Worcester Government Regulations Lawyer

The Capitol Building at sundown

No matter what kind of business you operate, it is subject to any number of federal, state, or local government regulations. These rules touch on various aspects of your organization and, in some cases, impose onerous obligations. However, regulations are subject to constant change, making compliance a moving target. How can your company keep up with new rules, and what legal options do you have if your business has been accused of violating them?

Count on SederLaw’s Business & Corporate Law attorneys to guide you. We stay on top of the constantly developing regulatory environment, advise businesses on changes that impact them, and represent them before administrative bodies and in courts. SederLaw has adept experience in helping businesses around MetroWest and Westborough with their government regulation compliances.

Major Types Of Government Regulations Of Business

Every business is regulated, to some degree, by one or more governmental entities. From state and local to federal regulations, rules will affect how your company is operated. Some common categories of business regulations include:

Labor and Employment

The U.S. Department of Labor administers and enforces more than 180 federal labor laws. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is responsible for various employment laws. There are state counterparts to these entities as well. All told, state and federal rules govern such matters as:

  • Workplace safety
  • Wage, hour, and overtime rules
  • Health insurance and other employee benefits
  • Family leave
  • Independent contractor versus employee rules
  • Anti-discrimination
  • Disability and accommodation
  • Whistleblower and anti-retaliation

Government Regulations: Taxes, Permitting, and Licensing 

Your business is subject to not only taxes but tax rules and regulations. State and local rules concern permits and licenses that are necessary for your business to legally operate in Massachusetts. Expect to comply with rules that concern the following:

  • Tax withholding
  • Employment and unemployment tax
  • Self-employment tax
  • Estimated taxes
  • Excise taxes, if you manufacture or sell certain products
  • General licenses and permits
  • Specific licenses and permits for certain types of business (e.g. for selling ready-to-eat or packaged food, alcohol, or tobacco)
  • Annual reporting requirements for Massachusetts businesses

Zoning and Occupancy Rules 

These are mostly controlled at the local level in Massachusetts. The city of Boston, for example, has zoning rules that address whether the desired purpose of a company is allowed, forbidden, or conditional. Meanwhile, there are occupancy and capacity limits for businesses, which must have a valid Certificate of Occupancy.

Government Regulations: Healthcare 

If you have a healthcare business, you already know that your industry is more regulated than most. Various state and federal agencies are responsible for inspection, review, reporting, and enforcement actions within the healthcare industry. Rules are enacted pursuant to::

  • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
  • The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
  • Anti-kickback laws
  • Stark laws
  • The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA)
  • State and federal laws that prevent healthcare fraud and abuse
  • Licensing and continuing medical education requirements for healthcare professionals

Financial, Securities, and Insurance 

Banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and other similar businesses are also heavily regulated at the state and federal levels. Anything that involves people’s money, or the potential misuse of it, will invite regulatory scrutiny. Talk to an attorney if your business is any one of the following:

  • Retail, commercial, or internet bank
  • Credit union
  • Savings and loan association
  • Investment bank
  • Brokerage firm
  • Insurance company
  • Mortgage company

Environmental

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection are responsible for promulgating and enforcing various environmental rules and laws. Businesses must meet environmental standards based largely on the industry in which they operate, although some rules are common to all businesses. These regulations concern, among other things, land development, pollution, waste management, emissions, and disposal of toxic substances.

Privacy

Increasingly, businesses are required to take steps to protect their customers’ privacy. Some of these rules, such as HIPAA, have been in operation for decades. Others are relatively new. You can be sure that privacy rules will continue to change, so it’s essential for your business to be aware of and adapt to them. Some examples are:

  • Consumer privacy rules
  • Credit reporting laws
  • Children’s privacy rights
  • Online and internet privacy and data collection
  • Financial information-sharing rules
  • Employee privacy

While many of these rules are federal, Massachusetts also has regulations concerning consumers’ personal information, security breaches, and much more.

How A Government Regulation Attorney Can Help

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of the rules with which your business must comply. Because many of these regulations vary by industry, or even the size of the company, it is imperative to retain a knowledgeable government regulation attorney who can look after your best interests. SederLaw assists businesses with the following, among other matters:

  • Advising clients of updates or proposed changes to existing rules and regulations
  • Creation, modification, and review of policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance
  • Risk mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood of compliance problems
  • Updates to employment and business contracts to keep pace with changing rules
  • Representation before regulatory bodies and commissions
  • Managing communications and interactions with government regulators
  • Appeals of adverse regulatory decisions
  • Litigation to defend businesses and resolve lawsuits concerning regulations

Because regulations touch on so many facets of business, SederLaw brings a multidisciplinary approach to our government regulation practice. We are both proactive and reactive, helping clients not only anticipate and prepare for new rules but also respond to disputes involving them. Our aim is to ensure compliance so your company can focus on growth and profit.

Contact Our Worcester Government Regulation Attorney

Whether your business is large or small, government regulation will shape what you do and how you do it. We understand the challenges you face, which is why we put our extensive experience to work for the legal needs of our clients. Contact SederLaw’s Business & Corporate Law team today.