Is it Illegal to Say “Merry Christmas” at Work?
It is Christmastime, which means we have the annual controversies. You know what we’re talking about: A Nativity Scene dispute on the North Shore;...
Beware of Illegally Hiring Independent Contractors
As a business owner, you may be considering hiring independent contractors. It is an enticing concept. Independent contractors are not employees and aren’t on...
Supreme Court Contraception Ruling a “Minefield” for Employers
As most Americans know, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that certain employers, for religious reasons, don’t need to comply with Affordable Care Act’s...
When is a Work Break Really a Break?
Massachusetts law requires employers to provide each employee with a thirty-minute meal break after six hours worked. The meal break may be unpaid. But...
You’re hired! Not so fast…
Imagine that you’re about to begin an exciting new chapter in your career. You’ve paid your dues for years, working long hours at a...
Do You Prohibit Your Employees From Discussing Salary? Rethink That Policy.
President Obama has signed an executive order barring federal contractors from retaliating against employees for discussing salaries with each other, reports NPR. The executive...
Is it legal for my employer to demote me?
The Newburyport Daily News recently reported that Salisbury, Massachusetts police officer Mark Thomas has threatened to sue the town for firing and then rehiring...
Short Term Gain, Long Term Loss
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on whether employers need to pay their employees for their time spent waiting...