Bill > H4281

This bill amends Section 178A of Chapter 149 of the General Laws to establish a process for the payment of wages owed to a deceased employee. The key provisions are: 1) Wages owed to a deceased employee can be paid, without requiring probate proceedings, to the employee's surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, or another person who paid the funeral expenses, in order of preference. 2) Payments made to these individuals constitute a full discharge of the employer's obligations and hold the employer harmless from any liability. 3) Employers must retain the demand for wages, supporting documentation, and proof of payment as part of the employee's personnel record. 4) "Proper demand" for wages is defined as a written affidavit from the eligible recipient, along with documentation of the employee's death, the claimant's relationship to the deceased, and evidence that the claimant paid the funeral expenses (if applicable).