Employment Law

Massachusetts DFML Employer Audits Regarding Proper Notifications under PFML

By:      Gerald D. Borovick The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the Department or DFML) is auditing employers and covered business entities for compliance with certain required notifications to the workforce generally (i.e., workplace posters) and covered individuals specifically (i.e., employee acknowledgements). This alert is directed to Massachusetts employers providing Paid Family & Medical … Read more

Employee’s Refusal to Vaccinate in Violation of Employer’s Policy Resulting in Discharge Not Disqualifying For Purposes of Unemployment Where Employee’s State of Mind Established Sincerity of Her Religious Belief Supporting Her Objection

By:      Gerald D. Borovick The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently decided an unemployment “discharge case” involving an employer-policy mandating COVID vaccination.[1]  The case is helpful in illustrating that in certain cases, a knowing violation of an employer’s reasonable rule and deliberate disregard of the employer’s interest may not result in a termination from employment resulting … Read more

Alleged Release of Liability in Pre-Hire Form for Background Checks Lands Employer in Court Defending Individual and Class Wide Claims of Willful FCRA Violations

By:      Gerald D. Borovick The Massachusetts Court of Appeals issued a significant decision regulating the hiring process in the Commonwealth in a case called Kenn v. Eascare, LLC, 22-P-1017 __ Mass. App. Ct. __ (Jan. 8, 2024).  Kenn resolves whether a former employee has standing to assert individual and class wide claims against her employer … Read more