Massachusetts General Laws Part I. Administration of the Government (Ch. 1-182) Ch. 31A, § 1

(a) the recruiting, selecting and advancing employees on the basis of their relative ability, knowledge and skills including open consideration of qualified applicants for initial appointment;

(b) providing just compensation for all employees;

(c) providing training and development for employees, as needed, to assure the advancement and high quality performance of such employees;

(d) retaining employees on the basis of adequacy of their performance, correcting inadequate performance, and separating employees whose inadequate performance cannot be corrected;

(e) assuring fair treatment of all applicants and employees in all aspects of personnel administration without regard to political affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, marital status, handicap or religion and with proper regard for privacy, basic rights outlined in this chapter and constitutional rights as citizens, and;

(f) assuring that all employees are protected against coercion for political purposes, and are protected from arbitrary and capricious actions.