The Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley provides these links to help individuals employed in Massachusetts to exercise their rights and access important information. Below find links to the chapters and sections within the Massachusetts General Laws related to various work-related statues.
Overtime and Minimum Wage
Chapter 149, Section 27C. Penalties for violations of certain sections by employers, contractors, subcontractors or their employees.
Chapter 151. Minimum fair wages.
- Section 1. Oppressive and unreasonable wages; validity of contracts.
- Section 1A. Overtime pay; excluded employments.
- Section 19. Punishments for stated acts.
Payment of Wages
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
- Section 27C. Penalties for violations of certain sections by employers, contractors, subcontractors or their employees.
- Section 52C. Personnel records; review by employee; corrections; penalty.
- Section 148. Payment of wages; commissions; exemption by contract; persons deemed employers; provision for cashing check or draft; violation of statute.
- Section 148A. Employees seeking rights under provisions of this chapter; discharge or discrimination; punishment.
- Section 148B. Persons performing service not authorized under this chapter deemed employees; exception.
- Section 150. Complaint for violation of certain sections; defenses; payment after complaint; assignments; loan of wages to employer; civil action.
- Section 152. Deductions for coming late to work.
- Section 152A. Payment to, or retention by, employer of tips to employees; contract for payment.
Chapter 151, Section 15. Employer's records; statement furnished to commissioner.
Chapter 167B, Section 7. Electronic Branches and Electronic Fund Transfers.
Prevailing Wage
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
- Section 27. List of jobs; classification; schedule of wages; penalty; civil action.
- Section 27A. Appeals from classifications and wage determinations.
- Section 27B. Records of employees; payroll records; statements of compliance.
- Section 27C. Penalties for violations of certain sections by employers, contractors, subcontractors or their employees.
- Section 27D. "Construction" and "constructed" defined.
- Section 27E. Employment of residents in highway districts.
- Section 27F. Wages of operators of rented equipment; agreements; penalty; civil action.
Public Bidding (Construction)
Chapter 7. Executive Office for Administration and Finance.
- Section 38A½. Design services; purposes; definitions.
- Section 38B. Designer selection board; members; expenses; office.
- Section 38C. Jurisdiction of board.
- Section 38D. Designer services contracts; public advertisement.
- Section 38E. Project applications; written statements.
- Section 38F. Selection of finalists and semifinalists; classes of projects.
- Section 38G. Appointment of designer; fees.
- Section 38H. Consultants; truth-in-negotiations certificate; special conditions; contracts; insurance; penalties for false information.
- Section 38I. Continued or extended services.
- Section 38J. Emergency situations.
- Section 38K. Contracts exceeding $100,000; selection procedure; compliance; exceptions.
- Section 38L. Records; inspection.
- Section 38M. Annual report.
- Section 38N. Procedures and regulations.
- Section 38O. Severability.
Chapter 30, Section 39M. Contracts for construction and materials; manner of awarding.
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
- Section 44A. Definitions; competitive bids; award; bonds; extreme emergency situations; records contracts not subjected to competitive bid process.
- Section 44A ½. Fair competition for bidders on construction.
- Section 44B. Plans and specifications; bid deposits.
- Section 44C. Debarment from bidding.
- Section 44D. Submission of bid or offer; application for certification.
- Section 44D ½. General contractor bids; prequalification procedures.
- Section 44D ¾. Subcontractor sub-bids; prequalification procedures.
- Section 44E. Filing of bids; forms; modular buildings.
- Section 44F. Plans and specifications; sub-bids; form; contents.
- Section 44G. Allowances; alternates; weather protection devices.
- Section 44H. Enforcement.
- Section 44I. Severability.
- Section 44J. Invitations to bid; notice; contents; violations; penalty.
Chapter 149A. Public Construction alternative delivery methods.
Safety
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
Sundays and Holidays
Chapter 136. Observance of a Common Day of Rest and Legal Holidays
- Section 6. Retail, time & ½ on Sunday.
- Section 13. Retail, time & ½ on Sunday.
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
- Section 47. Sunday work without a day off.
- Section 48. One day of rest in seven; operation of business on Sunday; violation of statute.
Vacation and Meal Breaks
Chapter 149. Labor and industries.
- Section 52A. Ready reserve; absence from work for military training; failure to comply with statute.
- Section 100. Hours of work without interval for meal; duration; violation of statute.
- Section 148. Payment of wages; commissions; exemption by contract; persons deemed employers; provision for cashing check or draft; violation of statute.
Youth Labor
Chapter 149, Sections 56-105. Labor and Industries.