On August 28, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act Relative to Veterans Benefits, Rights, Appreciation, Validation and Enforcement (the "BRAVE Act"). The BRAVE Act went into effect on November 7, 2018. Among other things, the law changes the requirements for employers to grant leave to veterans on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Veterans Day: Employers must now grant leave to veterans, if requested, to observe Veterans Day, regardless of whether they participate in a Veterans Day celebration.
Memorial Day: The law has not changed with respect to Memorial Day. Employers must still grant leave to veterans, if requested, for Memorial Day to participate in an exercise, parade, or service in their community.
No Paid Leave: Employers, regardless of their size, are not required to pay for leave for Veterans Day or Memorial Day. Thus, employers with 50 or more employees will no longer be required to pay veterans for leave on Veterans Day. Of course, employers can choose to pay for leave on Veterans Day or Memorial Day.
Exception: Employees are not required to grant leave for Veterans Day or Memorial Day for employees who "are essential and critical to the public health or safety and determined to be essential to the safety and security of such an employee's employer or the property of the employer."
Read the rest of the story:
Changes to the Law on Leave for Veterans
Hirsch Roberts Weinstein | Oct 2018
Effective date: 11/7/18
Text of the measure.
Additional Resources
A Friendly Reminder about Veterans' Rights to Time Off for the Upcoming Veterans Day Holiday under the Massachusetts BRAVE Act
Mirick | Nov 2019
Are veterans entitled to time off on Veterans Day?
SHRM HRQA
Massachusetts Veterans Entitled to Time Off on Veterans Day
McLane Middleton | Nov 2018
Massachusetts Amends Law on Memorial and Veterans Day Leave Entitlements
HR Knowledge | 2018
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