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MA Employment Law (Workplace/Coworkers) Questions and Answers

Topic	Replies	Created	Last reply
Paid Commission only but required to stay at work full day without pay I am paid a percentage commission only. I have been at my place of employment, a small family run business, for a few years. I work Friday -Sunday on...	0	6 days 15 hours ago by 5050pay	n/a
Secret recording of audio and video my MA employer So I'm somewhat versed in legal issues but not totally and I wanted to find out if this is considered both illegal and a big deal. I work in the fitne...	1	1 week 6 days ago by lm22	1 week 3 days ago by The Editor
break requirements for 12 hour work day I've been with working for an urgent care clinic since they opened 6 months ago. I'm a medical assistant and am scheduled from 7:30am until 8:00PM tec...	0	2 weeks 7 hours ago by cmd1046	n/a
Sexual Harassment and performance evaluation I work for a large food service chain and was being harassed and verbally abused by my manager so badly that I had to transfer locations. Now, as I'm ...	1	2 weeks 1 day ago by Anonymous	2 weeks 23 hours ago by The Editor
Refusal to cut or replace lost check Can a Massachusetts employer refuse to cut a lost expense check (lost by employee) on the grounds that the cost of writing a new check and c...	1	2 weeks 1 day ago by katepeterson518	2 weeks 1 day ago by The Editor
Internship for the Blind and disabled Attorneys , my apologies if this topic is covered, but I dont think it is. Background : I am opening a virtual internship for the blind and the ...	1	2 weeks 2 days ago by sainoracle	2 weeks 1 day ago by The Editor
Disabled Veteran terminated after giving notice to MA employer I gave notice at a medical practice I was working at here in MA. The day after giving notice I was contacted by my VA medical center saying that they ...	2	2 weeks 3 days ago by zmax73	2 weeks 3 days ago by Alan D. Meyerson
Quitting with good cause - long on call hours My husband recently quit his job, and I am wondering if it would be considered with good cause for the purpose of getting unemployment insurance. W...	1	2 weeks 5 days ago by aecook	2 weeks 5 days ago by The Editor
MA unused vacation pay for employees with term contracts My 3 year contract with my company is coming to an end in a few months. I want to leave early for a different job. I have vacation time that I accrue...	1	2 weeks 6 days ago by cpjoon	2 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Use it or Lose It Policies If unused vacation time is compensated to employees upon leaving the company -- are employers also required to pay compensation at each year end for u...	1	2 years 5 weeks ago by Theresa3616	2 weeks 6 days ago by admin
Violation of Offer Letter We have a signed offer letter every year that defines the terms of our employment. It states, "This offer letter shall not be deemed to be a contra...	0	2 weeks 6 days ago by Tony Swan	n/a
Unemployment status while awaiting start of contract I completed a contract at the end of February, 2013, and spent two months on holiday (the contract work was overseas, for a US contractor under a US g...	0	3 weeks 3 days ago by jecla	n/a
Salaried to Hourly My employer just informed all employees that we are no longer salaried employees. We are now hourly and are required to clock in/out. This is fine e...	4	4 weeks 2 days ago by Magirl12	4 weeks 1 day ago by Nan Evans
Post-dating effective termination date under MA employment law I was recently requested to come into work on a Saturday for a meeting. At that meeting I was given notice and paperwork indicating that my position h...	0	4 weeks 5 days ago by drichar2	n/a
Termination for calling in sick under MA law I am an employer with an employee who is out sick about 1 day/week. Am I within my rights to terminate the employee? Thanks!	1	6 weeks 18 hours ago by KimBake	5 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Non-compete Can I be fired for not signing a non-compete? I was not told about it before I accepted the position and only received it three hours into my first d...	1	6 weeks 2 days ago by etokozy	6 weeks 7 hours ago by briannoncompete
Part time status- full time hours? Hello, I had a question about the legality of what my employer is doing. Long story short, they have me taking up the hours my coordinator isn't able...	2	6 weeks 2 days ago by Andy	6 weeks 1 day ago by The Editor
Unemployment Benefits if resign from job I've been employed with the same Co. for 13 yrs. w/the benefit of working from home 3-4 days per week. Most recently I was told that I need to be in t...	3	7 weeks 2 days ago by CrisM	7 weeks 19 hours ago by Nan Evans
My previous employer used incorrect statements for cause to terminate me.- Slander? I worked for a company since 7/2007. I always recieved "strong or superior" reviews. I was promoted in 7/2012 to supervisor. I was called a homophobic...	1	7 weeks 6 days ago by jay87lx	7 weeks 5 days ago by Alan D. Meyerson
Forged signature on warning in MA employee file I recently got fired from my job. My unemployment was denied. I filed for an appeal. I picked up my case file from the appeals office and one of my wr...	0	8 weeks 12 hours ago by radryanrad	n/a
Smoke free enclosed workplace I am a long time employee at a health food store. A tobacco smoke shop is moving in next door in the adjoining space, same building. I have co-worke...	1	8 weeks 16 hours ago by Prevention307	8 weeks 14 hours ago by admin
Massachusetts business being sold - Ramifications for unused vacation time? Hi! My mother's (very small) company, where she works, is in the process of being sold. She has been there for decades and has months and months of un...	3	9 weeks 2 days ago by daphne	8 weeks 1 day ago by Alan D. Meyerson
Extended Illness Bank I have over 100 hours in what's called an "Extended Illness Bank" which I've accumulated since 2005. The employee handbook now states that if you lea...	1	8 weeks 2 days ago by lzuppy	8 weeks 2 days ago by Alan D. Meyerson
Partial Business Stakeholder Eligible for Unemployment? Hello! My colleague has recently been laid off and she is a partial stakeholder (has	0	8 weeks 6 days ago by boston	n/a
Forced retirement as age discrimination in Massachusetts? A month after my 56th birthday in January 2012, the principal called me in and said that my job was being eliminated due to lack of funds. At that poi...	1	9 weeks 2 days ago by teacher	9 weeks 2 days ago by The Editor
Employer Threatening My boss told us today if anyone calls in sick next week, he will investigate them . He is saying this because we have a inspection next week from Feds...	1	11 weeks 1 day ago by Ami Roi	10 weeks 6 days ago by Local Lawyer
Contracted truck driver and pay being with held Im a truck driver and had an accident, my truck totaled but the load undamaged, but the company trailed was stuck in New Mexico. The company Im contr...	1	12 weeks 3 days ago by Ron8114	12 weeks 1 day ago by Alan D. Meyerson
New Employer forced me to relocate, then laid me off 5 weeks later I recently accepted a new job that required me to relocate as a condition of my hiring. After having worked only 5 weeks for this company they laid m...	1	12 weeks 2 days ago by MBram	12 weeks 1 day ago by Alan D. Meyerson
New Dress Code Policy forbids tattoos 02/25/2013 As of Jan. 2013 a new dress code has been implemented at my place of employement. This new dress code states that "Facial/Neckline jewelry ...	0	12 weeks 3 days ago by EBerry02	n/a
Small Claims Procedures in Massachusetts, how does it go down 1st off, if this is the wrong forum, mods pls move it... I am suing my previous employer in small claims court. I am curious how it happens. If someon...	1	12 weeks 4 days ago by jbinbi	12 weeks 3 days ago by admin
Overpayment by employer how much can they request Hello, I was apparently overpaid as I recently found out from my employer which I thought I was covered under my statement of work with them. ...	0	13 weeks 9 hours ago by Gam29	n/a
Commission Only Sales people required to do Unpaid Work Can commission-only Car sales people be forced to show up 4 hours before schedule to shovel snow and clean snow off cars for absolutely no pay???	1	14 weeks 4 days ago by justelvin	14 weeks 13 hours ago by Alan D. Meyerson
repaying overpayment by employer in MA I have just been informed that I have been being overpaid by a half hour per day since September. My employer now wants to deduct this amount from my ...	3	14 weeks 1 day ago by nwarren51	14 weeks 21 hours ago by The Editor
forced to resign violates MA employment law? My employer is a dentist, I am a dental asst. A few years ago he opened a second business non dental. His employee for the second business quit he dec...	2	15 weeks 1 day ago by pattyann	15 weeks 14 hours ago by Nan Evans
Online Employment Application question: Have you dated another employee in the company? While applying to an online job application to a company "X" based in CT, but the job is in MA, I came across this question: "Are you currently o...	1	15 weeks 3 days ago by lcarmody	15 weeks 2 days ago by The Editor
employer takes back pay raise after 6 months my boyfriend was given a raise when he was transferred to compensate for his travel. After a few months he had some issues with the location and walke...	1	16 weeks 7 hours ago by Anonymous	15 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Do I have to sign paperwork for my last paycheck & do an exit interview if i quit the job On Dec. 2, 2012, I quit my job due to a hostile environment. Pay day of that week I worked was Dec. 14th. I received an email 2 days prior to Dec. 14t...	1	16 weeks 1 day ago by kristal	16 weeks 22 hours ago by The Editor
Overtime or Flat Rate Hello, We are about to implement a weekend coverage compensation package but have a unique question. Our employees are all hourly software support...	2	16 weeks 6 days ago by scrapdogg	16 weeks 5 days ago by scrapdogg
Exit Interview I would like to know what my rights are as an employee , when my former employer lies on my exit interview as to the reason I quit.	1	17 weeks 4 days ago by ramille51	17 weeks 3 days ago by The Editor
Personnel Records with MA employer I put in a written request for my personnel records, so I can see recent performance reviews. I received a file containing all my performance reviews ...	0	19 weeks 7 hours ago by Fred1000	n/a
Employer Losing Private Information My employer lost my I9 and W4 forms. They asked me to fill out new ones and I haven't so now I've been working for them without these forms on file fo...	0	19 weeks 2 days ago by slalomski1	n/a
Required Job Training in MA I was recently written up for work performance and while discussing why the HR manager expressed that it was strongly suggested by a third party that ...	0	19 weeks 3 days ago by anonymous1966	n/a
Hostile work environment/sexual harrasment by the customers I work for a privately owned national truck stop. On a daily basis myself and all the women who work there are continually harassed by the customers....	1	19 weeks 6 days ago by jebralco	19 weeks 5 days ago by The Editor
My Rights while under investigation I was placed on paid leave pending a meeting about workplace violance that was rescheduled due to the holidays and our union being on vacation. I show...	0	20 weeks 9 hours ago by PerrottaD	n/a
Statue of limitations for wage claim in MA Hello, I was recently notified that I will be laid off from the Massachusetts company I have worked at for 14+ years. The first several years I was a ...	1	20 weeks 19 hours ago by qwerty	20 weeks 18 hours ago by The Editor
Exempt no employee contract broke arm..what are my rights I am an exempt salary employee, I do not have an employee contract, the place i work has only 15 or so employees. I was promised verbally 3 weeks vac...	0	20 weeks 2 days ago by Needclarity	n/a
Employee takes unauthorized vacation time and then quits I am an owner of a medical practice and I had an employee who I was having problems with from the outset. She was trouble and involved her lawyer wit...	0	20 weeks 4 days ago by pjfoot	n/a
Advancement or promotion discrimination in Massachusetts I am a salaried employee in good standing at my workplace. After several years in the same position, I became ready for a change and applied for a pos...	1	20 weeks 5 days ago by maworker	20 weeks 5 days ago by The Editor
Exempt Employee Laws I am an exempt full time employee. My hours are 8am-4pm. I am usually on time or five minutes early for work every day but some days I may be five o...	0	20 weeks 6 days ago by jma	n/a
Maternity Leave - Quitting After Return I have just returned from maternity leave (this Monday) to my current job, which I have held for six years. This week, I was extended an offer from a ...	0	20 weeks 6 days ago by Fishie7	n/a
Unemployment back pay taking longer than 3 months I left my job in June 2012 to move to North Carolina with my husband who is in the army. I was unaware that I was eligible for unemployment. Once I fo...	0	23 weeks 18 hours ago by Allybugluv4	n/a
Personal Medical Information Required by MA Employer Both my sister & mother work in the medical field. Recently they were given an extensive questionaire that HAS to be completed. Very personal ques...	0	23 weeks 4 days ago by kimskickin	n/a
salaried employee changed to hourly I recently accepted a salaried position with a comapany opening a new office in my area. After working for about 6 weeks 40 hours a week I was told v...	1	23 weeks 6 days ago by haley1072	23 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Collect MA Unemployment While Out of State? A friend was recently laid off and is filing to collect unemployment from the state of MA. Is this friend allowed to collect if they are traveling out...	1	25 weeks 1 day ago by operator	25 weeks 1 day ago by Local Lawyer
Hourly Pay when boss or employer is late My wife works for a restaurant as an hourly employee and frequently clocks in late due to the employer not showing up on time to open the doors. IE. S...	1	26 weeks 12 hours ago by melaeyn	25 weeks 3 days ago by The Editor
Mandatory overtime for nurses in Massachusetts Good news for nurses in Massachusetts. MA General Laws Chapter 111, Section 226 was recently amended to ban the practice of mandatory overtime.&...	0	27 weeks 1 day ago by The Editor	n/a
Notice / Termination I gave two weeks notice to my employer on 10/21. My supervisor told a peer that I had given notice, but never acknowledged to me that he had recieved ...	1	28 weeks 6 days ago by tgka1234	28 weeks 5 days ago by Local Lawyer
vacation time I was told to take 2 days off this week, due to lack of work. Employer will not allow me to use vacation time to cover this. He has a part time guy th...	1	1 year 12 weeks ago by mwalk103	29 weeks 2 days ago by BostonLawMan
Lunch break I am considered a contract employee by my employer. I receive a benefit package from them that is the same as full salary and hourly employees of the ...	1	30 weeks 3 days ago by Npulcino	29 weeks 2 days ago by BostonLawMan
Massachusetts Wage Laws I quit my Massachusetts job two months ago, but agreed to work reduced hours (first 3 days a week for the first two weeks, 1 day a week since) in orde...	2	29 weeks 6 days ago by Blair77	29 weeks 2 days ago by BostonLawMan
severance pay and UI benefits I was laid off today and I will be receiving a severance package (I am meeting with HR on Wednesday). I am wondering if I can get UI benefits while I...	2	29 weeks 3 days ago by sjf13	29 weeks 2 days ago by BostonLawMan
Employer force employee to pay for payroll or insurance mistake? My husband has been at his job for over 20yrs so he does not want to start a feud. His employer brought it to his attention that he has been paying fo...	1	30 weeks 19 hours ago by jmbells	29 weeks 4 days ago by Local Lawyer
Not allowed to leave work place on unpaid lunch break? We are supposed to buy food from the restaurant for 50% off. I would bring food but people keep stealing my things (back pack, snacks, sneakers that I...	1	30 weeks 4 days ago by Kamea	30 weeks 3 days ago by The Editor
Wage Law Question If a massachusetts employer terminates an employee on the 5th of the month but doesn't pay them final wages until the 15th of the month (saying at tim...	1	32 weeks 7 hours ago by MAVOL	31 weeks 22 hours ago by BostonLawMan
30 minute break vs. two 15 minute breaks for 6+ hours worked. If an employee works more than 6 hours they are entitled to 30 minutes for lunch. Is it unlawful to provide 2 15 minute periods rather than a 30 minut...	1	31 weeks 1 day ago by Missa79	31 weeks 22 hours ago by BostonLawMan
MA UI Claim Issue--Presenting Payment--7 Week Delay I have been waiting 7 weeks for my UI claim to be fully processed so I can receive a UI check from the state of MA. Today I called the Unemployment Te...	0	32 weeks 1 day ago by prm510	n/a
Employment decisions based on an employee's willingness to pay the company back We issue cash banks to employees at the beginning of their shift. At the end of the shift, they need to turn in the cash bank they received, cash they...	2	34 weeks 6 days ago by hbaumann	32 weeks 2 days ago by The Editor
Here are the Facts: Do I have a case? • I (verbally) accused my manager of creating a hostile work environment. He threatened to terminate me. • 2 days later, I was put on a 30-day p...	3	36 weeks 14 hours ago by bmcg9376	33 weeks 4 days ago by The Editor
Commission Pay Deductions I work for an auto dealer and I am paid a base salary plus a monthly commission. They have recently changed our pay plans. They have tied the commissi...	0	35 weeks 1 day ago by Lbishop3	n/a
Change in Vacation Policy/Pay At an employee meeting today, my manager unveiled a new pay/vacation time policy for all hourly employees. This new policy has been defined as follow...	0	36 weeks 2 days ago by raiorne82	n/a
I got ripped off for over 500 dollars. What should I do? I have recently ran into someone who has owed me money for over a year now. I was under the impression that he left the state and I would never see hi...	0	37 weeks 8 hours ago by Lifeisgood33	n/a
Owed wages and employee rights For 4 months I went on-site to interview/ plan a marketing and sales strategy with a local small business owner, averaging 1 visit a month. Finally he...	0	38 weeks 6 days ago by KIQ123	n/a
'reasonable accomodations' help I am employed in a public school system and work in a position that is very stressful. I was diagnosed with multiple medical conditions in the spring ...	0	38 weeks 6 days ago by irlri	n/a
Retroactive Change to Paid Leave Policy I work as an at will hourly employee at a large hospital in Boston and we just received notice that the hospital is changing its policy with respect t...	1	40 weeks 2 days ago by njdjp	40 weeks 2 days ago by The Editor
recording a meeting for notes I am going to a meeting with 6 people, and if I record the meeting and destroy the recording after I transcribe the it for my documentation of the mee...	1	40 weeks 4 days ago by duckcross	40 weeks 3 days ago by The Editor
Smoking during Unpaid break My employer states that I can not leave the hospital property and smoke a cigarette on my unpaid break. Is this legal?	1	41 weeks 1 day ago by Surgnurs	40 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Tip Pooling legal in Massachusetts? I work in a pretty upscale restaurant in Boston that doesn't allow wait staff to keep their own tips. All tips go into a tip pool that is split betwe...	1	42 weeks 23 hours ago by CatW	42 weeks 22 hours ago by The Editor
Fired for filing bankruptcy? I've been at the same job in Massachusetts for nearly six years now and I think I've been doing a good job. I've had good reviews and as far as I know...	1	43 weeks 6 days ago by TimJohn	43 weeks 6 days ago by The Editor
Employee love contracts legal in MA? I'm currently dating a man I met at work. He is not my supervisor but he is one level above me in the big scheme of things. I've been told by a co-w...	1	45 weeks 6 days ago by JenGlenn	45 weeks 5 days ago by The Editor
Diminished Job Responsibilities We recently hired a new VP and she has decided that she wants to take the group in a new direction, which does not involve me. I have been rated a to...	1	47 weeks 1 day ago by pcalias	47 weeks 1 day ago by The Editor
promotion or not I have been working for this company for about 7 years, and last year I was offered (with no options) a promotion, and was given the responsibilities,...	0	47 weeks 3 days ago by johnmurphy1230	n/a
Home-care workers entitled to overtime pay in MA? This hasn't happened to me but a friend at the home care agency I work for says our boss told her she's not entitled to overtime because we're exempt ...	1	47 weeks 3 days ago by Cheryl45	47 weeks 3 days ago by The Editor
STD Massachusetts I have been employed by the company since May23, 2011. I went out on emergency surgery on November 30, 2011. I notified the company within 2 business ...	0	48 weeks 3 hours ago by robin623	n/a
A Promotion that wasn't I was offered a promotion at my part time job via email. My boss asked if I wanted to manage a new site starting in 2 weeks. She stated it was ok that...	0	49 weeks 1 day ago by Cafe7202	n/a
Workplace Violence - Threatened by coworker Hi, I was verbally threatened with physical violence by a new coworker at my workplace. No one witnessed or heard it. I immediately informed the pl...	2	49 weeks 3 days ago by Iamcole	49 weeks 2 days ago by Iamcole
Pay during shutdown. I work at a large, private, non profit daycare center in Massachusetts. They need to shut down for 2-3 weeks for renovations. Do they have to pay me f...	0	49 weeks 3 days ago by ringwood	n/a
Exempt Employees and Overtime As an exempt employee in MA, can my employer require that I work more than 40 hours per week?	1	1 year 29 weeks ago by whitesheep	49 weeks 6 days ago by admin
Employer Mandates TB and MMR testing. Do they have to pay for it? I was hired by an employer that provides services to children. They required me to get a TB and MMR test done which I went to my doctor's office to h...	0	50 weeks 1 day ago by Amy7621889	n/a
Severance pay for release and waiver of claims in MA? Me and about 12 other people were laid off last week from a company in Massachusetts. We were all offered a severance package ranging from two weeks ...	1	50 weeks 5 days ago by JBett	50 weeks 5 days ago by The Editor
Do I get paid if I quit my Job (during training) Hello everyone, Do one get paid even though one quit on the third day? The job was not what I wanted (I hated it) and I knew I did not like the job...	1	51 weeks 6 days ago by Norwalker	51 weeks 2 days ago by admin
Dependent Verification for Healthcare coverage My employer is conducting dependent verification through our benefits department and any that cannot be verified will be dropped from coverage. For ...	0	52 weeks 12 hours ago by wdwkel28	n/a
Mandatory 'volunteer' time I work for a nonprofit. They have just announced that each of us must now 'volunteer' at one of our programs once a month. How does Mass law view this...	0	1 year 17 hours ago by MassWorker	n/a
Can Massachusetts businesses have a no tipping policy? I work at a fast food type sub shop in Massachusetts and the boss who owns the place says that we cannot accept tips from customers. He put up signs ...	1	1 year 21 hours ago by Tipsno	1 year 18 hours ago by The Editor
Termination after Complaining about Illegal Activity I was recently terminated from my job as a waitress for having an "outburst" against a manager. The manager illegally rang up a carryout order under m...	1	1 year 38 weeks ago by Anonymous	1 year 1 week ago by admin
Hostile work environment I work for a privately owned corporation which is headquartered out of state. I was transfered here from another state to oversee operations at their ...	1	1 year 1 week ago by Molliemiu	1 year 1 week ago by The Editor
can we apply for unemployment if the boss taking too much time off my boss taking a few time a year for vacation ,(about 6,7 weeks a year)they closed the office and didn't allow anyone to work ,except for 1 girl(their...	0	1 year 1 week ago by 3m	n/a
What can employees do during breaks or free time at work in MA? Can I write journals at work during my breaks and free time? I'm being censored and told I cannot do that. Is there some law in Massachusetts that s...	1	1 year 1 week ago by Annonymous7	1 year 1 week ago by The Editor
Employee terminated Sunday night If an employee was terminated Sunday night (after emailing/texting the employer that he would not be able to keep his Monday's hours that he was usual...	1	1 year 2 weeks ago by shp	1 year 2 weeks ago by The Editor
Breach of contract - verbal offer of employment On Friday of last week, I received in a voicemail and also email, an offer of full-time Summer employment at a Guest House on Cape Cod at an hourly ra...	2	1 year 3 weeks ago by jfm02719	1 year 3 weeks ago by jfm02719
Unemployment benefits if I quit my job in Massachusetts? I worked at the same job in MA for nearly four years and was doing fine until my boss, the manager at the office I work at started asking me out on da...	1	1 year 3 weeks ago by CrayP	1 year 3 weeks ago by The Editor