Massachusetts Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in Massachusetts, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your Massachusetts Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in Massachusetts must consider.

Massachusetts Employee Handbook Policies

There are 13 state and local employee handbook policies in Massachusetts.

Wage and Hour

Massachusetts Meal Break Policy

You are entitled to a 30-minute meal break if you work more than six hours during a calendar day. This break may be unpaid and must be free of all duties, allowing you to leave the workplace if desired.

Massachusetts Minimum Wage Policy

You are entitled to a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour in Massachusetts. If you are a tipped based employee, meaning you regularly receive more than $20 a month in tips, Employer must pay you at least $6.75 per hour in cash wages. Your combined tips and cash wages must equal or exceed the $15.00 minimum wage.

Massachusetts Lactation Break Policy

You are entitled to reasonable break time to express breast milk as needed, typically aligning with existing breaks. Additional breaks can be coordinated with your supervisor to minimize disruptions.

Employer will provide a private, secure, and functional lactation space near your work area that includes seating, a table, and an electrical outlet. Bathrooms will not be used as lactation spaces.

Exceptions may apply if accommodations cause undue hardship. Employer prohibits discrimination or retaliation against employees who are pregnant, nursing, or exercising their rights under this policy.

Massachusetts Mandatory Day of Rest Policy

You are entitled to a 24-hour rest period after six consecutive days of work, which must include uninterrupted time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you work on a Sunday, your rest day will be scheduled within the following six days, with a posted list of designated alternative rest days. You may voluntarily work on your rest day, but it must be a written agreement. Employer prohibits coercion, discrimination, or retaliation related to your right to a day of rest.

Massachusetts Reporting-Time Pay Policy

You are entitled to reporting-time pay if you report for a scheduled shift but are sent home early or not given work. Employer must pay you for at least three hours at the minimum wage or for your scheduled hours, whichever is less. If you work less than three hours, you will be paid your regular rate for the time worked and the minimum wage for the remaining hours.

Vacation, Sick, and Safe Leaves

Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Policy

Employees of Employer are entitled to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum 40 hours per year.

Leaves of Absence

Massachusetts Domestic Violence Leave Policy

You are entitled to up to 15 days of job-protected leave per year if you or a family member is a victim of abusive behavior. This leave may be used to seek medical care, obtain legal assistance, attend court hearings, or secure housing.

Massachusetts Jury Duty Leave Policy

If you are a juror and serving on a trial or grand jury, you must be paid your regular wages by Employer for the first three days of service, including part-time or temporary employees. After the third day, Massachusetts will pay you fifty dollars per day for the fourth day of service and each day after that.

Massachusetts Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave Policy

You are permitted to take job-protected leave to perform emergency duty as a volunteer of a fire department or ambulance department.

Massachusetts School Leave Policy

You are entitled to 24 hours of unpaid leave to attend or participate in a child’s school-related activity or child’s medical appointment every 12 months.

Massachusetts Veterans Day and Memorial Day Leave Policy

Employer provides leave to veteran employees to observe Veterans Day. Additionally, Employer grants leave to veteran employees who wish to participate in a Memorial Day exercise, parade, or service. Veteran employees may take leave for the necessary time to participate in events occurring in their community of residence.

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Policy

You are entitled to up to 26 weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) if you have earned at least $6,300 in the previous four quarters and earn at least 30 times the weekly benefit amount you are eligible to receive. PFML may be taken for the following reasons: caring for your own serious health condition, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with your child within the first 12 months after birth, adoption, or placement, caring for a family member injured in military service, and managing affairs while a family member is on active duty.

Privacy

Massachusetts Electronic Monitoring Policy

Employee should be advised that all telephone conversations, emails, internet usage, and activities on company-owned devices and systems—including computers, phones, radios, and photoelectronic systems—may be monitored. GPS systems may track company vehicle locations, and security cameras may be used in public areas for safety and security.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for Massachusetts should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• At-Will Employment
• Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Policy