Wage theft is more common than armed robbery in our country and three times as costly to the economy. Here in Massachusetts, wage theft costs individual workers more than $1 billion a year in earned wages. This hurts our communities and all the state’s taxpayers. The...
Renee Lazar
How Many Women Serve in Each Military Pay Grade, Compared to Men
With the current gender pay gap, women in the U.S. make about 82% of what men make. In the U.S. military, however, this gap does not exist, at least at the basic level. Because basic pay structure is based on pay grade and time in service, service members receive...
Massachusetts Lawmakers Considering Weight and Height Discrimination
Lawmakers in New York City seem poised to pass a bill that would make it illegal to discriminate based on weight and height, according to reports. The bill, introduced by Council Member Shaun Abreu last Spring, would amend the city's code to prohibit "discrimination...
Are You a Victim of Housing Discrimination in Massachusetts?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development, via a final rule, is rescinding a 2020 Fair Housing Act rule and reinstating HUD’s Discriminatory Effects Standard, which dates back to 2013, the agency announced. “Discrimination in housing continues today and...
What Is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) in Massachusetts?
A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a legal document, typically found in a Massachusetts divorce agreement that recognizes that a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent is entitled to receive a predefined portion of the account owner’s retirement...
Student Loan Forgiveness Debate Leads to Record Number of 529 College Savings Plans for Massachusetts Parents
Massachusetts parents are continuing to save for college with 529 plans as the fate of President Joe Biden’s student debt loan relief program is awaiting a Supreme Court decision in June. These plans, which are advantaged savings plans designed to encourage saving for...
Are You a Victim of Discrimination at a Place of Public Accommodation?
Individuals are protected from discrimination by places of public accommodation by both federal and Massachusetts laws, including Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272....
14 Surprising Things That Are Taxable in Massachusetts
How many of these forms of income did you know were subject to federal taxes? Everyone knows that wages are taxed by the federal government, but Uncle Sam has a far-reaching definition of “taxable income.” It covers numerous types of earnings that many people don’t...
Shake Shack Agrees to Pay ‘Misgendered’ Employee $20K in Discrimination Dispute
Fast-food chain Shake Shack agreed to pay $20,000 to a former employee who alleged that co-workers engaged in harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The compensation is part of the settlement in the case, in which the disgruntled staff member,...
Study Finds Black Women’s Hair 2.5 Times More Likely To Be Seen As Unprofessional
Last year, Massachusetts became the 18th state to adopt the CROWN Act, an imperative bill that shields individuals from discrimination over natural and protective hairstyles in the workplace and other institutions. But as lawmakers work tirelessly for the bill to be...