Guidance Issued for Federal Contractors on Vaccine Mandate and Requirements for Masking and Social Distancing
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced his Path Out of the Pandemic: COVID-19 Action Plan. As part of the plan, the President signed Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (the “Order”). Pursuant to this Order, certain […]
Covid-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Extended Through April 1, 2022
On September 29, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed an extension of the Massachusetts Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law. This legislation extends paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons through April 1, 2022, or until the exhaustion of $75 million in program funds.
The new legislation provides COVID-19 emergency paid […]
News From the White House: COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates for Federal Workers, Federal Contractors & for Employers with 100+ Employees
On September 9, 2021, the White House released two signed Executive Orders immediately after President Biden’s remarks regarding the Administration’s COVID-19 Action Plan (the “Plan”) on the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Plan, entitled, Path Out of the Pandemic focuses […]
Reminder: “Willful” Safety Violations May Lead to Criminal Penalties for Employers
In May 2017, a trench collapsed at a construction site in Pennsylvania, leading to a worker’s death. The construction contractor that employed that worker was criminally charged by federal prosecutors in the Western District of Pennsylvania for violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the “OSH Act”). For construction industry employers, […]
Recent State and Federal Developments on Use of Noncompetition Agreements
Many Massachusetts employers use noncompete agreements to protect their business interests, including confidential information, trade secrets, and good will. Due to recent developments regarding the use of these agreements on both the state and local level, employers should revisit their noncompetition agreements to ensure they comply with Massachusetts law and […]
Fall Means Return to the Office For Many: What Employers Should Know About Current COVID-19 Guidance from the CDC, EEOC, & OSHA
For generations of children, fall has signified a return from summer vacation and the start of new school year. This year, many adults are heading “back to the office” too, with a mix of hope instilled by the success of widespread vaccination, and trepidation given the rise of the Delta variant. […]
Adverse Possession: How To (Legally) Take Your Neighbor’s Land
Do good fences make good neighbors? In “Mending Wall,” by Robert Frost, the neighbor thinks so. Frost, though, was not so sure. He has the narrator say: “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out, / And to whom I was […]
Christopher A. Kenney named as a new member of the IADC Board of Directors for 2021-22
- CHICAGO – September 2, 2021 – The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has elected Christopher A. Kenney, a partner at Kenney & Sams, P.C.in Boston, Massachusetts, as a new member of the IADC Board of Directors for 2021-22. The election was announced at the IADC’s 2021 Annual Meeting. The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys […]
As of May 29, 2021, the Mask Mandate Will Be Lifted in Massachusetts For Those Who Are Fully Vaccinated
On May 17, 2021, we issued a client alert highlighting the CDC’s decision to lift mask mandates for those who are fully vaccinated in its Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.[1]
It comes as no surprise that on the heels […]
New Development for Massachusetts Employers: COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave
On May 28, 2021, Governor Charlie Baker signed An Act Providing For Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave into law. This alert provides a general overview of the statute and what it will mean for employers moving forward.
General Overview
Massachusetts employers are required […]