Bill > S1009

This bill amends Chapter 151 of the official edition by adding a new sentence that creates an exception to the presumption that wages are "oppressive or unreasonable," which generally refers to wages that are unfairly low. Specifically, if an employer offers a wage that is no more than $1.00 per hour above the federal minimum wage and also provides "minimum credible coverage" under section 1 of chapter 111M, that wage will not be considered oppressive or unreasonable. "Minimum credible coverage" refers to a certain level of health insurance coverage that employers are required to offer to their employees, as defined in another section of Massachusetts law (chapter 111M). This provision aims to encourage employers to sponsor health care for their employees by offering them a degree of protection against wage claims if they meet these conditions.