Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: March 2024

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for updating your library with the 2024 edition of Massachusetts Employment Law . This latest version brings updated resources within your immediate reach—for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions.

  Highlights from the many issues addressed in this edition include

  • the signing of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, making predispute mandatory arbitration provisions unenforceable in sexual assault and sexual harassment cases arising after March 3, 2022;

  • numerous cases defining the circumstances under which covenants not to compete may be enforced;

  • the imposition of a stay when a motion to compel arbitration is subject to an interlocutory appeal;

  • a Supreme Judicial Court case clarifying the scope of the public policy exception in wrongful termination actions;

  • employers’ liability for treble damages despite payment of overdue wages prior to the filing of a lawsuit;

  • the use of state tort law claims against striking workers who fail to take “reasonable precautions” to protect their employer’s property;

  • application of the Family and Medical Leave Act to mental health conditions;

  • the burden of proof in establishing an employer’s intent in a whistleblower case brought under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

  • recent case law addressing religious discrimination claims and what constitutes an “undue hardship” for an employer presented with a request for religious accommodation;

  • distinctions between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and G.L. c. 151B on the law governing the reassignment of disabled employees;

  • enactment of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in 2023 (accommodation for pregnancy-related limitations that would not qualify as a “disability” for purposes of the ADA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act in 2022; and

  • developing law on the distinctions between employees and independent contractors.

  We trust that you will find this latest version of Massachusetts Employment Law an invaluable resource for your busy practice.

  Cordially,

  MCLE Press

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 expand

Introduction to the Practice of Employment Law

Buy Chapter

Brian J. MacDonough, Esq., Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Barbara A. Robb, Esq., Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP

Checklist 1.1

- A Massachusetts Employment Lawyer’s Checklist: Claims, Defenses, and Counterclaims Buy Form

Exhibit 1A

- Ten Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Employment Law Buy Form

Exhibit 1B

- MCAD Procedures for Private Complaints Buy Form

Chapter 2 expand

Employment Contracts

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Lauren E. DiGiovine, Esq., Littler Mendelson, PC
Stephen T. Melnick, Esq., Littler Mendelson, PC
Ellen J. Messing, Esq., Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky, PC

Checklist 2.1

- Employment Contract Claim Strategy Checklist for Employer’s Counsel Buy Form

Chapter 3 expand

Common Law Tort Claims in the Employment Context

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Amy C. Mainelli Burke, Esq., Albertsons Companies
Sharen Litwin, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP

Chapter 4 expand

Overview of Employment Discrimination

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David Conforto, Esq., Conforto Law Group
Alexandra H. Deal, Esq., Paik, Brewington & Deal, LLP

Chapter 5 expand

Age Discrimination in Employment

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Robert S. Mantell, Esq., Law Office of Robert S. Mantell
Sean P. O'Connor, Esq., Morgan, Brown & Joy LLP

Checklist 5.1

- Age Discrimination Strategy Checklist for Defense Attorneys Buy Form

Chapter 6 expand

Gender Discrimination

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Alida Bográn-Acosta, Esq., Tufts University Office of Equal Opportunity
Gwen Nolan King, Esq., Nolan King Law
Dahlia C. Rudavsky, Esq., Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky, PC
James S. Weliky, Esq., Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky, PC

Chapter 7 expand

Disability Discrimination

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Richard L. Alfred, Esq.,
Anthony S. Califano, Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Patrick J. Hannon, Esq., Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP
Daniel B. Klein, Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Michael E. Steinberg, Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Checklist 7.1

- Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof When Alleging Employer’s Failure to Provide Reasonable Accommodation Buy Form

Checklist 7.2

- Disability Discrimination: Strategy Options for Employers Buy Form

Chapter 8 expand

Pregnancy Discrimination

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Sujin Han, Esq., Cengage Group
Johanna L. Matloff, Esq., Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP
Katherine J. Michon, Esq., Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP

Chapter 9 expand

Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin Discrimination

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David I. Brody, Esq., Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Sherley E. Cruz, Esq., University of Tennessee College of Law

Checklist 9.1

- Strategy Options for Plaintiff in Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin Discrimination Claim Buy Form

Checklist 9.2

- Strategy Options for Defendant in Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin Discrimination Claim Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Religious Discrimination

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Anne L. Josephson, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Robert M. Shea, Esq., Beck Reed Riden LLP

Chapter 11 expand

Sexual Harassment

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Justine H. Brousseau, Esq., Kimball Brousseau LLP
Lauren E. DiGiovine, Esq., Littler Mendelson, PC
Nina J. Kimball, Esq., Kimball Brousseau LLP
Stephen T. Melnick, Esq., Littler Mendelson, PC

Checklist 11.1

- Harassment Investigation Checklist Buy Form

Exhibit 11A

- MCAD Sexual Harassment Guidelines Buy Form

Exhibit 11B

- MCAD’s Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy Buy Form

Chapter 12 expand

Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

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Mary L. Bonauto, Esq., GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders
Arielle B. Kristan, Esq., Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP

Chapter 13 expand

RESERVED

Chapter 14 expand

Massachusetts Payment of Wages Law—G.L. c. 149, §§ 148–150

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Philip J. Gordon, Esq., Gordon Law Group LLP
Elizabeth A. Rodgers, Esq., Gordon Law Group LLP

Exhibit 14A

- G.L. c. 149, § 148: Covered Employers and Employees Buy Form

Exhibit 14B

- 2008 Massachusetts Attorney General Advisory on Independent Contractor Law Buy Form

Exhibit 14C

- Awuah v. Coverall North America, Inc., Order of Certification Buy Form

Exhibit 14D

- Wage Payment Due Dates Under G.L. c. 149, § 148 Buy Form

Chapter 15 expand

Federal and State Overtime Laws

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Desiree Y. Murphy, Esq., CVS Health
Alan Jay Rom, Esq., Rom Law PC

Checklist 15.1

- Plaintiff’s Checklist Regarding Overtime Issues Buy Form

Chapter 16 expand

The Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law

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Michelle M. De Oliveira, Esq., Kenney & Sams, PC
Michael P. Sams, Esq., Kenney & Sams, PC

Chapter 17 expand

The Family and Medical Leave Act

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Nina J. Kimball, Esq., Kimball Brousseau LLP
Joshua D. Nadreau, Esq., Fisher & Phillips LLP
Christine M. Netski, Esq.,

Chapter 18 expand

The Small Necessities Leave Act

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Kimberly Y. Jones, Esq., Athena Legal Strategies Group

Exhibit 18A

- Small Necessities Leave Act: Attorney General’s Advisory 98/1 Buy Form

Exhibit 18B

- Small Necessities Leave Act Questions and Answers Buy Form

Exhibit 18C

- Small Necessities Leave Act Snapshot and Checklist Buy Form

Chapter 19 expand

Mental Health Conditions

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Laura Kirshenbaum, Esq., Rose Law Partners, LLP
Eliza J. Minsch, Esq., Petrucelly, Norris & Minsch, P.C.
Alan D. Rose, Esq., Rose Law Partners, LLP
Alan D. Rose, Jr., Esq., Rose Law Partners, LLP

Checklist 19.1

- Mental Health Conditions: Strategy Options Checklist for the Employee Buy Form

Checklist 19.2

- Mental Health Conditions: Strategy Options Checklist for the Employer Buy Form

Chapter 20 expand

Interrelationships Among Federal and Massachusetts Leave Laws

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Sally L. Adams, Esq., Law Office of Sally L. Adams
Joseph W. Ambash, Esq., Fisher & Phillips LLP
Nina J. Kimball, Esq., Kimball Brousseau LLP
Monica Snyder Perl, Esq., Fisher & Phillips LLP

Chapter 21 expand

Collective Activity and the National Labor Relations Act

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Nicole H. Decter, Esq., Segal Roitman LLP
Nicholas D. DiGiovanni, Jr., Esq., Morgan, Brown & Joy LLP
Ryan McGovern Quinn, Esq., Segal Roitman LLP

Checklist 21.1

- Checklist to Determine Whether an NLRB Charge Is Appropriately Filed on Behalf of a Disciplined or Discharged Employee Buy Form

Chapter 22 expand

Privacy in the Workplace

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Lawrence J. Casey, Esq., Davis Malm PC
Robert M. Kaitz,
Neil V. McKittrick, Esq., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

Chapter 23 expand

ERISA

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Evelyn A. Haralampu, Esq., Burns & Levinson LLP

Chapter 24 expand

Employee Noncompetition Agreements

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Michael D. Brier, Esq., Gesmer Updegrove LLP
Joseph J. Laferrera, Esq., Gesmer Updegrove LLP

Exhibit 24A

- Example Nondisclosure, Invention, and Noncompetition Agreement Buy Form

Exhibit 24B

- Resources on Employee Noncompetition Agreements Buy Form

Chapter 25 expand

Unemployment for the Uninitiated

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Margaret E. Monsell, Esq., MLRI

Exhibit 25A

- Reserved

Exhibit 25B

- Request for Personnel Records Buy Form

Exhibit 25C

- Unemployment Insurance Centers Statewide List Buy Form

Exhibit 25D

- Work-Search Log Buy Form

Chapter 26 expand

Availability of Insurance Coverage for Employment Claims

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Jason B. Curtin, Esq., Krokidas & Bluestein LLP
Paul Holtzman, Esq., Krokidas & Bluestein LLP

Checklist 26.1

- Insurance Coverage for Employment Claims: Strategy Options Checklists for the Employee and the Employer Buy Form

Chapter 27 expand

Employment Claims at the MCAD: Client Intake, Forum Review, and Drafting and Filing the Charge

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Jessica Haeffner Beglin, Esq.,
Lucia A. Passanisi, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP
Samantha L. Regenbogen Manelin, Esq., Proskauer Rose LLP

Checklist 27.1

- Checklist for Filling Out an MCAD or EEOC Complaint Form Buy Form

Exhibit 27A

- Example EEOC Charge of Discrimination Form Buy Form

Exhibit 27B

- Example MCAD Discrimination Complaint Form Buy Form

Chapter 28 expand

Employment Claims at the MCAD: Responding to a Complaint, Investigating the Complaint, and the Probable Cause Determination

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Lee Crofton Douthitt, Esq., Goodwin Procter LLP
Joseph L. Edwards, Jr., Esq., Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Lucia A. Passanisi, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP

Checklist 28.1

- Complainant’s Checklist of Settlement Agreement Provisions to Consider in an MCAD Case Buy Form

Checklist 28.2

- Respondent’s Checklist of Settlement Agreement Provisions to Consider in an MCAD Case Buy Form

Chapter 29 expand

Employment Claims at the MCAD: Prehearing, Hearing, and Appeals

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Joseph L. Edwards, Jr., Esq., Prince Lobel Tye LLP
Lucia A. Passanisi, Esq., Todd & Weld LLP
Samantha L. Regenbogen Manelin, Esq., Proskauer Rose LLP

Checklist 29.1

- Checklist for Filing an Appeal of an Adverse Decision of an MCAD Hearing Commissioner to the Full Commission Buy Form

Chapter 30 expand

Wrongful Termination: Interviewing Your Plaintiff-Client and Evaluating and Filing the Claim

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Lori A. Jodoin, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Nancy S. Shilepsky, Esq., Sherin and Lodgen LLP

Checklist 30.1

- Terms of the Employment Contract: A Checklist Buy Form

Exhibit 30A

- Telephone Intake Checklist for Wrongful Termination Client Buy Form

Exhibit 30B

- Client Questionnaire: Wrongful Termination Claim Buy Form

Chapter 31 expand

Wrongful Termination: Anticipating Employer Defenses and Counseling Your Plaintiff-Client on Strategy Options

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Lori A. Jodoin, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Nancy S. Shilepsky, Esq., Sherin and Lodgen LLP

Exhibit 31A

- Sample Demand Letter in Wrongful Termination Case Buy Form

Chapter 32 expand

Wrongful Termination: Litigating a Claim and Taking a Case to Trial

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Lori A. Jodoin, Esq., Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Nancy S. Shilepsky, Esq., Sherin and Lodgen LLP

Exhibit 32A

- Sample Amended Complaint and Jury Demand in Wrongful Termination Case Buy Form

Exhibit 32B

- Sample Proof-of-Pretext Chart Buy Form

Exhibit 32C

- Confidentiality Stipulation Buy Form

Exhibit 32D

- Sample Special Jury Verdict Form Buy Form

Editor(s)

Author(s)