Human Resource-Related Advice and Training

Our attorneys advise clients on a broad range of human resource-related issues. In addition, we conduct client training and offer seminars addressing the myriad employment-related issues that HR professionals face. Our advice and training cover the following topics:

  • Managing employee discipline  
  • Administering leaves of absence under the FMLA and ADA  
  • Conducting reductions in force and layoffs 
  • Ensuring compliance with the WARN Act in the event of a mass layoff or plant closing  
  • Implementing effective personnel policies and employee handbooks 
  • Preventing sexual harassment 
  • Training supervisors 
  • Administering affirmative action programs and audits 
  • Implementing wage and hour classification and audits 
  • Implementing independent contractor classification 
  • Ensuring compliance with OSHA 
  • Conducting hiring and pre-employment drug testing 
  • Performing background checks

In addition, our attorneys assist clients in reviewing and drafting job applications, offer letters, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, severance agreements, employee handbooks and restrictive covenants designed to protect the employer's intellectual property (including confidential and proprietary information) and to safeguard against unfair competition or raiding of its customers or employees.

Practice Chair

Robert L. Kilroy

Robert L. Kilroy
Co-Managing Partner

Ashlyn Dowd featured in Community Legal Aid

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Jonathan Sigel interviewed by NECN - How to Prepare for Mass Equity Pay Law

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Federal Appeals Court Halts Implementation of NLRB Employees' Rights Posting

April 18, 2012[ read full story ]

New Limits on Employer Access To and Use Of Criminal Records Take Effect on May 4, 2012

March 30, 2012[ read full story ]

Attorney General Announces $2.8 Million Settlement with 3 Companies that Violated Massachusetts Prevailing Wage and Misclassification Laws

March 22, 2012[ read full story ]

Supreme Judicial Court Issues Much Anticipated Quinn Bill Decision

March 8, 2012[ read full story ]

Transgender Discrimination Protection

February 10, 2012[ read full story ]

Massachusetts Court Upholds Students' Suspensions for Hazing Incident

January 30, 2012[ read full story ]

Principal and Teacher Who Exchanged Intimate E-Mails May Proceed with Invasion of Privacy Claim Against Employer

January 25, 2012[ read full story ]

Addiction in the Workplace Forum: Bob Kilroy to serve on panel

06/12/2018[ read full story ]

Dartmouth College Men’s Basketball Team Held to Be Employees of Institution and Allowed to Unionize

In the Matter of Trustees of Dartmouth College & Service Employees International Union, Local 560, Case 01-RC-325633 (2024), the Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB” or the “Board”) has provided yet another expansion of the Board’s on-going …

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New California Non-Compete Law Prohibits Almost All Non-Compete Agreements and Requires Notice to Certain Current and Former Employees by February 14

California has long taken an extremely strong position against non-compete agreements, but new laws which took effect January 1, 2024 make that prohibition even stronger and impact employers nationwide who have any employees in California.  California now expressly prohibits any …

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Navigating Pay Transparency Laws: What Employers Need to Know

Over the last several years, in an effort to close the gender pay gap, several states and localities across the country have enacted pay transparency laws that, generally, require employers of certain sizes with employees in those locations to disclose …

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Private Employers Take Note: Overbroad Non-Disparagement & Confidentiality Restrictions in Severance Agreements Run Afoul of the National Labor Relations Act

As many employers well know, it is customary to include non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions in severance agreements that prohibit departing employees from (i) making disparaging, critical, or otherwise detrimental comments concerning the employer and (ii) disclosing information concerning the substance, …

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Is Your Company in Compliance With Executive Order 13706?

In September 2015, Executive Order 13706 was signed, requiring employers that enter into covered contracts with the federal government to provide covered employees with up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave allowing for …

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SJC Finds Public Meeting Comment Restrictions Unconstitutional

Government boards and committees should review their public comment policies following a decision this week by the Supreme Judicial Court holding that a “civility code” violated the Massachusetts Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act. In Barron v. …

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The FTC’s Proposed Ban On Noncompetes – Predictions

Following his election, President Biden issued “The Biden Plan for Strengthening Worker Organizing, Collective Bargaining and Unions,” in which he promised to work with Congress to “eliminate all non-compete agreements” with very limited exceptions. While a bipartisan bill, the Workforce …

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Update Policies to Comply with the Massachusetts CROWN Act

At the end of October 2022, the Massachusetts Act Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Natural and Protective Hairstyles (the “CROWN Act”) went into effect. The CROWN Act expands the definition of “race” under Chapter 151B to include “traits historically associated with …

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2023 Changes in Massachusetts Employment Laws

            Beginning January 1, 2023, changes to the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Law, retail premium pay, and Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law take effect. Changes to Minimum Wage & Premium Pay Changes to Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) …

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Employers Must Remember Their Obligations under the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (the “Act”), which went into effect on April 1, 2018, amended Massachusetts General Law c. 151B to include “pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy, including, but not limited to, lactation, or the need …

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Our Practices