Massachusetts Statutes

Section 159. A person engaged in manufacturing who requires from his employees, under penalty or forfeiture of a part of the wages earned by them, a notice of intention to leave such employ shall be liable to a like forfeiture, if, without similar notice, he discharges an employe…

Section 159B. Any employer who requests or requires a person who is a present or prospective employee to undergo a medical examination by a physician designated by the employer, as a condition to securing or continuing in employment, shall reimburse said person for the medical ex…

Section 159C. (a) For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:— ''Department'', the department of labor standards. ''Employee'', a person employed directly by a staffing agency to provide temporary or part-time employment services to a work…

Section 16. An inspector who directly or indirectly receives a reward, gift or gratuity on account of his official services shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than three months, and shall also be discharged from offic…

Section 17. For the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, the commissioner, the assistant commissioner and the associate commissioners, and the director, inspectors, and other representatives of the department of labor standards may enter places of employment, other than…

Section 173. The commissioner, having first obtained authority from the governor and council, may destroy or sell all such records, papers and schedules accumulated in the department as in his judgment are of no value.

Section 175. Manufacturers and others employing workmen may, for the purpose of giving notice to them, ring bells and use whistles and gongs of such size and weight and in such manner and at such hours as the aldermen or selectmen may designate in writing.

Section 176. If, in an emergency, special police officers are appointed, under the name of police officers or any other name, to act as police officers for quelling a riot or disturbance or for protecting property, no non-resident of the commonwealth shall be so appointed unless …

Section 177. A person may, if his property is in danger, call upon the regular police authorities in the commonwealth for assistance in its protection, and this and the preceding section shall not limit or diminish such right; but no person shall request or authorize any person o…

Section 177A. No person shall, by a special contract with his employees, exempt himself from liability which he may be under to them for injuries suffered by them in their employment and resulting from the negligence of the employer or of a person in his employ.

Section 177B. No employer shall discharge or take any other disciplinary action against any employee by reason of failure of such employee to report for work at the commencement of his regular working hours where such failure is due to his responding to an emergency in his capaci…

Section 178. No owner, superintendent or overseer in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment shall employ or permit to be employed therein any person entitled to vote at an election, during the period of two hours after the opening of the polls in the voting pre…

Section 178A. Wages or salary not in excess of one hundred dollars, due an employee who dies intestate, may be paid by the employer if thirty days have elapsed since the death of the employee and neither a duly appointed executor or administrator nor a voluntary administrator has…

Section 178B. The state treasurer, the treasurer of any county, the treasurer of any state institution and the treasurer of any city or town having a by-law or ordinance or collective bargaining agreement so requiring shall, and unless contrary to a by-law or ordinance the treasu…

Section 178C. Whenever any officer or employee or former officer or employee of a political subdivision of the commonwealth other than a county, city or town, dies, and such subdivision owes his estate any sum or sums by reason of the terms of his employment, the aggregate amount…

Section 178E. If a dividend is declared or a reduction in rate is made under any group insurance policy, the excess, if any, of the aggregate dividends or rate reductions under such policy and all other group insurance policies of the policyholder over the aggregate expenditure f…

Section 178O. An employer terminating employment of an employee insured under a group insurance policy shall, within ten business days, notify said employee of the date upon which his coverage under his group insurance policy shall terminate.

Section 179. The department may require employers to post in conspicuous positions in any place of employment such placards, posters or signs for the information of employees as it may issue.

Section 179A. In the awarding of contracts for public work by the commonwealth or by a county, city or town or by persons contracting therewith to do such work, preference shall be given to persons who are citizens of the United States and to partnerships all of whose members are…

Section 179B. The owner of every factory, workshop, manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile or other establishment or industry in which twelve or more persons are employed shall, upon the commencement, or a change of location, of its operations within the commonwealth, give notice …

Section 179C. Where a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and a labor organization as defined in subsection (5) of section two of chapter one hundred and fifty A, contains a successor clause, such clause shall be binding upon and enforceable against any successor …

Section 18. Every industrial health inspector shall inform himself concerning the health of all minors employed in factories within his district; and whenever he may deem it advisable or necessary, he shall call the ill health or physical unfitness of any minor to the attention o…

Section 180. Whoever violates a provision of this chapter for which no specific penalty is provided shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.

Section 180A. Whoever violates any provisions of the second paragraph of clause (50) of section six or the second paragraph of section thirteen of chapter one hundred and thirty-six shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

Section 181. It shall be unlawful for any employer who has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with a labor organization or association of employees providing for payments to a health or welfare fund or pension fund or other such plan for the benefit of employees to fa…

Section 182. Any person utilizing financing issued, insured, or subsidized by a quasi-public agency of the commonwealth shall agree to accept the following voluntary standards of corporate behavior, without limiting the independent powers and findings required to be made by any s…

Section 183. (a) As used in this section, the following words, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:— ''Control'', the beneficial ownership of fifty percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of a control transferor; provided,…

Section 184. (a) As used in this section, the following words, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings: ''Control transferor'', the person or persons who exercise control, including the power to hire and fire, before a contested meeting da…

Section 185. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:— (1) ''Employee'', any individual who performs services for and under the control and direction of an employer or public utility employer for wages or other remuneration. (2) ''Employ…

Section 186. Any contract or agreement which creates or establishes the terms of employment for an employee or individual in the broadcasting industry, including, television stations, television networks, radio stations, radio networks, or any entities affiliated with the foregoi…

Section 187. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:— ''Health care facility'', an individual, partnership, association, corporation or trust or any person or group of persons that employs health care providers, including any hospital, …

Section 189. (a) Each employer, subject to sections 14, 14A and 14C of chapter 151A, shall pay, in the same manner and at the same times as the director of unemployment assistance prescribes for the contribution required by said section 14, an employer medical assistance contribu…

Section 18A. Employers shall provide a change room with adequate storage facilities for clothes, shower baths and lavatories having hot and cold water, in every place of employment where the lack of such facilities would be harmful to health. Every place of employment (dock, whar…

Section 18B. Before allowing employees to enter confined spaces where flammable, poisonous, asphyxiant, suffocant or anesthetic vapors, gases or dusts are likely to exist, the area shall be made free of the hazardous substance; employees shall be advised of the hazard; adequate v…

Section 18C. Power transmission equipment (such as gears, belts, pulleys, sprockets, etc.) shall be enclosed or guarded in a manner that will prevent accidental injury to workers. Prime movers, machinery and equipment shall not be cleaned, adjusted or repaired while in motion. Wh…

Section 18D. All chains, wire ropes and fiber ropes shall be of sufficient strength to safely lift or otherwise handle the loads. The use of deformed hooks or rings shall be discontinued. All hooks, slings, bridles and fittings shall be of the correct size for the work to be done…

Section 18E. Persons working in locations where there is a hazard to the head or eyes shall be safeguarded by means of head or eye protection. Protection may be required for persons working under conditions where there is a hazard to the body, hands or feet. Safety belts shall be…

Section 18F. Explosives and other dangerous articles and substances shall be loaded, unloaded, stored, transported or otherwise handled in accordance with United States Coast Guard regulations.

Section 18G. Every industrial truck (lift truck or jitney) and tractor, except those guided or controlled by a walking operator shall be equipped with a clearly audible horn or other warning device. Every industrial truck (lift truck or jitney) operated from an end platform shall…

Section 18H. The employer shall provide blue stop signs for use by day and blue lights if night work is necessary, and shall cause them to be displayed before employees are permitted to work in, upon or under any standing railroad car or cars under conditions where unanticipated …

Section 18I. Any person violating any provision of the preceding sections eighteen A, eighteen B, eighteen C, eighteen D, eighteen E, eighteen F, eighteen G and eighteen H shall be punished by a fine of one thousand dollars.

Section 19. No person shall, by intimidation or force, prevent or seek to prevent a person from entering into or continuing in the employment of any person.

Section 190. (a) As used in this section and in section 191, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: ''Domestic worker'', an individual or employee who is paid by an employer to perform work of a domestic nature within …

Section 191. (a) It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer to: (i) engage in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature to a domestic worker if submission to the conduct is made either explici…

Section 192. As used in this section and in sections 193 to 203, inclusive, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:— ''Client'' or ''client company'', a person who enters into a professional employer agreement with a …

Section 193. (a) Nothing contained in sections 192 to 203, inclusive, or in any professional employer agreement shall affect, modify or amend any collective bargaining agreement or the rights or obligations of any client, PEO or covered employee under chapter 150A, chapter 150E, …