by Timothy Page
A Senate bill introduced on March 15 would eliminate at-will termination, and protect employees’ voting rights and free speech.
S.130 would “provide two hours of paid leave so that employees may vote in primary and general elections and on Town Meeting Day. The bill also proposes to establish a good cause standard for termination of employment, to prohibit employers from taking adverse actions against an employee because of the employee’s exercise of free speech rights, and to prohibit employers from inquiring about employment status on a job application or interfering with an employee’s efforts to seek employment with another employer. This bill further proposes to make interference with an employee’s efforts to seek employment with another employer an unfair labor practice for public employers.”
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Irene Wrenner (D-Essex) and referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs.