Baker Administration Launches Jobs Program for Private Employers

March 28, 2022

Last week, Governor Baker and his administration launched HireNow, a workforce development program designed to provide private employers with the financial resources to immediately hire and train new employees.



HireNow aims to address hiring challenges faced by employers brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, there are approximately 200,000 open available across the Bay State. The program is supported by $50 million in American Rescue Plan funds and streamlines the funds directly to employers so they can hire workers immediately and train them at virtually no extra expense.


The program will provide eligible employers, (i.e., private for-profit or non-profit companies) with a $4,000 grant-per-employee to be used to cover the costs of training, or, as a sign-on bonus. Employers may be approved for a total of 100 employees ($400,000 in state funding) through this program. All funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and are available until December 31st, 2022, or until funds are exhausted.


Of note, local, state, and federal government jobs are excluded. Employees must remain with the company for at least 60 days for employers to receive funding and must be Massachusetts residents.

Employers can click here to register as a HireNow employer. Once registration is complete, employers can apply for a grant for each new employee hired, once that employee has been employed for at least 60 days by that organization.


For more information on this, or any other employment and labor law matter, please contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm LLP; (413) 586-2288. We know business matters!

 

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Massachusetts Wage Act: Not Even a Single Day Delay

April 18, 2025
Employee's Wage Act Claim Case Overview : In Turgut v. Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc., Plaintiff filed a putative class action against a company, Defendant, alleging violation of the Wage Act by not paying wages within six days of the pay period's end. Defendant argued that its employees fell under the exception that allowed seven days for payment; however that exception only applies to hourly workers that work all seven days of a work week. The plaintiff is looking to represent a class of employees that received W-2 wages in what he alleges was in an untimely manner. The case was originally filed in state court on February 20, 2025 but was moved to federal court. Reason for Treble Damages: Under Rueter v. City of Methuen, the seminal case regarding the Massachusetts Wage Act (“Wage Act”), the proper measure of damages under the Wage Act is treble damages. Previously employees were only entitled to interest on the unpaid wages if the company paid before proceedings started. It kept noncompliance from being as costly as it is now. Currently any violation can be subjected to treble damages for the total amount of the alleged late payment. It’s expected that we will see more cases pick up by attorneys because the treble damages make it worthwhile for their clients as well as themselves, given this recent ruling. Judge's Ruling : The Judge ruled that the six-day deadline applies. The Judge stated that while the complaint didn’t make it clear if plaintiff is hourly or salary, plaintiff only worked five days a week, meaning that the seven-day exception did not apply as the Wage Act was written. Legal Implications Legislative History : The Wage Act provides different deadlines for an employee’s final pay based on the number of days worked in a week. This case also emphasizes that having salaried workers on staff does not fulfill the requirement of having employees work seven days a week. Significance of One Day : The judge emphasized that even a single day's delay in payment can significantly impact employees living paycheck to paycheck. What Employers need to know Make sure you’re aware of your employees’ pay cycle and make compliance a company priority. It’s more cost effective to pay a day or two earlier than it is to head to court over claims of violations. This ruling expands on the Reuter ruling by clarifying the Wage Act rules in relation to hourly employees. If an hourly employee resigns, ensure that automatic payment systems (as well as the employer’s own internal pay systems) are aligned with the requirements of this ruling. If your business has any questions on this topic or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.