Massachusetts Domestic Workers Gain More Protections

Legislation was recently passed establishing a domestic workers bill of rights in Massachusetts.  (Chapter 148 of the Acts of 2014)  A domestic worker includes persons paid to do house cleaning, cooking, or laundering or to be a home companion, a nanny, or a caretaker for the elderly or sick in private homes.  The new law covers hours of employment, wage deductions, privacy rights, and requirements when an employer terminates a domestic worker without cause.  Protections against unwelcome sexual advances are also included in the legislation.  The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Attorney General's Office are required to issue regulations no later than April 1, 2015 to develop a multilingual outreach program to inform domestic workers about their rights.