Starting November 21, 2024, qualifying reasons for an employee’s use of earned sick time under Massachusetts’ Earned Sick Time Law (M.G.L. c. 149, § 148C) will include the physical or mental health care needs as a result of the employee’s or the employee’s spouse’s “pregnancy loss or a failed assisted reproduction, adoption or surrogacy.” This…
POSTED IN: Employment Law
Check out the latest episode of Transaction Talk featuring Todd Bennett, a litigation attorney at Bennett & Belfort, P.C., specializing in employment law matters for employers and employees. In this episode, Todd discusses the critical issues facing business owners as they navigate relationships between employers and employees. From differentiating between non-competes and solicitation agreements to…
POSTED IN: Corporate & Business, Employment Law, News, Transaction Talk
On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a final rule, amending its existing “walkaround” rule, and expanding employees’ rights by allowing employees to designate non-employee third parties as their employee representative during OSHA inspections. The new rule’s effective date is May 31, 2024. Current Walkaround Rule Prior to this…
POSTED IN: Employment Law
Commission-based employees are entitled to, and must receive, separate and additional payments for overtime and hours worked on Sundays-and an employer’s failure to issue such payments violates the Massachusetts Wage Act. On March 28, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) issued a decision in Sutton v. Jordan’s Furniture Inc., holding that Jordan’s Furniture’s commission…
POSTED IN: Employment Law
Late last year, President Biden issued a sweeping Executive Order concerning Artificial Intelligence (“AI”). Last month, the U.S. Office of Management Budget released a Memorandum providing “requirements and guidance for AI governance, innovation, and risk management” in the federal public sector. (I previously wrote about the Executive Order and Memorandum). On April 29, 2024, the…
POSTED IN: Articles & Quotes, Artificial Intelligence, Employment Law
Hard to believe, but we are fast approaching the general election campaign and election in November 2024. Welcome to the silly season, folks! Our televisions, web browsers, and social media feeds are all about to be inundated with political advertisements. Since this topic will quickly take over our lives (whether we want it to or…
POSTED IN: Articles & Quotes, Employment Law
The question of whether an out-of-state employee may reap the benefits of Massachusetts law, including the Massachusetts Wage Act, requires an important analysis that is both in-depth and fact specific. In Wilson v. Recorded Future, Inc., et al., the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts held that the Massachusetts Wage Act and…
POSTED IN: Employment Law
Adam Gutbezahl will be a featured speaker at the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) New England Chapter’s 2024 Educational Institute in Providence, RI. Adam’s session titled, “Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Friend or Foe?”, will take place on February 6 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm. Adam represents individuals and businesses on complex commercial, employment, land use and…
POSTED IN: Artificial Intelligence, Employment Law, Events
On January 18 at 12pm ET, Adam Gutbezahl will co-present a webinar for the Rhode Island SHRM Chapter with Julie Alig from JLA Analytics on how AI can enhance everyday business practices, focusing on user-friendly tools and strategies that require minimal technical know-how. The session will also explore the legal side of AI, and will…
POSTED IN: Artificial Intelligence, Employment Law, Events
RIW attorneys Adam Gutbezahl and Sarah Melia recently co-presented a program on “ChatGPT & Generative AI in Estate Planning” for the National Business Institute. The program discussed how generative AI applies to estate planning, from AI assisted drafting and application to client communications. Sarah discussed how reliable (or unreliable) generative AI platforms like ChatGPT can…
POSTED IN: Employment Law, Events, Trusts & Estates
