Happy Memorial Day! As we honor our fallen soldiers, we get ready for the summer season.

Have you done the following?

• Sunscreen?
• Summer reading list?
• Pay Equity Audit?
• Midyear handbook and diagnostic workplace audit?

If you answered “No” to any one of these questions, read on!

SUNSCREEN

It is outside our wheelhouse but we do like to be helpful. See the latest list from Consumer Reports

PAY EQUITY

In 2016 alone, California, New York, Nebraska, Maryland and Massachusetts passed aggressive equal pay legislation. If you are not in this group, the EEOC’s proposed expansion to the EEO-1 reports means more pay data will be required from federal contractors and employers with more than 100 employees.

Do I Need to Buy More Software?
Absolutely not. By now you may have seen software solicitations touting the importance of statistical analysis to comply with pay equity. Beware. Sizes matters: unless an employer has a significant number of employees performing the same role and a statistically significant amount are women, a statistical analysis will not produce reliable results. Most of our clients should perform a cohort analysis, which better compares the factors affecting pay.

Why Should I Use Your Pay Equity Audit?
By partnering with an attorney, the process is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Any pay equity found will be kept strictly confidential. Moreover, in Massachusetts you create a rolling affirmative defense by conducting an evaluation of pay practices if it is completed within three years prior to the commencement of a wage discrimination claim. We have developed an effective and painless Pay Equity Audit to achieve compliance and create an affirmative defense.

Why Now?
The effective date of the MA Pay Equity Law is July 1, 2018. Many of you are planning for 2018 in your budgets and hiring. Include Pay Equity in that list to be compliant and create the rolling affirmative defense against any future claims.

SUMMER READING

Software slamming aside, Bill Gates is a pretty smart guy. His summer reading list looks terrific. Check it out!

MIDYEAR HANDBOOK AND DIAGNOSTIC AUDIT

Probably not high on your reading list but terribly important is your employee handbook. When is the last time you read it? We recommend that you review and update your handbook on an annual basis. Now is a particularly good time given the many local and state law updates. Marijuana, equal pay, paid family leave, sick leave—many changes have taken place that are probably not properly addressed in your handbook.

Why Worry about the Handbook?
A well-crafted handbook serves many valuable purposes:

• Define the culture of your business
• Set expectations
• Inform employees of compensation, benefits and rules
• Provide a clear avenue for dispute resolution, a critical roadmap for staff

What is the Diagnostic Audit?

The Risk Management Diagnostic Audit is a tool we have developed to allow you to identify and respond to the compliance risks at your workplace. This audit targets your organization’s unique vulnerability and provides action items to put you on the path to compliance. Please check out our website or call 508-548-4888 for the steps and timelines for this popular service.

Enjoy the long weekend!