Bill > H2117

This bill amends Massachusetts law to provide a clear process for how an employer should handle paying wages owed to an employee who has died. Under the new law, employers can pay the deceased employee's final wages to specific individuals in a defined order of priority: first to the surviving spouse, then to children 18 and older (or their guardians if under 18), then to the parents, then to siblings, and finally to another person who paid the funeral expenses. To receive these wages, the individual must submit a written affidavit under penalty of perjury, along with supporting documentation like a death notice, proof of relationship to the deceased, or evidence of funeral expense payment. Once the employer pays these wages according to the specified process, they are fully discharged of any further financial obligation and protected from legal action. The bill also requires employers to retain the demand, supporting documents, and proof of payment as part of the employee's personnel record. The definition of "wages" remains consistent with existing Massachusetts labor law.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2117