Massachusetts Set to Have (Almost) Universal Health Care
April 05, 2006—The Massachusetts legislature has approved legislation that would provide health insurance to almost all of the state's population, the New York Times reports.
Health Center Settles English-First Dispute
December 09, 2004—The Whittier Street Health Center in Boston has agreed to a settlement with
Hispanic employees who opposed a policy that urged them to speak English when
greeting patients and at other times on the job, the Boston Globe reports.
Some Mass. Employers Withdraw Domestic Partner Benefits
December 08, 2004—Employers in Massachusetts are dropping domestic partner health benefits because
same-sex couples now have the right to marry in the state and have the same
health-benefit options of other married couples, the Boston Globe reports.
Labor Department Backs Low-Wage Worker
September 07, 2004—The Labor Department has filed a "friend of the court" brief on behalf
of a low-wage worker the federal district court in Boston, Massachusetts, concluded
was not entitled to overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
New Premium Pay Law in Mass. Is Employer-Friendly
June 15, 2004—Massachusetts employers may now credit Sunday premium pay toward overtime pay
in the same workweek. Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2003 clarifies an ambiguity
in the law that had retail businesses wondering whether they had to pay Sunday
premium pay in addition to overtime compensation in the same week.
Nurses Receive $614K for Meal-Time Deductions
June 15, 2004—UMass Memorial Medical Center, Inc. has paid $614,449 in back wages to 367
registered nurses for uncompensated overtime work the U.S. Department of Labor
said it found during an investigation at the campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Donut Shops Settle Suit Alleging Holes in Compliance
October 29, 2003—Two Springfield, Mass.-area donut shop chains have agreed to settle a Department of Labor lawsuit alleging that they employed minors in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Nursing Home Sued for Overtime Wages
September 15, 2003—The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against a Massachusetts rest
home that the agency alleges was in violation of the overtime provisions of
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for a second time.
Verizon to Rehire About 3,400 Laid-Off Workers
July 18, 2003—Verizon Communications said on Tuesday that it would rehire 1,100 more laid-off workers in the Northeast than an arbitrator ordered last week.
