While sex sells, now more than ever, sex discrimination also lives on too well according to the EEOC. It received a $ 500,000 jury verdict in a case under Title VII about sex discrimination in promotion policies in which less qualified men were consistently promoted over a very well qualified woman. * Our firm recently […]
Read more...Tag: Massachusetts Law
Court Tosses EEOC Expert in Disparate Impact Discrimination Case
When a federal court dismissed a disparate impact discrimination case, the EEOC got egg on its cheeks. A large percentage of the discrimination cases we see involve disparate treatment – good old-fashioned, intentional discrimination. More subtle and with wider impact is discrimination based on disparate impact. Disparate impact discrimination involves employment practices that are unintentional […]
Read more...Applications: Best Hiring Practices Part 2
The challenge for employers, their HR staff, and hiring managers is to absorb enough employment law to make the right decisions. Here are 10 of my favorite tips about the hiring process/application forms: Some Massachusetts Hiring Application Requirements Lie Detectors – A Statement that Lie Detector Tests are unlawful in Massachusetts as a condition of […]
Read more...The Massachusetts Wage Act
The Massachusetts Wage Act seeks to enforce employee’s right to receive any and all unpaid wages they have earned. It is a strict liability statute and, once a case is filed in court if a violation is proven, the law provides mandatory triple damages and attorneys’ fees. Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 149, § 150. Wages […]
Read more...The VPA: Asset Protections Part II
In the first of our two-part series, we talked about certain protections for profit corporations.* Today we review the considerably greater protections for volunteers, including volunteer officers and directors serving non-profit, charitable corporations under the VPA. The doctrine of the Corporate Shield (or Veil) protects those owning interests in for profit Corporations, and those in […]
Read more...The HR Dilemma: Best Hiring Practices Part 1
HR professionals or other hiring managers need to have best practices in order comply with employment laws, one of the most complex legal areas. The dilemma is that poor decisions may impact a company for years to come. Decisions that violate, or appear to violate, employment laws could lead to untold legal costs and/or liabilities. […]
Read more...Hot New Topic – CORI Reforms
While some prepared for Cinco de Mayo celebrations the following day, Friday, May 4, 2012 was a different event in Massachusetts. The CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) reforms set up two years ago then went fully into effect. Unfortunately, employers, most likely smaller ones without HR may not want to celebrate if they get caught […]
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