Welcome
The employee handbook is a central reference for key employment policies, workplace expectations, and employee information at the Boston Region MPO. It is intended to help staff understand the policies and procedures that support fair, consistent, and well-functioning workplace practices.
Staff can use the handbook to find information about employment policies, general workplace policies, leave, benefits, and other employee matters.
Statement of At-Will Employment
As an at-will employee, employment is not guaranteed for any specified period of time and may be terminated at any time, either by the employee or by Boston Region MPO (the Agency) at its sole discretion, for any or no reason, without any previous notice or stated reason, and regardless of the date of payment of wages or salary.
This manual is not intended to be nor is it a contract or part of a contractual agreement between Boston Region MPO and any of its employees. It is not intended to nor does it alter an employee’s status as an at-will employee. At-will employment can be altered only by a written employment agreement signed by an employee and the Executive Director.
Employee Classifications
The agency classifies all employees according to the following categories, and employees receive benefits based on these classifications:
Regular employees are those individuals who do not have a scheduled termination date upon hire and are eligible for membership in the state retirement system.
- Regular full-time employees are salaried (receive annual rather than hourly compensation) and provide technical and/or professional services. Their workweek is considered to be 37.5 hours, not including lunch breaks. They may be asked to work as many hours per week as needed to accomplish their work without additional compensation.
- Regular part-time employees are those individuals who work a minimum of 18.75 hours per week. Part-time employees are compensated based on an hourly rate rather than an annual salary. They are eligible for certain benefits on a pro-rated basis, depending on the organization's policies.
Per diem employees are on-demand employees who take their shifts according to their schedule preferences. Per diem employees are sometimes referred to as "on-call" or "as-needed" employees. These employees do not have a set or guaranteed schedule of hours and are typically called in to work when there is a specific need. Per diem employees may work a maximum of 40 hours per week. They are not eligible to participate in the state retirement system, accrue vacation, or be awarded discretionary time. They are eligible for sick time under the Mass Earned Sick Leave Law.
Temporary employees, including interns, are individuals who are hired for a specific period or project with a pre-defined termination date. Their employment duration is limited and determined by the nature of the project or the temporary staffing needs of the organization. Depending on the role, number of hours assigned, and duration of the assignment, they may be benefit-eligible. All temporary employees are eligible for sick time under the Mass Earned Sick Leave Law.