"The Boss Can't Do That, Can He?" Workers Rights

"The Boss Can't Do That, Can He?" is a 10-module curriculum for teaching Workers Rights, based on Massachusetts law. The curriculum is approximately ten hours long when all parts are used, but it can be broken up into smaller pieces. Individual topic modules range from 45 minutes to two hours.

The facilitator's notes, the flipcharts and the handouts for the modules are posted below and may be downloaded. Many of the modules have been revised since the initial version. Revision dates are noted. Updated modules and materials will be posted as they are developed.

Most of the materials for participants are available in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as English. The facilutators' notes are in English only.

Click here [1]for more detailed descriptions of all of the modules and the materials for each.

To go directly to the downloads, click here

NOTE: Some of the Modules are currently out of order, because of a software glitch. We are working on this. All the modules are available; you just may have to scroll down to find them.

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Workers Rights for ESOL and ABE Learners

Recent immigrants to this country are among the people who could gain most from classes on workers rights. Since our curriculum is aimed at people with some literacy in English, we encourage teachers of ESOL or ABE to adapt the curriculum as needed for use with people with limited English proficiency.

The Mass. Worker Education Roundtable has developed ESOL curricula for three of our modules, the introductory class, the one on discrimination, and the one on workplace health and safety.

These curricula are available for download here [2].

Title	Type/Name	Description
DT: Módulo 9 [3]	mod_9_direito_a_se_organizar.pdf [3]	Sindicatos e o Direito a Se Organizar Materiais de participantes e flipcharts. Atualiizado outubro de 2021
DT: Mod 8 [4]	mod_8_desemprego_2021.pdf [4]	português Seguro- Desemprego. Materiais de participantes e flipcharts. Atualizado outubro de 2021
WR: General Materials [5]	genmats_2014.pdf [5]	General Materials Cover, acknowledgements, table of contents, facilitator's introduction, contact info
WR: Module 1 [6]	mod_1_intro_2023.pdf [6]	Introduction to Workers Basic Legal Protections on the Job Full module updated Dec., 2022 to reflect change in Mass. minimum wage as of 1/1/2023
DL: Módulo 1 [7]	mod_1_intro_espanol_2023.pdf [7]	Español Introducción a Protecciones Legales Básicas del Trabajo Materiales para participantes y ayudas visuales. Actualizado el 31 de diciembre de 2022 para reflejar el cambio en el salario mínimo en Massachusetts a partir de 1/1/2023
DT: Módulo 1 [8]	mod_1_intro_portugues_2023.pdf [8]	Portuguese Introdução as Proteções legais Básicas de Trabalho Materiais de participantes e flipcharts. Atualizado em 31 de dezembro de 2022 para refeltir a mudança no salário mínimo de Massachusetts a partir de 1/1/2023
WR: Law Cards [9]	_law_cards_eng_2021.pdf [9]	Law Cards to be used with Module 1 There are 24 cards listing federal and Massachusetts laws protecting workers in the workplace. The first 15 cards comprise the basic set. Any of the ones that follow can be substituted if they are particularly relevant to your participants. If you have fewer than 15 participants, you may use fewer cards, or give some participants 2 cards for laws that were passed near the same time. Print out the cards that you plan to use back-to-back, so that the title and year appear on the front of the card, and the explanation of the law are on the reverse.
DL: Las Leyes en Tarjetas [10]	law_cards_sp_2021.pdf [10]	Español Law Cards in Spanish to be used with Módulo 1 - There are 24 cards listing federal and Massachusetts laws protecting workers in the workplace. The first 15 cards comprise the basic set. Any of the ones that follow can be substituted if they are particularly relevant to your participants. If you have fewer than 15 participants, you may use fewer cards, or give some participants 2 cards for laws that were passed near the same time. Print out the cards that you plan to use back-to-back, so that the title and year appear on the front of the card, and the explanation of the law are on the reverse.
DT: As leis em cartões [11]	law_cards_port_2021.pdf [11]	Português Law Cards in Portuguese, to be used with Módulo 1 - There are 24 cards listing federal and Massachusetts laws protecting workers in the workplace. The first 15 cards comprise the basic set. Any of the ones that follow can be substituted if they are particularly relevant to your participants. If you have fewer than 15 participants, you may use fewer cards, or give some participants 2 cards for laws that were passed near the same time. Print out the cards that you plan to use back-to-back, so that the title and year appear on the front of the card, and the explanation of the law are on the reverse.
WR: Module 2 [12]	module_2_wage_and_paycheck_2023.pdf [12]	Beginning Employment: Your Wage and Your Paycheck Full module New version reflects 2023 rise in Mass. minimum wage to $15.00/hour

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"The Boss Can't Do That, Can He?" Workers Rights

UMass Labor Extension Program

Providing workers education to build a strong labor movement