Overview
Insights + News
Blogs
Ben Hinks is an attorney in the firm’s Employment & Labor practice. He represents employers in litigation matters, including wage and hour claims, discrimination actions, non-competition and trade secret disputes, and contract claims before the courts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and administrative agencies. Ben also helps counsel clients through a full range of employment issues including hiring, termination, personnel policies and handbooks, leaves of absence, internal investigations, employee discipline and DEI initiatives.
Additionally, Ben provides assistance to higher education clients with risk management matters and investigations specific to colleges and universities, such as Title IX compliance and sexual misconduct matters, as well as other student and faculty issues.
Before Bowditch
Prior to joining the firm, Ben represented employers at a boutique firm in the MetroWest area. He also has experience as a law clerk with boutique firms in Boston.
Besides work
Ben enjoys activities such as skiing and playing tennis with friends and family. He is also an avid soccer fan and supports Arsenal football club.
Affiliations
- Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law – Management (2024) and Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024)
Articles + Talks
Articles
- “MA Federal Court Issues Favorable Ruling for Employers in Case Involving COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and Request for Religious Exemption,” Bowditch, August 1, 2023
- “DHS Announces New Form I-9 and Remote Inspection Option Designed to Modernize I-9 Process for Employers,” Bowditch, July 28, 2023
- “U.S. Supreme Court ‘Clarifies’ Religious Accommodation Standard After Nearly Half a Century,” Bowditch, July 10, 2023
- “East Penn Verdict Is An FLSA Cautionary Tale For Employers,” Law360, June 15, 2023
- “Largest Ever FLSA Verdict Underscores Importance of Employer Compliance with Wage and Hour Laws,” Bowditch, May 16, 2023
- “What NLRB’s Ruling on Non-Disparagement Clauses Means for Financial Services Firms,” Banker & Tradesman, April 23, 2023
- “Concrete Steps Employers Should Consider When Drafting Severance Agreements in the Wake of McLaren Macomb,” Bowditch, March 8, 2023
- “Employers Beware – Your Confidentiality Provisions May Come Back to Bite You,” Bowditch, February 23, 2023
- “NLRB Modifies Rule Governing Off-Duty Workplace Access for Employees of Contractors,” Bowditch, December 22, 2022
- “Garden Leave Payments Under MA Noncompetition Agreement Act Not Covered by Wage Act,” Bowditch, December 21, 2022
- “Department of Labor Seeks to Alter Independent Contractor Classification,” Bowditch, October 14, 2022
- “NLRB Proposes Expanded Standard for Joint-Employer Status,” Bowditch, September 13, 2022
- “CDC Relaxes COVID-19 Safety Recommendations in Updated Guidance,” Bowditch, August 16, 2022
- “Rhode Island Enacts ‘Tip Protection’ Law,” Bowditch, July 18, 2022
- “Employment Law Updates for Massachusetts and Rhode Island Employers,” Bowditch, May 31, 2022
- “Massachusetts Emergency Paid Sick Leave to End March 15,” Bowditch, March 3, 2022
- “City of Boston Lifts Mask Mandate, Effective March 5th,” Bowditch, March 3, 2022
- “The City of Boston, Rhode Island, and Connecticut Issue New Vaccine Policies Impacting Businesses & Employers,” Bowditch, December 21, 2021
- “EEOC Issues Guidance on COVID-19 and Disability Protections Under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Bowditch, December 15, 2021
- “Updated Employer Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates Issues by Both the EEOC and Safer Federal Workforce Task Force,” Bowditch, October 27, 2021
Talks
- “The Supreme Court on Campus,” Bowditch Higher Education Roundtable Series, Boston, MA, September 2023
- “Accommodation Requests in a Post-Pandemic World” (Higher Education Roundtable Series), Bowditch, South Hadley/Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts, October and November 2022
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, Rhode Island
Education
- J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
- B.A., Skidmore College
Events + Recordings
Publications
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Client Alert: MA Federal Court Issues Favorable Ruling for Employers in Case Involving COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and Request for Religious Exemption
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Client Alert: DHS Announces New Form I-9 and Remote Inspection Option Designed to Modernize I-9 Process for Employers
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Client Alert: U.S. Supreme Court “Clarifies” Religious Accommodation Standard After Nearly Half a Century
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Danielle Lederman and Benjamin Hinks Write “East Penn Verdict Is An FLSA Cautionary Tale For Employers” for Law360
News
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23 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and 10 Bowditch Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™
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Benjamin Hinks Elected to Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & MetroWest
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Ben Hinks Quoted in The Wall Street Journal’s “Colleges, Parents Fight in Court Over Tuition Charged During Pandemic Closures”
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Press Release: Bowditch Strengthens its Boston Employment and Labor Group with Six New Hires
At the Bar With Bowditch
MA Federal Court Issues Favorable Ruling for Employers in Case Involving COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and Request for Religious Exemption
DHS Announces New Form I-9 and Remote Inspection Option Designed to Modernize I-9 Process for Employers
Danielle Lederman and Benjamin Hinks Write “East Penn Verdict Is An FLSA Cautionary Tale For Employers” for Law360
Campus Counsel
The Supreme Court on Campus (Higher Education Roundtable Series)
MA Federal Court Issues Favorable Ruling for Employers in Case Involving COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and Request for Religious Exemption
DHS Announces New Form I-9 and Remote Inspection Option Designed to Modernize I-9 Process for Employers
