On June 28, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the “Grand Bargain” bill into law.  The legislation will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and institute a mandatory paid family leave program for employers in the state.  Among other things, once the paid family leave program takes effect, Massachusetts employees will be eligible to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave (up to 26 weeks in certain circumstances) and up to 20 weeks of paid medical leave. Join presenters John Gannon and Erica Flores of Skoler Abbott, in addition to Mark Adams, director of HR Solutions for the Employers Association of the Northeast, for a discussion on:

• • How the increased minimum wage will be phased in over the next few years.
  • The elimination of time-and-a-half Sunday/holiday pay for retail employees.
  • How to prepare for paid family leave.
  • Which employees will be able to take paid leave, when can they take it, and how much will they be paid?
  • How to plan for extended employee absences.
  • New employee protections for those who take and return from leave.
  • Penalties for retaliating against employees who take family leave.
  • What will be the cost to your organization?
  • What does all of this mean for your business?