New England Biz Law Update

California’s labor commissioner has issued a citation of more than $868,000 against Costco Wholesale, Ryder Last Mile and trucking subcontractor Mega Nice Trucking for misclassifying delivery drivers as independent contractors and failing to provide required wage-and-hour protections.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule that would significantly narrow the application of anti-discrimination protections under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

The IRS has announced temporary penalty relief for employers as they adapt to new reporting requirements for tips and overtime pay under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that an executive terminated in a reduction in force could not sue under the state Wage Act for the delayed payment of a retention bonus he was owed under an agreement with his employer.

The the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued an interim final rule ending automatic extensions of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for non‑citizen workers whose renewal applications are pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

A Black former IBM executive has filed a federal lawsuit against the company, alleging that she was wrongfully terminated – along with several other Black leaders – as part of IBM’s attempt to comply with President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives among federal contractors.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an award of summary judgment in favor of an employer in a racial discrimination suit brought by a terminated employee who fabricated his managerial and educational experience.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court is weighing a case that could offer the first appellate guidance on the “safe harbor” provision of the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, a key protection for employers who proactively review and address gender-based pay disparities.

The U.S. Treasury Department has launched an online payment portal to support the newly required $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa petitions.

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued two new opinion letters clarifying when overtime pay is required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).