The Employment Law Counselor

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD” or “Commission”) has released its Fiscal Year 2025 (“FY25”) Annual Report, covering July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025. The report reflects a year of transition for the agency, including leadership stabilization, structural reforms, increased outreach and continued progress toward replacing its case‑management system. For employers, the report offers important insight into filing trends, backlog conditions, investigative outcomes and adjudicatory activity over the past year.

Complaints Filed in ... Continue Reading

Pennsylvania has joined a growing number of states and localities in enacting legislation aimed at eliminating hair-based discrimination; the new law is effective January 24, 2026. Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair “CROWN” Act into law in November 2025. This law protects individuals from discrimination in the workplace based on natural hair textures and protective hairstyles, such as locs, braids, twists, coils, bantu knots, afros and extensions. The legislation likewise prohibits discrimination related to religious ... Continue Reading