Employment Law in Massachusetts
If you have suffered treatment from an employer in Massachusetts that violates employment laws, learning more about the law can help. Hiring an employment law attorney can best help you navigate the process, and increase the chances of winning your case.
What Is Employment Law?
Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.
Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Massachusetts
Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.
Wage and Hour Laws
Laws protect non-exempt employees from being forced to work for low wages and a certain amount of hours without increased pay. These are the wage and hour laws. They outline the minimum wages an employee can earn as well as the maximum amount of hours worked before qualifying employees should get paid overtime.
In , wage and hour laws are tailored to meet the state’s unique requirements, but they must align with federal standards as a baseline. For example, while the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, many states set higher minimums to better reflect local living costs.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at a rate of at least time and a half for any hours worked over 40 in a week. Some states go further by mandating additional pay for hours worked on weekends, holidays, or exceeding a daily limit. These laws ensure fair treatment for employees and clarify employer obligations.
The Attorney General of Massachusetts states that there will be a $15 minimum wage in the state by 2023. Massachusetts also has a bevy of laws in place protecting workers’ wages. Overtime is mandated at 1.5% of the hourly wage. Additionally, an employer must pay wages weekly, or bi-weekly. Also, if an employee is terminated, he or she must be paid in full on their last day of work.
Workers’ Compensation
If you’ve been injured on the job in Massachusetts , you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.
In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be an employee.
- You must have a work-related illness or injury.
- Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
- You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.
There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact an experienced Massachusetts attorney for assistance with your case.
Termination Rights under Massachusetts Employment Law
If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be wrongful termination.
Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:
- Written promises or contracts
- Implied promises
- Violations of public policy
- Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
- Workplace retaliation
- Discrimination
- Defamation
- Fraud
- Whistleblowing violations
While there is a push for right to work legislation in Massachusetts, there is currently no law on the books.
If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact a qualified Massachusetts employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.
Unemployment Benefits
If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. Then, after approval, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for several reasons, including:
- If you were fired for misconduct.
- You voluntarily quit your job.
- You do not have enough earnings during the work period.
If your claim is denied, then you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Working with an experienced Massachusetts attorney during the appeal process can improve your chances of winning the case.
Paid and Unpaid Time Off
Additionally, some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary from state to state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.
Some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.
The Massachusetts Government mandates that any business with more than 11 employees must provide paid sick leave. In addition, the employer has the right to ask for documentation of the illness, such as a doctor’s note. However, they can only ask for this documentation if you miss 3 or more consecutive days on sick leave.
Child Labor Laws
Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.
Individuals under 14 are not allowed to work, except as news carriers or odd jobs on farms, according to Sutton Schools. However, even these jobs require a special work permit from the state. Additionally, minors under 16 who hold jobs cannot work in environments that may be hazardous to their well-being. This includes operating heavy machinery, working on ladders or scaffolds, and operating food equipment that reaches high temperatures, such as broilers or pressure cookers.
Massachusetts Employment Anti-Discrimination Laws
A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protects workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
- Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
- Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
- Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.
Sexual Harassment
If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is facing sexual harassment in the workplace, report it to your HR department.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is punishable by law, according to the State of Massachusetts. Unwanted verbal or physical interactions of a sexual nature, the trading of sexual favors in a quid pro quo, and retaliation if advances are not returned are all listed as forms of sexual harassment. These behaviors constitute an inhospitable work environment and are not tolerated.
Work With an Experienced Massachusetts Employment Lawyer
If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Massachusetts , then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Massachusetts state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.
Are you curious to learn about other areas of Massachusetts law? We write on many legal topics in the state.