Income withholding orders for child support

If a judge orders one of your employees to have income withheld for child support payments, you will receive an income withholding order from the issuing court or from the Department of Revenue.

Health insurance and other benefit regulations

Here you'll find answers to frequently asked questions on employee health insurance requirements, an employer's guide to health continuation coverage under COBRA and MiniCOBRA, tax information for retirement plans, and more.


Wage laws

Learn about the current state minimum wage, federal wage and hour laws, prevailing wage law, and more. 


Guide to employer tax obligations

As an employer you’re required to withhold chunks from employee paychecks, plus you must pay other employer taxes — and provide timely and proper reports to the IRS and various other federal and state agencies. In short, you need to understand exactly what is required. From instructions on how to get a federal tax ID number to closing your business or filing for bankruptcy, this guide will help you cover all the bases.

Layoffs, firings and resignations

Whatever the reason employment ends, help is available to smooth the transition for both employers and employees. Find information here on the unemployment notification pamphlet, Rapid Response to layoffs and closings, and other services and programs.


Citizenship and immigration requirements

Employers need to ensure compliance with today's ever-changing citizenship and immigration requirements. It is important for business owners and their human resource staffs to stay current with these rules.


Civil rights, discrimination and harassment

Under state and federal law, it is illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion when making employment decisions, including hiring, firing, promotion, discipline and pay. Pervasive harassment on those bases, and retaliation against an employee who complains about such harassment, are also illegal. Certain protections also exist for immigrant workers. Check here for more information on  these protections and the  federal and state agencies that enforce or administer these laws.


Safety and workers' compensation system

No one goes to work with the intention of being hurt, but accidents happen. That's why all employers in Massachusetts are required by state law to carry workers' compensation insurance covering their employees, including themselves if they are an employee of their company. The Department of Industrial Accidents administers the Massachusetts workers' compensation system.  From an overview of worker's compensation to the best way to reduce your workers' compensation costs, you'll find what you need to know here.


Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (MMLA)

Under MMLA, which is enforced by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, employers with six or more employees are required to grant eight weeks of unpaid maternity leave to eligible employees for the purpose of giving birth or adopting a child.

U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

FMLA provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. It also requires that group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

Child labor and apprenticeships

U.S. and Massachusetts child labor laws restrict when children can work and what jobs they can do. These laws are designed to protect young workers from injury, and to ensure that working time does not unduly interfere with learning. Learn more about child labor laws here, and also learn about Massachusetts apprenticeship programs.


Poster requirements

Did you know that U.S. and Massachusetts laws require employers to display certain posters and notices at their worksites where everyone can see them? Here you'll find posters on job safety and health, equal employment opportunity, Fair Labor Standards (FLSA), employee rights for workers with disabilities/special minimum wage,  family and medical leave, veteran rights, construction contracts, employee polygraph protection, and the rights of  migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, and federal contractors.


Massachusetts law about employment

Learn about child labor, discrimination, employment leave, the hiring process, termination, uniforms, unions, and more.