GIVE HER A BREAK: REASONABLE BREAK TIME AFFORDED TO NURSING MOTHERS
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. One of the lesser known provisions of this Act is an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) that requires covered employers to provide reasonable break time for non-exempt nursing mothers. Nothing in the new provision alters state or federal prohibitions against discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions during pregnancy.
How often must employers afford break time to nursing mothers?
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“PERSONNEL RECORDS” AMENDMENT PLACES INCREASED BURDEN ON EMPLOYERS
Nestled in the economic stimulation bill signed by Governor Patrick this summer was a sweeping change to the state’s “personnel record” law that now requires employers to notify employees about documents that could negatively impact the employee’s position with the employer. This little-known amendment reportedly came about after a police officer was denied a promotion because of a negative report in his personnel file about which he knew nothing.
The amendment to the personnel records law, M.G.L. c. 149, § 52C, went into effect on August 1, 2010. It specifically requires an employer “to notify an employee within 10 days of the employer placing in the employee’s personnel record any information [that] is, has been used or may be used, to negatively affect the employee’s qualification for employment, promotion, transfer, additional compensation or the possibility that the employee will be subject to disciplinary action.”
What does this mean?
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A Winter Wonderland Is Predicted for Tomorrow: Do You Have a Plan?
With another blizzard predicted to start this evening, I wanted to pass along some information about winter weather policies. I have received a number of questions about these policies over the past few weeks: must I pay employees if the company is open? What about if the company is closed closed? Must employees be paid if the boss stays home? What is common practice?
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MCAD ISSUES FACTSHEET: PROVIDES CORI INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) recently released a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) “Fact Sheet,” providing interpretation of, and guidance to, the statutory CORI changes that went into effect on November 4, 2010. The MCAD is charged with enforcing these new provisions.
What Does the CORI Reform Require?
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Allyson Kurker, J.D.
Kurker Law LLC
427 Elm Street / Concord, MA 01742
TEL 978.254.5487
EMAIL allyson@kurkerlaw.com
Helping clients balance their business and legal objectives
