Law and Legal Research
Related Resources at BPL
The Essential Guide to Federal Employment LawsPublication Date: 2022This book explains, in plain English, the 20 most important federal employment laws that come up in the workplace. You can look up what each law allows and prohibits, which businesses must comply, and how to fulfill record-keeping, posting, and reporting requirements.
The Essential Guide to Handling Workplace Harassment and DiscriminationPublication Date: 2021This book explains how to prevent harassment and discrimination--and quickly and effectively handle any incidents that arise. You'll learn how to recognize harassment and discrimination, develop an effective policy against discrimination and harassment, train employees and managers, conduct a fair and thorough investigation, document your company's response, take action against wrongdoers, and more!
Related Research Guides
Employment & Labor Law
What is Employment & Labor Law?
Are they the same thing? They are not. Our neighbors at Harvard explain it well in their Labor Law research guide:
"Labor law and employment law are related but the terms should not be used interchangeably. Labor law in the United States typically focuses on unions and collective bargaining between unions and employers. By contrast, employment law governs the employment relationship between individual employees and their employer. The two areas of law are closely related but are often distinct areas of legal practice."
Massachusetts Labor & Employment Law
The Massachusetts Trial Court Library provides a website on "Massachusetts law about employment and employment leave". This is one of numerous pages provided by MTCL. Here you will find "legal information about issues involving employment, including hiring, wages, work leave, hours, discrimination, termination, unemployment and more." The Trial Court Library is a wonderful resource that is open to the public. See this page to get in touch with a librarian from MTCL.
Employment & Labor cover a wide variety of issues that you can find more information about via Mass.gov, including
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Unemployment (what the law says)
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See this unemployment page for filing for unemployment, etc.
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Unions and Collective Bargaining, and more
Office of Labor Compliance and Worker Protections
The City dubs this office "Boston's central resource for workers." They provide worker's rights events, OSHA trainings, and more info intended to protect and promote labor standards and policies that create safe and fair workplaces. Current upcoming events include information sessions for Lyft drivers, domestic workers, discrimination & harassment, and more.
Local Resources
- Fair Employment Project
FEP counsels Massachusetts workers of limited means about their rights on the job and the legal process.
We take a problem-solving approach to meeting clients’ needs. Workplace law can be complicated, and there is a difference between how the law is supposed to work and the real-life choices people face when their paychecks and livelihoods are at stake. We help people understand the legal landscape so they can make better-informed decisions. 
Find a Union in MassachusettsA labor union (also known simply as a union or a labor organization) is a group of employees in a certain trade, industry, or corporation that organize to improve their salary, benefits, and working conditions. In the United States, worker-organized unions have a long history of fighting for employee rights and protections such as a shorter workday and a minimum wage. (Wex). Boston Public Library staff, for example, are represented by two unions: PSA and AFSCME.
JustiaJustia's list of Boston Employment Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services. The Justia Lawyer Directory provides lawyer, legal aid & services profiles by practice area and location. Whatever your legal issue, our lawyer directory will simplify researching, comparing, and contacting attorneys that best fit your legal needs in your city, county or state.
LegalFormsThousands of legal forms available with more forms being added daily. Employment forms and Workers Compensation forms are included. Forms available on Gale Legal Forms include forms drafted by attorneys for a particular legal matter, forms from public records and participating companies and attorneys. "Official" forms for many states are also included.