Category Archives: Wage and Hour

Keeping Unpaid Internships Legal

The season is upon us when college students and recent graduates seek out unpaid internships, looking for a way to gain “real world” experience, and a possible foot in the door, in an otherwise suffering labor market. While the prospect … Continue reading

Posted in FLSA, Labor and Employment, Labor Relations, Wage and Hour | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be Careful What You Call It

In a recent decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) reversed and remanded the decision of a Superior Court Judge who had dismissed a plaintiff’s claim against his former city employer for failing to pay him his accrued but unused … Continue reading

Posted in Labor and Employment, Wage and Hour | Tagged | Leave a comment

Different Stripper, Same Claim: New Case Continues to Strip Away the Notion of Independent Contractor Status

A new independent contractor case serves as a painful reminder to Massachusetts businesses that our state and its legislators do not understand business.  Many businesses, by their very nature or set up, rely upon contractors or consultants to meet their … Continue reading

Posted in Independent Contractor, Wage and Hour | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Groundhog Hour: FLSA Implications to Consider When We “Fall Back”

For most people across the United States, residents of Massachusetts included, daylight savings time ends this Sunday, November 4, and we set the clocks back one hour at 2:00 a.m.  When daylight savings time ends, employees working the “graveyard shift” … Continue reading

Posted in FLSA, Wage and Hour | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hefty Consequence for Not Complying with the Massachusetts Tip Law

The Harvard Club has reached a four (4) million dollar settlement with wait staff employees related to a lawsuit alleging violations of the Massachusetts Tip Law.  Wait staff filed a lawsuit against their employer alleging that the club charged patrons … Continue reading

Posted in Wage and Hour | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Employees May Claim Retaliation Under the Wage Act

Employers may now be sued for retaliation if an adverse employment action is taken against employees because they enforce their rights under the Wage Act. A Bristol Superior Court Judge found that such a retaliation claim can be sustained, when … Continue reading

Posted in Wage and Hour | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bonus Potential

A Massachusetts U.S. District Court recently found that an agreement about potential bonus eligibility was not an enforceable contract. Specifically, in Cooper v. Kenexa Technology, Inc., Plaintiff, Cooper, was hired by Kenexa after his former company, Brass Ring, was acquired … Continue reading

Posted in Wage and Hour | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Massachusetts Blue Laws in a Nutshell: What Are My Labor Day Wage and Hour Obligations?

With Labor Day just around the corner, companies that remain open on this day often have questions about what obligations they have under the Massachusetts Blue Laws.  The following represents answers to the most common questions we receive about the … Continue reading

Posted in Wage and Hour | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment