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Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Presents Discriminatory Harassment Prevention Training for Managers
Kathryn Murphy, a Partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP presented a training session last month titled “Discriminatory Harassment Prevention Training for Managers”. Ms. Murphy began the training session with an introduction to legal basics where she emphasizes that discrimination is prohibited in any aspect of employment, and that the law prohibits discrimination against an individual based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, etc. The second section of the training outlined specific policies against discriminatory harassment, such as a statement of commitment to prohibiting discriminatory harassment, zero-tolerance, and reporting to HR requirements. Ms. Murphy then discussed manager responsibilities and the importance of knowing the company’s policies and procedures and immediately reporting any complaints from employees to HR. Finally, before taking the time to answer some questions from participants, Ms. Murphy provided examples of how managers can prevent discriminatory harassment in the workplace. Some examples include monitoring the workplace, providing training and/or counseling if needed, and what to do if a complaint is filed that you feel is wrong. The key takeaways that Ms. Murphy outlines for managers in her training are: don’t wait for a complaint, don’t look around for someone who looks offended, treat the workplace as your responsibility, and remember that you are responsible for both preventing and reporting policy violations.
Ms. Murphy is a Partner at the firm and practices in the employment and labor law areas. She has many years of experience representing employers in matters involving employment discrimination, wage and hour, contracts, whistleblowing, and other employment-related concerns. Ms. Murphy’s practice also focuses upon working proactively with employers to address matters before legal disputes arise. She conducts internal investigations on behalf of employers, provides training, day-to-day counseling in employment areas, development of policies and procedures, and other advisory services. Ms. Murphy obtained a Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR) certification in 2011, and prior to practicing law, she practiced as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Ms. Murphy graduated cum laude from Suffolk University Law School.
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Receives Favorable Decision for Town of Dracut
On April 11, 2023, MHTL Attorneys Peter Mello and Madison Harris-Parks represented the Town of Dracut, and successfully obtained a preliminary injunction order requiring, among other things, that the Defendant homeowners cease renting out their pool to the public. The case, Town of Dracut by and Through Its Building Inspector vs. Nason, Gilbert et al., was initiated by the Town after the Defendants failed to comply with the Town’s associated underlying zoning enforcement order. The Town requested the injunction Read More
EXTENSION OF MUNICIPAL RELIEF MEASURES - INCLUDING OPEN MEETING LAW REMOTE OPTION - SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
The option for public bodies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to hold public meetings remotely or in a hybrid fashion, which came into play at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been extended by the General Court for another two years, until March 31, 2025. The Governor signed the legislation, which will be codified at Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, on March 29, 2023. Because of the inclusion of an emergency preamble, the law goes into effect immediately.

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