March 2018

REMINDER! As we discussed in our Client Alert of September 2017 [found here]: 

Pregnant Worker Fairness Act: As of April 1, 2018, employers in Massachusetts are required to provide employees with written notice of their rights under the new Pregnant Worker Fairness Act. Make sure you have a policy in place by the deadline and remember also to distribute the policy to new employees as well as employees who become pregnant while employed as required by the new law. We can help you develop an appropriate policy.

An Act To Establish Pay Equity: The new Pay Equity law in Massachusetts takes effect July 1, 2018. Take steps now to protect your organization from liability under this law by conducting a good-faith, reasonable self-evaluation of your organization’s pay practices and eliminating any impermissible, gender-based wage differentials revealed by the evaluation. This law imposes double damages and attorney fees for violations, so employers should take this liability risk seriously.

New Penalties for Employers When Employees Enroll in MassHealth or Subsidized Coverage Via the MassHealth Connector: Effective January 1, 2018, employers with six or more employees will have to pay a penalty of up to $750 for every nondisabled employee who is enrolled in MassHealth or receives subsidized coverage through the MassHealth Connector. The amount of the penalty per employee depends on the amount of wages paid to the employee. These penalties will be implemented via the unemployment system, and employers will see the charge on their first quarter statements in 2018. These penalties are aimed at offsetting the significant budget deficit in the state’s health related subsidy programs

Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP can help you address these recent developments. If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
617-542-6789 phone
617-556-8989 fax

This client alert, which may be considered advertising under the ethical rules of certain jurisdictions, should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances by Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP and its attorneys. This client alert is intended for general information purposes only and you should consult a Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP attorney concerning any specific legal questions you may have. © 2018 Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP