I recently came across a GBH news article wherein an attorney advised people to avoid political protest because their employer may fire them for such activity. The First Amendment says otherwise. Political speech is at the heart of the First Amendment, which protects government employees. Government employees cannot be fired for political speech unless the …
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On April 14, 2020, the Brookline Department of Public Health issued the following advisory: “Effective April 17, 2020 every individual is required to wear a protective face covering at all times when in the public.”[1] The mandate contains no expiry. This article poses constitutional questions relevant to the town’s broad rule. In order to challenge …
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The Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act signed by the President on March 18, 2020, requires non-healthcare provider employers with less than 500 employees to give up to 12-weeks of job-protected leave to parents to care for their children necessitated by school/daycare closures or loss of childcare due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) health …
The First Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision this week rendering au pairs in Massachusetts subject to the state’s wage and hour laws, which require that an employee be paid a minimum of $12.00 for each hour worked up to and including 40 hours in a single week and $18.00 for each hour thereover. …
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The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (Act) was approved by the legislature last summer and went into effect April 1, 2018. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please make yourself aware of your civil rights under the Act, and plan how you are going to exercise them. ACCOMMODATIONS A pregnant …
Attorney Lucas Newbill 