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Supreme Judicial Court Sustains Decision Regarding Managerial Authority

On October 7, 2019, the Supreme Judicial Court addressed the inherent managerial authority of a public employer to take unilateral employment actions by examining the distinction between “broad” and “narrow” statutory authority in Board of Higher Education v. Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, SJC-12621. Specifically, the SJC held that a statute granting the state employer the […]

Law Extending Union Rights Goes Into Effect

On September 18, 2019, the Massachusetts Senate passed over Governor Baker’s veto of House Bill 3854, “An Act Relative To Collective Bargaining Dues”.  The bill was drafted in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME as an effort to strengthen union presence in the workplace.  The Legislature inserted emergency language in […]

Attorney Liz Valerio to Present at MMMA Monthly Meeting

Attorney Liz Valerio will present at the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association’s (MMMA) monthly meeting on September 19, 2019.  Liz will provide a labor law update. https://www.mma.org/event/management-association-monthly-meeting-3/

Reminder – Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law Going Into Effect

Several components of the Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”) law[1] are going into effect beginning the end of this month.  As a reminder, employers must follow the timeline below to comply with the law: September 30, 2019 – Notify all covered individuals of their rights and obligations under PFML by posting the “Notice of […]

Massachusetts Delays and Amends Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

Last week, the legislature and newly established Department of Family and Medical Leave made changes to the Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”) law[1].  These changes delay many relevant dates under the PFML law, and also make some substantive changes. The amendments include the following: The start date for required PFML contributions is now October […]

Attorney Liz Valerio to Present at MMPA Boot Camp

Attorney Liz Valerio will present at the Massachusetts Municipal Personnel Association (MMPA) Human Resources Boot Camp on May 16, 2019.  Liz will discuss trends in municipal/labor law.

Supreme Judicial Court Sustains Exclusive Representation Under Massachusetts Collective Bargaining Law Despite Janus Decision

Federal Court Rules that Whether a Part-Time Assignment is a Reasonable Accommodation for a Full-Time Teacher with a Disability is Dependent on the Specific Facts

In a recent decision the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has ruled that a request by a full-time teacher to work part-time for medical reasons may constitute a reasonable accommodation under the federal and Massachusetts statutes which bar discrimination against an employee with a qualifying disability. In Incutto v. Newton Public […]

Attorneys Liz Valerio and John Foskett to Present at MASBO Law Institute Workshop

Attorneys Liz Valerio and John Foskett will present at the Massachusetts School Business Officials (MASBO) Workshop on April 10, 2019. Liz and John will discuss hot topics in school law such as Hourly Employees, Social Media and Copyright Issues, Collective Bargaining, Budget Development and Budget Hearings, Revolving Accounts, Classroom Fundraising, Gifts and Grants, Uniform Grant […]

Attorneys Liz Valerio and Nick Dominello to Present at Annual MASPA Law Day

Attorneys Liz Valerio and Nick Dominello will present at the annual School Law Day conference of the Massachusetts Association of Personnel Administrators (MASPA) on March 1, 2019.  Liz and Nick will discuss public records requests and open meeting law complaints, educator and staff misconduct investigations and provide a brief update on issues associated with medical […]