Labor & Employment in Massachusetts

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2797: An Act relative to bereavement leave

HD 2797 expands bereavement leave rights for employees in Massachusetts. It adds a new provision allowing covered workers to take up to 8 weeks of family leave (with 2 weeks of weekly benefits) within a benefit year to cope with the death of a family member, including attending funerals, making arrangements, or grieving. The bill specifies that leave under this provision can be taken intermittently, requires employees to provide documentation like an obituary or death certificate for certification, and prevents employers from forcing multiple concurrent leave periods for multiple family deaths in one year. This directly affects employees who need time off for family bereavement, not just immediate family.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Professional Licensing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3164: An Act to establish the micro business employee training and workforce development program

HD 3164 creates a tax credit for Massachusetts employers with 10 or fewer employees who hire formerly incarcerated individuals (within 5 years of release) or people receiving transitional assistance under Chapter 18. Employers receive a $2,000 annual tax credit per eligible hire, plus phased training funds ranging from $15,000 to $9,000 over five years. The program is funded by dedicating 15% of several existing state justice and reentry program budgets to a new trust fund. It directly affects small Massachusetts businesses and supports job placement for two specific vulnerable groups. The credit is available for 10 years if the employee remains employed.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Workforce Development

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3196: An Act relative to the confidentiality of communications of information of labor organizations

This bill protects confidential communications between labor organizations (like unions) and employees when handling workplace grievances. It prohibits forcing unions or their agents to disclose such communications, except in specific situations: to prevent serious harm or death (subsection c), or to stop crimes/fraud that could cause major financial damage (subsection d). The law also prevents courts from drawing negative conclusions if a union refuses to disclose protected information (subsection e). This directly affects unions, their agents, and employees involved in grievance processes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3214: An Act ensuring fair and full employee compensation

HD 3214 requires employers who pay wages through methods other than checks or drafts (like direct deposit or cash) to provide employees with free check or draft payment options. It directly affects employees receiving non-check wages and employers using alternative payment methods. The key provision mandates that employers must make these check/draft options available without charging employees any fees or deducting them from the wages. This ensures employees receive their full compensation without hidden costs for payment method choices.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2902: An Act providing opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and for ensuring a skilled workforce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

HD 2902 requires contractors and subcontractors working on construction projects over $1 million to have apprentices perform a growing percentage of labor hours directly on-site. Starting six months after the law takes effect, 5% of total hourly work must be done by apprentices; this increases to 10% after one year and 15% after two years. The bill applies to all trades subject to prevailing wage requirements and mandates that apprentices must be enrolled in state-approved training programs. This policy directly affects construction companies bidding on large projects in Massachusetts, aiming to expand apprenticeship participation in the workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1739: An Act to enforce laws protecting worksite safety

This bill (SD 1739) prohibits construction contractors from shifting liability for safety violations through contract terms. It makes any clause in a construction contract that tries to transfer responsibility for safety-related claims, fines, or damages (due to the contractor’s breach of safety duties) invalid and unenforceable. The law directly affects construction companies and contractors who enter contracts requiring them to maintain safe workplaces. Key provisions require contractors to bear their own liability for safety failures, rather than passing it to others via contracts. This ensures accountability for workplace safety under existing laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1902: An Act relative to unemployment insurance

This bill amends Massachusetts unemployment insurance rules to adjust eligibility and coverage requirements. It changes the base period wage requirement so workers must have earned wages in at least two quarters (instead of the full period) equaling 30 times their weekly benefit rate. It also raises the employee threshold for mandatory coverage from 25 to 50 employees and clarifies that employers of covered entities (like government agencies) don't count toward this employee total. These changes directly affect workers seeking benefits and employers required to provide unemployment insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3137: An Act relative to fairness for municipal employees

This bill clarifies that municipal governments (towns and cities) must comply with Massachusetts' wage and hour laws for their employees. It amends two key laws: Chapter 41, Section 108A (which governs municipal employee salaries) to require compliance with Chapter 151, and Chapter 151 itself to explicitly include municipal governments as employers covered by its wage protections. The changes ensure municipal employees receive the same wage and hour safeguards as workers in other sectors under state law. This affects all municipal employees across Massachusetts who work for local governments. The bill does not create new wage standards but ensures existing state wage laws apply uniformly to municipal employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3699: An Act to establish an apprenticeship program to ready vacant public housing apartments for occupancy

This bill establishes the Brooke Public Housing Apprenticeship program to train public housing residents in skills needed to prepare vacant apartments for occupancy. It requires the state housing and labor offices to create a training program developed with input from housing authorities, residents, and industry groups, focusing on job skills, placement, and long-term self-sufficiency. The program directly affects public housing residents (by offering training and jobs) and public housing authorities (by providing trained workers to prepare units efficiently). It authorizes labor department grants to fund the apprenticeship program, aiming to speed up reoccupancy while making better use of housing capital funds.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2059: An Act providing for natural gas workforce safety

SD 2059 requires Massachusetts natural gas companies to develop and submit "just transition plans" to the Department of Public Utilities. These plans must detail how the companies will maintain safe pipeline operations, retain sufficient staffing levels (at or above January 2022 levels unless through collective bargaining or approved reductions), provide workforce training for the shift to net-zero energy, and prevent employee displacement during the transition. The bill also mandates that gas companies establish service quality standards covering safety, infrastructure repairs, and employee training, while requiring them to file infrastructure replacement plans focused on reducing leaks and improving public safety. Additionally, it creates a 60-day timeline for resolving small customer claims under $100 and requires biannual reports on consumer claims to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Collective Bargaining Workforce Development

All labor & employment bills