Bill > H2114

This bill strengthens employee protections by prohibiting employment contracts from waiving certain legal rights and remedies related to workplace issues such as discrimination, harassment, wage disputes, and public policy violations. Specifically, the bill declares that any contractual provisions attempting to prospectively waive substantive or procedural rights are automatically unconscionable, void, and unenforceable. Employers who request employees to sign such waivers or attempt to enforce them can be held liable for damages and attorneys' fees. The bill also protects employees from retaliation if they refuse to sign contracts containing these prohibited waivers, allowing aggrieved individuals to seek civil action within three years of a violation. Additionally, the bill gives both the Attorney General and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination enforcement powers depending on the specific type of claim. A notable provision allows parties to void arbitration agreements after a dispute arises, ensuring that employees are not compelled to arbitrate claims they did not anticipate when initially signing the contract. The bill does not apply to collective bargaining agreements and will only affect contracts executed on or after its effective date.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2114