MassWorkRights.com

What you don't know could cost you. Protect yourself by knowing your work rights.


Welcome to MassWorkRights.com. Here you’ll find information about labor laws in Massachusetts and protecting your working rights.

When it comes to workers’ rights, many are operating in the dark. Your time is precious. So, when you work, you must be paid for all your time on the job. It’s time you learned all about your rights on the job, because what you don’t know could cost you!

You have rights as a worker that can’t be denied, so here’s what you need to know:

Massachusetts Wage Act

You must be paid for every hour you work, even if you quit or are fired. This applies to hours worked, tips, vacation pay, holiday pay and commissions. If you voluntarily leave your job, you must be paid in full on the next regular pay day. If you are laid off or fired, you must be paid in full on the day your employment ends.

Meal Breaks

If you work at least six hours a day, you are entitled to a 30 minute break. During your break you must be relieved of all duties and allowed to leave the premises. If you voluntarily elect to give up your meal break, you must be paid for the time worked.

Tips

You may be paid $2.63 an hour if you regularly receive tips of more than $20.00 per month, and only if those tips, when added to the $2.63 per hour, equal at least $8.00 per hour. Your tips are yours to keep. No employer, manager or boss may request or accept any part of your tips.

Minimum Wage

Massachusetts’ minimum wage is $8.00 per hour.

Overtime

By law, employers are required to pay time-and-a-half if you work over 40 hours a week. For example, if you usually earn $8.00 per hour, you would be paid $12.00 per hour for each hour worked beyond 40 hours.


For the full descriptions of these laws including exceptions, visit www.mass.gov/ago, or call (617) 727-3465.