Reid M. Wakefield
Associate
Legal Administrative Assistant Lisa J. Gallo
Prior to joining the firm,Reid served as Commission Counsel for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and previously worked in private practice in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as with the Florida Office of the Attorney General.
Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for Massachusetts
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- Florida State University JD (2009)
- University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth BA, magna cum laude (2006)
Publications/Presentations
- “Massachusetts "CROWN" Law Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hairstyle,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, July 28, 2022
- "COVID-19 Employment Legal Issues," Massachusetts Municipal Auditors and Accountants Association Fall Conference (November 4, 2021)
- “Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Benefits Extended,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, October 1, 2021
- “What Employers Need to Know About President Biden’s ‘Path Out of the Pandemic’ COVID-19 Action Plan,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, September 14, 2021
- “Massachusetts Emergency COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (June 30, 2021)
- “Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Updated Guidance and Resources,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, June 15, 2021
- “Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Employer Guidance,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, June 2, 2021
- Quoted in “What the EEOC’s Updated Covid Guidelines Mean for Business Leaders,” Forbes, May 28, 2021
- "Workplace Investigations in Today's World," Mirick O'Connell Spring Webinar Series (May 21, 2021)
- “US Department of Labor Withdraws Independent Contractor Rule,” Mirick O’Connell‘s Labor, Employment and Employee Benefits Law Blog, May 10, 2021
- Quoted in “How Do US Laws Protect LGBTQ Homebuyers From Discrimination,” The Balance, April 23, 2021
- "Discussing Women in Construction," Massachusetts Construction Law Webinar (July 30, 2020)
- “Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination in Massachusetts,” On Air with Mirick O’Connell legal podcast (June 11, 2020)
- “Update on COVID-19 Workplace Health and Safety Enforcement by OSHA and the Massachusetts Attorney General,” Mirick O’Connell Client Alert, May 22, 2020
Professional / Community Affiliations
- Worcester County Bar Association
EEOC Issues Updated Guidance Regarding COVID Screening by Employers
On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance for employers regarding COVID-19 testing and accommodations. Perhaps most impactful, the EEOC altered its position regarding employers testing employees for COVID-19 as part of a mandatory screening prior …
[ load webpage to read more ]Don’t Delay: MA Employers Are Now Strictly Liable for Three Times the Amount of Wages for Late Payments With No Safe Harbor for Paying in Full Prior to Suit!
Under the Massachusetts Wage Act (the “Wage Act”), if an employee voluntarily quits their employment, the employer must pay the employee their final wages, including any earned, unused vacation pay, on the employer’s next regular pay day. However, when an employee …
[ load webpage to read more ]The Times They Keep A-Changing: The New Illinois Restrictions on the Use of Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Agreements
The state-by-state non-compete reform movement keeps rolling – this time in the state of Illinois. Effective January 1, 2022, the Illinois Freedom to Work Act has dramatically changed the landscape for employers in that state who desire to use non-compete …
[ load webpage to read more ]OSHA Withdraws COVID-19 ETS, But Signals That It Is Moving Forward with Final Rule
On January 25, 2022, OSHA announced the withdrawal COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (the “ETS”). In the announcement, OSHA stated that although it “is withdrawing the [ETS] as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, [it] is not withdrawing the …
[ load webpage to read more ]Supreme Court Stays OSHA’s COVID ETS
The OSHA COVID ETS is once again stayed. On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court stayed OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard which required that employers with 100+ employees require employees to either (a) become vaccinated against COVID-19; or (b) …
[ load webpage to read more ]The District of Columbia’s Aggressive Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Likely to Take Effect in 2022
In December 2020, the District of Columbia Council passed and in January 2021, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed legislation entitled the Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Amendment Act of 2020 (the “DC Act”). While the effective date of the Act was delayed …
[ load webpage to read more ]Don’t Forget! Minimum Wage Rates in Massachusetts Increase, Effective January 1, 2022
The minimum wage in Massachusetts will increase from $13.50 to $14.25 an hour, effective January 1, 2022. In addition, the minimum wage for tipped employees who make more than $20/month in tips will increase from $5.55/hour to $6.15/hour. Employers may …
[ load webpage to read more ]CDC Shortens COVID-19 Related Isolation and Quarantine Period, and Distinguishes Between Vaccinated Individuals With/Without Booster
On December 27, 2021, the CDC issued updated guidance which significantly shortens the periods of isolation and quarantine it recommends for COVID-related diagnosis and/or exposure. Specifically, the CDC now recommends that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 (regardless of vaccination …
[ load webpage to read more ]Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Adopts FLSA’s Joint Employer Test
Jonathan R. Sigel and Ashlyn E. Dowd On December 13, 2021, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) considered whether the so-called “ABC Test” set forth in M.G.L.c. 149, §148B (“Section 148B”) should be applied to determine whether an entity is …
[ load webpage to read more ]OSHA Exercising Discretion in Enforcing the ETS Until January 10
As posted here, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the stay of the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (the “ETS”) issued by OSHA. The Department of Labor announced on Saturday, December 18 that OSHA is exercising enforcement discretion …
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