Taking Care of HR Business

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        August 25, 2016

        Talk about sending a message! Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court just reinstated a $540,000 jury verdict in favor of a finance manager at a Lexus...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 23, 2016

        Yes, you read the title correctly, the employee was a state employee, who was smoking marijuana while working, in a work vehicle, while...

        August 23, 2016

        Well, law school certainly felt like a job to your humble correspondent, and now it appears that the National Labor Relations Board...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on August 22, 2016

        In Massachusetts, as in many states, when an employee is injured in the course of work, but the injury is caused by a third party, the employee is...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 17, 2016

        Effective October 1, Massachusetts business owners who operate "places of public accommodations" will be prohibited from discriminating against...

        by Elizabeth Connellan Smith on August 17, 2016

        The issue of Independent Contractor versus Employee has reared its ugly head once again, this time in the context of professional wrestling. A...

        August 16, 2016

        Just in case you missed our earlier post, effective August 1, the Department of Labor issued a new rule implementing significantly higher penalties...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 16, 2016

        There are things we all need to know about Zika: 1) it is spread mostly by an infected Aedes species mosquito; 2) it can be passed from a pregnant...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 10, 2016

        By now you may have seen all the coverage of the rather bored-looking lifeguards at the Olympic swimming events. As it turns out, they may not be the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 9, 2016

        On August 1, 2016, the DOL issued updated posting requirements for the Employee Polygraph Protection Act and the Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 3, 2016

        New England Company & Affiliate Pay $2.6 Million in Back Wages Over the past few years we have discussed the importance of proper...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on August 3, 2016

        Late last week, the Seventh Circuit issued an opinion in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, in which it held that Title VII provides no redress...

        August 2, 2016

        On August 1, 2016, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law sweeping changes to the state's prohibition on discrimination in pay on the...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 28, 2016

        Now that a couple of months have passed since the Department of Labor announced the new federal overtime regulations, many employers are looking for...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 25, 2016

        The Casino Pauma expects employees to work while at work—a concept that is not foreign to many of us. In fact, they put the expectation into...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 20, 2016

        Municipalities all across the country have dived into the employment arena in the past few years. In an April 2016 publication by the National...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 15, 2016

        This is reality. This is not a test. There are Pokémon in your office. Well, maybe; it's more like there are not real Pokémon chilling outside your...

        by Douglas P. Currier on July 13, 2016

        Using a staffing company to supply workers can seem to be a wonderful way to secure a qualified workforce while avoiding the challenges of hiring...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 8, 2016

        The EEOC continues its push to recognize job protection for LGBT workers under Title VII. On Wednesday, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against Bojangles...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on July 8, 2016

        Late last week, while everyone was focused on the summer holiday, the Department of Labor announced that pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties...

        by Robert C. Brooks on June 23, 2016

        The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) intends to put a spotlight on the relationships between companies and the lawyers and consultants companies rely...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 21, 2016

        The Supreme Court issued its decision today in Encino MotorCars, LLC v. Navarro. A background of the case is available, but the question at issue was...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 17, 2016

        You know how we harp on the easy things? Like having all the required state and federal posting requirements hung in a place where employees can...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on June 17, 2016

        Appellate briefing to the Second Circuit was completed earlier this week in Manhattan Beer Distributors LLC v. NLRB, a case in which the NLRB, in...

        June 17, 2016

        On June 1, 2016, Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Public Act 16-83, entitled "An Act Concerning Fair Chance Employment," joining a national...

        June 7, 2016

        You likely received notice that the U.S. Department of Labor released its final overtime regulations on May 18. Many education institutions will now...

        by Tawny L. Alvarez on May 25, 2016

        You likely received notice that the U.S. Department of Labor released its final overtime regulations on May 18. Many non-profits will now be required...

        May 20, 2016

        For those employment lawyers who believe that the EEOC and NLRB have tended to overreach of late (i.e., the defense bar), two separate decisions...

        May 20, 2016

        Its been a busy week in H.R. land. We feel you. It's been a busy week for us too. Well, let's end things on a high note, and no we're not talking...

        May 18, 2016

        The Department of Labor released its long-awaited final overtime regulations today. The most significant impact of the new regulations is that they...

        About the Blog

        Human resource professionals, supervisors, and company executives are constantly confronted with a changing legal landscape. Verrill’s Taking Care of HR Business blog is designed to keep you informed about the latest and most significant legal developments that affect employers.

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        About

        Human resource professionals, supervisors, and company executives alike face a constantly changing and evolving legal landscape. Verrill’s Taking Care of HR Business blog is here to keep you up to date on the newest and most important legal developments for employers.

        Verrill’s employment and labor attorneys are based throughout New England but practice on a national stage. In addition to regular appearances in state and federal courts, they often appear before state and federal agencies that create and enforce the various frameworks that regulate the employer-employee relationship. The Group has a wide range of experience in all aspects of labor and employment law and is frequently tapped to serve on state and national legal organizations, participate in industry seminars, and contribute to professional journals, thereby continually adding value to their client relationships. Learn more about Verrill’s Employment and Labor Group.

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        Firm Highlights

        Blog

        Working 9 to 5? It’s a Way to Make a Livin’, so Make Sure You’re Payin’ for Every Minute: A Maine Employer’s Guide to Stacked Wage & Hour Rules

        Four decades after Dolly Parton gave us both the namesake anthem of the American workday and the film about three fed-up office workers’ dreams of...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...