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Martha M. Royston

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Martha Royston is an Associate in the Litigation Department and the Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Martha represents employers in a wide variety of cases, including claims of discrimination and retaliation; breach of non-compete and restrictive covenants; and wage and hour violations.  She litigates matters before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) and in state and federal court, and assists employers with audits and investigations by governmental agencies such as the Connecticut Department of Labor (CT DOL) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Martha also counsels employers on best practices and helps management and human resources professionals navigate personnel issues, including employee discipline; termination and separation; employee leave; and reasonable accommodations.  She drafts employee handbooks and assists employers with crafting personnel policies that suit their particular needs.

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On May 14, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”) in a 315-101 vote, moving the bill to the Senate for consideration.  If passed, private sector employers with 15 or more employees and public sector employers will be required to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers (i.e., employees and job applicants with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions).  However, employers are not required to make an accommodation if it imposes an undue hardship on the employer’s business.
Continue Reading Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Gains Steam, Passing House of Representatives – What Do CT, MA and NY Employers Need to Know?

On March 4, 2021, Governor Lamont signed into law the CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair. Connecticut follows California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Colorado, Washington, and Virginia in adopting legislation that aims to prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnic hairstyles historically associated with race.
Continue Reading Connecticut Prohibits Hair Discrimination

On September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its final overtime rule as it relates to the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees. The DOL estimates that 1.3 million workers will be eligible for overtime pay as a result of its final rule.  Here is how the new rule will impact workers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
Continue Reading Update: DOL Issues Final Rule On Minimum Salary Threshold for Exempt Employees: The Impact in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York

Last August, we blogged about a case of first impression in Connecticut where a federal court judge found that Connecticut’s Palliative Use of Marijuana Act (“PUMA”) creates a private cause of action for employment discrimination and that PUMA’s anti-discrimination provision is not preempted by federal law.  See Noffsinger v. SSC Niantic Operating Co. LLC, 273 F. Supp. 3d 326, 340 (D. Conn. 2017).  On September 5, the court issued another decision in this case, offering further insight into this evolving area of employment litigation.
Continue Reading Court Provides Additional Clarification Concerning the Scope of Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Protections in the Workplace