Unemployment benefits are now available for 30 weeks (increased from 26).
Last-reviewed: Feb. 11, 2026
Work safety
- There are several ways to file a complaint to report an unsafe business or employer practice: by contacting the Department of Labor Standards online, by phone (508-616-0461), or by email (safepublicworkplacemailbox@mass.gov); or by contacting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) online or by phone (800-321-6742).
- The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division has information about wage and hour, prevailing wage, and child labor laws in English and other languages.
Wage theft
- Workers concerned about denial of wages or benefits can learn about their rights and seek help from free wage theft legal clinics provided through the MA Office of the Attorney General.
Leave rights
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) provides additional protections to pregnant and nursing workers, including the right to request reasonable accommodation for their pregnancy or nursing needs. This PWFA Know Your Rights Resource has more information.
- The Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program offers eligible employees paid leave in certain circumstances, including caring for a family member with a serious health condition. Visit the PFML Help Center or view the PFML Employee Toolkit for information on the various types of leave available and the application process. Mass Legal Services also has a helpful guide to the different kinds of leave available and information on how to maximize and apply for the correct leave.
Job loss and unemployment
- Federal employees who are not working because of the government shutdown can apply for unemployment benefits. More information is available from the Department of Unemployment Assistance.
- Care team members can use this Unemployment Insurance Advocacy Guide to assist individuals with questions about the unemployment insurance process in Massachusetts, including eligibility, applications, benefits, appeals, and more.
- Through Unemployment Services for Workers, claimants can apply for unemployment benefits, manage their account, and file weekly benefit claims.
- All claimants who file an initial claim for benefits will be required to verify their identity with a government issued ID either online through login.gov or in-person through a participating United States Postal Service (USPS) retail location.
- Work search requirements for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits claimants are in effect.
- The Boston Re-Employment Center (REC) offers services to job seekers. In-person appointments are available Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
- Workers who received UI benefits that they did not qualify for must repay the money unless they get a waiver. Workers can access up-to-date waiver information through the DUA website.
- People who are unable to work due to a disability can apply for Social Security benefits and then monitor their benefits through mySocialSecurity. This short video may be helpful for people to learn about the online disability application.
Unemployment benefits theft
- If you believe someone has applied for unemployment benefits using your personal information, complete a secure form to report this to the DUA. If you believe someone has access to your UI account, contact DUA customer service immediately to inform them.
- Additional information on reporting unemployment benefits fraud.
Unlocking Access® Resources for Care Teams
There are many ways care teams can support people with employment protection rights and benefits-related needs. For more specific legal information and strategies, care team members who have access to Legal Key’s Unlocking Access® Hub should log in.
If you are a Legal Key partner who does not have their login information, or you’d like to learn more about how to gain access to the Unlocking Access Hub, get in touch with us!
Spotlight on Equity
- Massachusetts has a law that requires large employers (over 100 employees) to file EEO reports that include demographic and salary information with the state (similar to reports they already file with the federal EEOC). The law also will require employers with over 25 employees to list salary ranges in job postings.
- The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination has Guidelines on Harassment in the Workplace that might be helpful for employees facing workplace harassment. (A shorter version is here.)
- Termination of a worker’s employment based on the person’s pregnancy, national origin, race, age, gender, disability or the perception that one has a disability, is illegal. Read more about unlawful workplace discrimination here.
- Complaints against employers can be filed in person (MCAD offices in Springfield, Worcester, Boston) or online with MCAD. In most cases, you have 300 days from the last discriminatory act to file a complaint. You have only 6 months for higher education admission complaints.
- MCAD, Northeastern University and the City of Boston have issued a resource for the LGBTQIA2S+ community on navigating discrimination in MA.