On April 4, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Reuter v. The City of Methuen that discharged employees must be paid all wages due to the employee including accrued unused vacation time or the employer is liable for treble damages. 

The Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance has announced that employers require to provide COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave will end March 15, 2022. The leave requirement is expiring on that date because the COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund, which reimburses employers for providing the leave, is nearing its limit for disbursements. Otherwise, the requirement would have remained in effect until April 1, 2022.  

Boston has announced that certain employers will be required to verify employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Covered employers must check proof of vaccination and post a notice about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

Reminder! Please remember to complete your HIRD form filing online via MassTaxConnect before December 15, 2021.

Massachusetts enacted legislation (House Bill 4127) that extends the requirement to provide employees COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave. The leave requirement will expire when the $75 million fund is exhausted or April 1, 2022, whichever occurs first. Employers that provide the leave may request reimbursement from the state's COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund. The requirement was set to end on September 30, 2021 prior to the extension. Employees may also now use leave to care for a family member who obtains the COVID-19 vaccine. Below we summarize the existing requirements.

Massachusetts has enacted legislation (House Bill 3702) that requires all employers to provide COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave. Employers that provide the leave may request reimbursement from the state's COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Fund. The leave requirement will expire when the $75 million fund is exhausted or September 30, 2021, whichever occurs first.

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Fair Labor Division (FLD) has provided updated guidance to address leave and other issues related to the COVID-19 vaccine. The FLD's guidance is provided in the form of frequently asked questions and addresses various issues, including:

It is almost time for HIRD filing. Massachusetts state law requires employers to file a HIRD form – which contains information about employer sponsored benefit offerings -- on an annual basis.

As part of the new legislation, Massachusetts will offer one of the most generous Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) programs in the country. Read on to find out more about the law and what you need to do to prepare.