Labor & Employment (Labor Standards) in Massachusetts

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1347: An Act protecting the right to time off for voting

This Massachusetts bill (SD 1347) requires most employers to provide employees with paid time off to vote in state or municipal elections. Employees must give at least 3 days' notice to their employer, and the time off must be taken at the start or end of their regular shift to minimize work disruption. Employers who deny this right must pay the affected employee a full day’s wages. The law also mandates employers to post clear voting time-off notices and enforces compliance through the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division. It directly affects all Massachusetts employees and their employers covered by Chapter 149 of the General Laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2397: An Act creating a special legislative commission to study barriers to job retention for low-income workers

HD 2397 establishes a 17-member commission to study barriers low-income workers face in finding and keeping jobs with sustainable wages in Massachusetts. The commission, including government officials, labor representatives, business leaders, and experts, will examine specific issues like the "cliff effect" (where small income increases cause loss of critical benefits) and ineffective service programs. It must file recommendations, including potential legislation, by March 1, 2027, after gathering input through hearings and public testimony. This bill directly affects low-income workers in Massachusetts by directing a formal study to inform future policy changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2600: An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a declared public health state of emergency

HD 2600 requires private employers with 11+ employees providing essential services (as defined by the Governor's emergency orders) to pay essential workers hazard pay equal to 1.5 times their regular rate during a declared public health emergency. It also mandates employers provide free, required personal protective equipment (PPE) and prohibits penalties for workers who refuse unsafe work due to health risks, vulnerable household members, or lack of childcare during the emergency. The law excludes government workers and certain exempt employees, and enforcement is handled by the Attorney General's office under existing wage laws. This directly affects private-sector essential businesses and their frontline workers during active public health emergencies.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2042: An Act providing hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a public health "State of Emergency" declaration

This bill requires private employers with 11 or more employees providing "essential services" (as defined in emergency orders) to pay essential workers 1.5 times their regular wage during a Governor-declared public health emergency. It also mandates that employers provide free personal protective equipment (PPE) meeting health agency guidelines. Essential workers may refuse unsafe work without penalty if they face health risks to themselves, household members, or lack childcare during the emergency. The law excludes government employees and certain exempt workers, and enforcement falls to the Attorney General under existing wage laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3935: An Act relative to updating overtime salary thresholds and codify definitions to protect the middle class

This bill raises the salary threshold for overtime eligibility from $844 per week (effective immediately) to $1,211.53 by January 2026, with annual increases tied to minimum wage and wage index data. It directly affects middle-income workers currently classified as "exempt" (e.g., managers, professionals) who earn below these thresholds, requiring employers to pay overtime for hours worked over 40 per week. The law codifies clear definitions for "executive," "administrative," and "professional" roles to determine eligibility, ensuring workers must earn at least the new salary floor to remain exempt. These changes aim to expand overtime protections to more workers without requiring additional legislative action.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4168: An Act prohibiting employers from attempting to conceal violations of state wage, benefit, or tax laws

This bill prohibits employers from disclosing or threatening to disclose an employee's immigration status to hide violations of state wage, benefit, or tax laws. Employers found doing so face administrative penalties: up to $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations. The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division enforces these penalties, considering factors like the employer’s history and business size, and provides a 15-day hearing window for affected employers. Penalties collected fund the division’s enforcement of wage laws, and the Attorney General must report annual violations to the legislature. The law directly affects employers who misuse immigration status to conceal labor law violations.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 288: An Act ensuring domestic violence victims' protections for all employees in the Commonwealth

HD 288 creates new leave protections for contract workers (e.g., staffing agency employees) who are victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or kidnapping. It allows up to 15 days of unpaid leave per year for purposes like seeking medical care, legal help, court appearances, or securing housing related to the abuse. Employers must permit this leave but can decide if it’s paid, require documentation (such as a protective order or sworn statement from a professional), and must keep all related information confidential. The bill specifically excludes regular employees (covered under existing law) and requires contract workers to use other available leave first before taking this leave.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime Gig Economy Labor Standards Paid Leave

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3850: An Act relative to raising the minimum wage closer to a living wage in the commonwealth

HD 3850 raises Massachusetts' minimum wage in a phased approach, increasing it from $15.00 to $20.00 per hour by 2029. It directly affects all public and private employers in the state who must pay workers at least the new minimum wage rate. Starting in 2030, the law establishes an automatic annual adjustment based on inflation (using the Consumer Price Index) to maintain purchasing power, with the first adjustment calculated for January 2030. The bill also updates current wage rates for tipped workers and other categories through 2029.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1531: An Act to establish extreme temperature worker protections

SD 1531 requires employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold hazards by implementing safety plans. It directly affects all workers in covered settings - including farmworkers, day laborers, temporary staff, and those in outdoor or unregulated indoor environments - when temperatures reach 80°F or higher (heat) or 60°F or lower (cold). Key provisions mandate paid rest breaks, access to shade/warmth, adequate drinking water, supervisor and worker training, and risk evaluations based on factors like humidity and workload. The law also specifies acclimatization protocols for new workers and defines "cool-down areas" to ensure safe temperature recovery.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2914: An Act to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking

This bill (HD 2914) strengthens child labor protections in Massachusetts by explicitly prohibiting minors from working in seafood packing or processing facilities, closing a previous exemption that allowed some child labor during summer months. It removes the prior exception permitting child labor in "fish processing" during June-October and adds seafood facilities to multiple existing prohibitions. Key changes include raising fines for violations from $500 to $20,000 for first offenses and $5,000 to $100,000 for repeat offenses, with penalties now running concurrently with other remedies. The bill directly affects employers in the seafood processing industry by expanding prohibited work settings and significantly increasing financial penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

All labor & employment bills