• News

Proposed Rule by the DOL Would Increase the Salary Levels Needed to Qualify for the “White Collar” FLSA Overtime Exemption

On September 8, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division announced publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks to amend the regulations issued under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These regulations implement the exemption from the minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for executive, administrative, […]

Liz Valerio and Nick Dominello To Present at 2023 Massachusetts Association of School Committees (“MASC”) and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (“MASS”) Annual Joint Conference

On Friday, November 10, 2023 Liz and Nick will present at the MASC/MASS Annual Joint Conference in Hyannis.  Liz and Nick will discuss trends in collective bargaining.

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Holds Employer Unlawfully Denied an Employee’s Reasonable Accommodation to Work Remotely Two Days a Week and Awarded $75,000 in Emotional Distress Damages

In June, a Hearing Officer for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) issued a decision in Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, et al. v. Organogenesis, Inc (No. 17-BEM-01945), holding that an employer unlawfully discriminated against an employee when it refused to grant the employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation to work remotely two days a week. […]

Supreme Court Raises Bar Employers Must Jump Over to Justify a Lack of Accommodation to an Employee’s Religious Practice

On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Groff v. DeJoy, No. 22-174 (2023), which “clarified” and effectively changed the religious accommodation standard under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, U.S.C. §2000e(j). Under Title VII, employers must reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious practice unless the employer […]

EEOC Will Now Accept Charges Under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Effective June 27, 2023, the EEOC will accept charges under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”). The PWFA offers protections for employees experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. In particular, the PWFA mandates that employers with fifteen (15) or more employees grant eligible employees “reasonable accommodations” unless doing so would impose an “undue hardship.” […]

Student Denied Preliminary Injunction in “There Are Only Two Genders” T-Shirt Case

This month, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts declined to issue a preliminary injunction in L.M. v. Town of Middleborough, No. 1:23-cv-11111-IT, which would have precluded school officials from enforcing the school dress code to prohibit a student from wearing a t-shirt with the message “THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS” while at […]

Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Issues Guidance Regarding English Learner Students

School districts offer specialized or advanced educational programs for students that are designed to boost college access, degree attainment, and occupational skills. However, civil rights data collected by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reveals that English Learner (EL) students are less likely to participate in such programs as compared to their […]

Supreme Court Holds Employers Can Sue Unions in Certain Cases for Property Damage Caused by Strike

On June 1, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174, No. 21-1449 (2023), which held that the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) does not preempt state law tort claims for property damage caused by a labor strike when the striking […]

Supreme Court to Consider Whether Public Officials May Constitutionally Block Social Media Users

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review two apparently conflicting lower court decisions involving the question whether public officials are acting in their capacity as government officials when they block critics on their personal social media accounts. If so, this would implicate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right of […]

Attorney Ann Marie Noonan to Present at MMA Statewide Meeting

Attorney Ann Marie Noonan will present at the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association (MMA) Statewide Meeting on April 27, 2023.  Ann Marie will be presenting on engaging with constituents and others on social media from both a professional account as well as a personal account and understanding the risks and requirements of such engagement and how […]