Massachusetts

Key facts

EEOC filing deadline

300 days (FEPA work-sharing state)

State agency deadline

3 years to MCAD — one of the most generous deadlines in the country

Employer coverage

6 or more employees (federal Title VII requires 15+)

State law

Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Law (Chapter 151B)

State court statute of limitations

3 years

Additional protections beyond federal law

• •Sexual orientation
• •Gender identity
• •Marital status
• •Ancestry
• •Active military personnel status
• •Arrest record (with limitations)

How it works

Massachusetts has a work-sharing agreement with the EEOC. A charge filed with Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) is generally also considered filed with the EEOC ("dual-filed"), and vice versa. You usually only need to file once.

Key notes

Massachusetts's 3-year deadline to MCAD is significantly more generous than the federal 300-day window and provides workers more time to build a case before filing. Chapter 151B is a strong statute with robust remedies. The MCAD is an experienced, active agency. Workers in Massachusetts should strongly consider state-law claims alongside federal claims.