Archive
Amanda Thibodeau Speaking on MCLE Program on Employment Law Issues for Gig Workers
Employment attorney Amanda Thibodeau will be speaking on the MCLE program Employment Law Issues for Gig Workers, being held on Tuesday, July 30. The program will provide an overview of the current state of the law, how various governing bodies on the state and federal levels have grappled with companies and workers in the gig economy, and how each side can protect themselves and navigate changing employment laws in this arena. The agenda will include topics of discussion such as:
- What is the “Gig Economy” and which employers and workers fall into this category
- Overview of classifications of workers and legal consequences of misclassification
- Reviewing recent state and federal guidance on classification issues
- Reviewing states’ legislative responses governing gig employment
- Understanding other common employment issues in the gig economy
- Understanding how a gig business can mitigate its risks and what workers should do to protect themselves
For more information and to register, view the MCLE event page.
Scott Connolly Speaks at MCLE Employment Seminar
On Friday, February 28, 2014, MBBP Employment Attorney Scott Connolly served as a panel speaker at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s (MCLE) annual seminar on Proving & Valuing Damages in Employment Cases. Among the topics Scott covered from the defense perspective were whether and how to effectively use financial experts at trial, ways for defendants to avoid/minimize punitive damages, limiting emotional distress damages, and whether unemployment benefits should be deducted from back-pay awards. Other members of the distinguished panel were Honorable Peter M. Lauriat, Superior Court Justice, Eugenia M. Guastaferri, Senior Hearing Officer at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and employee-side advocates Inga S. Bernstein and David E. Belfort. Scott defends clients from employment-related lawsuits before state and federal courts and agencies.
Please feel free to contact Scott with any questions.
MBBP Employment Breakfast Seminar on Employee Terminations
On Tuesday, October 29th MBBP is hosting a seminar on Employee Terminations: Avoiding Claims & Liability. Discharging an employee is one of the most difficult parts of a manager’s (and HR professional’s) job. It is also the employment action most likely to expose a business to legal claims and liability. This Program is designed to help HR professionals, managers and in-house counsel develop a rational and strategic approach to employee terminations. We will review the major areas of risk and the common employer pitfalls and traps for the unwary. We will lead a very practical discussion with attendees focused on developing best practices that will avoid employee claims and liability.
Registration for the event begins at 7:30AM with the program to begin at 8:00AM. To learn more or to register for this event, please visit our event page.
Scott Connolly Presents on Defending Discrimination Claims
On September 26, 2013, MBBP employment attorney Scott Connolly spoke on a panel at Boston College Law School on the subject of defending discrimination and retaliation claims before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Scott, who has been defending employers against such claims for more than 12 years, presented to a panel of third-year law students on case evaluation, witness interviews, procedure, development of defenses, and preparation of employer Position Statements.
Employers with questions about responding to charges of discrimination or retaliation at the MCAD or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission should feel free to contact Scott about this area of practice.
Employee Terminations: Avoiding Claims & Liability
On Tuesday, October 29th MBBP is hosting a complimentary breakfast program titled “Employee Terminations: Avoiding Claims & Liability“. Discharging an employee is one of the most difficult parts of a manager’s (and HR professional’s) job. It is also the employment action most likely to expose a business to legal claims and liability. Discharged employees can bring a wide array of claims, including breach of contract, wrongful discharge, discrimination, and retaliation. Increasingly, discharged employees also assert claims focusing on the manner in which they were discharged and on post-termination conduct by employers, including claims of defamation, false imprisonment, and non-payment of wages.
Consequently, before discharging an employee, it is critical that employers (1) carefully evaluate the discharge decision; (2) prepare appropriate paperwork and plan for the termination meeting; and (3) be prepared to comply with the legal obligations that arise on and after the date of termination.
This Program is designed to help HR professionals, managers and in-house counsel develop a rational and strategic approach to employee terminations. We will review the major areas of risk and the common employer pitfalls and traps for the unwary. We will lead a very practical discussion with attendees focused on developing best practices that will avoid employee claims and liability.
This event is complimentary, but space is limited! Please visit our event page for more information or to register.
Noncompetition Agreements: Protecting Customer Relationships & Confidential Information
On Tuesday, April 23rd MBBP is hosting a complimentary breakfast program titled “Noncompetition Agreements: Protecting Customer Relationships & Confidential Information“. Employers often ask: “Are our non-compete agreements with employees enforceable?” The answer often depends on whether the employer took the necessary steps to put an effective agreement in place. Courts in Massachusetts generally will enforce reasonable agreements when necessary to protect particular employer interests, such as customer relationships and trade, from misappropriation. On the other hand, courts generally do not enforce non-compete (or non-solicit and non-disclosure agreements) when no real protectable interests are at stake, the restrictions are unreasonable, or the employer has undermined its ability to enforce them.
This Program will identify the steps employers can take to increase the likelihood that a court will enforce its restrictive agreements with employees, provide education and insight into how such agreements are enforced by employers, and de-mystify the litigation process. We will also review recent legal developments that may affect whether the agreements you currently have in place with employees are vulnerable to attack by departing employees.
Our presenters have decades of experience advising employers and litigating cases in this area and we expect that attendees will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program. Through discussion, we expect a very enlightening exchange of practical ideas and a range of employer experiences.
Please visit our event page for more information or to register.
Massachusetts Employment Law Blog 