Meal breaks in Massachusetts
Q: I am in a job, and I think I am eligible for paid overtime (at time and one-half) after I work forty hours. I live and work in Massachusetts. However, no one has mentioned lunch breaks. How does this … Continued
Anxious about returning to the workplace
Q: I am being asked to return to the office in July/August, after working at home because of the COVID-19. I am nervous and have anxiety about working in a cubicle-type environment. We don’t have an EAP, or else I … Continued
Thoughts on how to handle the death of an employee’s spouse
Q: Recently we had an employee whose spouse died. The employee took off a week of work and then returned to work part-time in the office and part-time at home, for a week or so. We don’t have a bereavement … Continued
Can a pregnant sales rep be terminated for not meeting quota?
Q: I joined a new company in late 2017 as an account representative for the Northeast region. It has been chaotic because I have had 3 different managers since I started working here. In June, our company hired a new … Continued
A salary reduction under the equal pay act?
Q: I am a technical sales engineer. I work mostly in the Cambridge area. I know I am reasonably compensated, based on calls I get from headhunters. I have several different peers across the US. In my opinion, we are … Continued
Pay for a 30-minute meeting when it’s not my shift
Q: I am non-exempt employee, and I work the overnight shift, 11 pm-7 am and sometimes my employer asks me to attend a meeting after 2 pm. The meeting lasts half an hour and I get paid for half an … Continued
Inclement weather and if you stay at home
Q: In the event of a major snow storm, employees are given a choice to come to work, or to stay safe at home. If the employee chooses to not go to work, the hours are deducted from their PTO … Continued
Can an employer ask about your compensation history?
Q: I was told that employers can longer ask about my compensation. How can I tell them what my compensation expectations are if we don’t discuss it? This seems like an odd requirement for employers. What if I want to … Continued
Leave options for a pregnancy
Q: I just joined a new company in August, 2017. I am having my second child in December. I met with my HR Rep and she informed me that I was ineligible for 12 weeks of leave under the Family … Continued
What about my non-compete agreement?
Q: I have been asked by a prospective employer to sign a non-compete. I live and work in Massachusetts. I was told that these are virtually unenforceable in Massachusetts, especially if the parameters are not well-defined. A: Non-competes are most … Continued