Legal Technology […]
CLIENT ALERT – New FCRA Forms Take Effect January 1, 2013
Effective January 1, 2013 — and as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which transferred FCRA rulemaking authority from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — employers must begin using new Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) forms, including the […]
CLIENT ALERT – New York Acts to Protect Employee Social Security Numbers
To protect employee privacy, effective December 12, 2012 employers in New York will be prohibited from requiring employees to disclose social security numbers for employment or employment services/privileges. The new law further prohibits requiring disclosure of only a portion of a social security number, thereby ending the common practice of providing only the last four […]
CLIENT ALERT – Massachusetts Enacts The Temporary Workers Right to Know Act
Effective January 31, 2013, staffing agencies will be required to comply with a new law concerning their employees. The “Temporary Workers Right to Know Act” will 1) require staffing agencies to provide certain workers with information pertaining to the employer and type of work to be performed, 2) restrict the nature and amount of fees […]
CLIENT ALERT – New Hampshire Legislature Enacts Legislation Governing Employee Restrictive Covenants
In what is the latest development in states taking an increasingly employee-protective stance on restrictive employment covenants, New Hampshire has enacted new legislation that threatens the validity of restrictive covenants. The new legislation requires employers to provide a copy of any non-compete or non-piracy agreement that is a condition of the employment agreement to an […]
B/W NEWS – 2011 Company Achievement Highlights
John Welsh was recognized as the “Massachusetts Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year” by Corporate INTL Magazine in their 2011 Global Awards. Bello Black & Welsh has been recognized by U.S. News as one of the “Best Law Firms” in 2011-2012 in the area of management-side labor and employment law. Bello Black & Welsh […]
CLIENT ALERT – New California Legislation Takes Aim at Gender discrimination, Credit Checks by Employers, Pregnancy Leave Healthcare Coverage and Commission-Based Employment.
Effective January 2012, California employers will be required to comply with new regulations relating to gender discrimination, credit checks, and pregnancy leave healthcare coverage. Additional changes will be made to Commission-based employment regulations in January 2013. New Protection for Transgender Employees in California Effective January 2012, the “Gender Nondiscrimination Act” will add “gender expression” and […]
CLIENT ALERT – Gender Identity Now a Protected Category under Massachusetts Employment Discrimination Law
Effective July 1, 2012, gender identity will become a protected category under Massachusetts employment discrimination and other civil rights laws. The new legislation amends existing state anti-discrimination statutes to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, defined as an individual’s gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, which may be different from that traditionally associated with the individual’s […]
CLIENT ALERT – New California Legislation Aimed at Employee Misclassification and Wage Theft
Effective January 1, 2012 California employers will be required to comply with new requirements relating to employees and independent contractors. California law will now impose strict penalties for employers with workers in California found willfully to have misclassified workers as independent contractors. The so-called “Job Killer Act” will levy heavy fines on employers for voluntary […]
CLIENT ALERT – DOL, IRS, and 7 States Coordinate Efforts to Reduce Employee Misclassification
On September 19, 2011 the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) signed a memorandum of understanding to increase the agencies’ coordination in their efforts to curtail employee misclassification. Seven states–Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Utah, and Washington–have already signed cooperation agreements with the DOL and IRS to combat employee misclassification. […]