As year-end looms in the distance, it is critical that employers focus on the upcoming changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which become effective December 1, 2016.

On July 1, 2015, the Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (“MESTL”) went into effect, requiring all private sector employers to provide all employees working primarily in Massachusetts with up to 40 hours of sick leave per benefit year. We strongly recommend that all employers with employees working in Massachusetts review their paid time off policies, as well as the handbooks and other documentation in which they reside, in order to ensure proper compliance.

A regular review of your employee handbook ensures that it continually reflects the way you do business, and more importantly, that your company is operating in full compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations. Below is a summary of recent legal changes impacting employment policies in Massachusetts.