You work hard to keep your business running smoothly. You spend countless hours generating new revenue, dealing with vendors, paying bills, and keeping current of the myriad federal and state tax reporting requirements. You scarcely have time (or the inclination) to learn about the federal and state laws that govern your workplace. But if you own a business in Massachusetts and have employees, you should know about these laws that govern your workplace and affect your relationship with your employees:

Are you familiar with federal and state wage and hour laws? These laws, applicable to virtually every Massachusetts employer, govern not only wages and hours, but also overtime, holiday time, vacation pay, jury duty, and the obligation to pay wages and vacation time upon termination of employees.

Did you know that employers with six or more workers are required to adopt specific written sexual harassment policies and are required to comply with Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws. These laws protect employees from employment decisions based upon an employee's protected class status (race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, and handicap), and from sexual harassment in the workplace. Even if you employ less than six workers, your employees may have rights under other state anti-discrimination statutes, including the Equal Rights Act, Civil Rights Act, and Equal Pay Act.

Are you complying with Massachusetts personnel records law? As of November 5, 1998, employers are required to provide employees an opportunity to review their personnel records within five days of the employee's request.

Do you know what information and documentation must be provided to a terminated employee on the employee's last workday? A partial list: