Sundays and Holidays (M.G.L.c. 136, ss. 1 - 16)

• For retailers Sunday work is voluntary; it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee who refuses to work on Sunday. (M.G.L.c. 136, s. 6(50))


• Retailers may open at Sundays and legal holidays without a local police permit. (M.G.L.c. 136, s. 7)


• Manufacturers, except those with continuous operations, must obtain permits to operate on Sunday or holidays by filing a written request with the Chief of Police of their town. (M.G.L.c. 136, s. 7)

• Work on any holiday is voluntary. Employees are protected from retaliation for refusing to work on legal holidays. (M.G.L.c. 136, ss. 13 & 16)


• Retailers may open at anytime on Memorial Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, July Fourth and Labor Day. On Columbus Day they may open after noon and on Veterans Day after 1:00 p.m. (M.G.L.c. 136, s. 16)


• Legal holidays in Massachusetts include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, June Nineteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. (M.G.L.c. 4, s. 7)


• All employees who work Sunday, with certain spedified exceptions, must be given one full day of rest every seven days. (M.G.L.c. 149, ss. 47 & 48)


• This statute is enforced by the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General. Employees whose rights under this statute have been violated can file an online complaint under "Sunday/holiday pay" and receive from the Attorney General a "private right of action" letter, allowing the employee so aggrieved who prevails in court to be awarded treble damages, reasonable attorneys' fees and the cost of litigation.



 

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