Bill > H1998

This bill amends the existing laws in Massachusetts to require certain employers to provide notice prior to plant closings, partial closings, or mass layoffs. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Defining "mass layoff" as a reduction of at least 25 workers and 25% of the workforce, or at least 200 workers, within a 30-day period at a single location, that is not due to a plant or partial closing. 2. Requiring employers to provide 60 days' written notice to the state commissioner before ordering a plant closing, partial closing, or mass layoff, and including specific information required in the notice. 3. Establishing penalties for employers who fail to provide the required notice, including back pay, benefits, and other costs for affected employees. 4. Providing exceptions to the notice requirement in cases of physical calamity, act of war, or if the employer was actively seeking capital or business that could have prevented the layoff. 5. Requiring the state to review and approve proposed regulations related to the notice requirements before they are published. The bill aims to provide more transparency and protections for workers facing large-scale job losses in Massachusetts.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1998