The new legislation adds to employer requirements and
now provides for sick leave, increased minimum wage, domestic
violence victim leave, and unemployment changes.
Paid Sick Leave
Massachusetts voters recently approved a ballot question on sick
leave that will become law on July 1, 2015. Whether the sick time
is paid will depend on an employer's size. Employees who work
in Massachusetts for companies with 11 or more employees will now
earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, not to
exceed 40 hours per calendar year. Employees who work for an
employer with fewer than 11 employees will earn up to 40 hours of
unpaid, job-protected sick time per calendar year. Employees will
begin accruing hours on July 1, 2015 or on their date of hire,
whichever is later. New hires will need to wait 90 days to use
accrued time. The legislation specifies that all employees who
perform work, whether full time, part time, or temporary, will be
counted toward the total
