Samantha Regenbogen Manelin
Samantha Manelin is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department, and a member of the Employment Law Counseling & Training, Employment Litigation & Arbitration and Wage and Hour Practice Groups. She handles a wide range of employment litigation matters, representing clients across various industries, including sports, financial institutions, higher education and telecommunications. Samantha has had experience assisting in single-plaintiff as well as class and collective action litigations, in both state and federal court, and has successfully attained a defense verdict as second chair in a jury trial in the District of Massachusetts. Samantha also advises clients on day-to-day labor and employment issues.
Before joining Proskauer, Samantha was an intern with the enforcement unit of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, where she investigated complaints and drafted dispositions. While in law school, Samantha served as a board member of the Women's Law Association and worked in the Employment Law Clinic.
Subscribe to all posts by Samantha Regenbogen Manelin
On June 11, 2020, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) will hold a virtual public hearing on its recent proposed amendments to the final regulations pertaining to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (“PFML”) issued in June 2019. (Instructions for registering for the virtual hearing are available at this link). A … Continue Reading
On Monday May 18, 2020, Governor Baker announced the first phase of his administration’s much-anticipated plan to reopen Massachusetts (the “Plan”), nearly eight weeks after first ordering non-essential businesses to close and advising residents to stay home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In describing the phased reopening, the Governor repeatedly emphasized that the coronavirus … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (“DFML”) has posted the much-anticipated final regulations regarding Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave law (“PFML”). The final regulations come on the heels of Massachusetts lawmakers’ recent extension of key PFML compliance dates. While the final regulations are materially unchanged from the previous draft issued March 29th, … Continue Reading
With the original July 1, 2019 deadline for numerous provisions of the Commonwealth’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”) legislation approaching in mere weeks, Massachusetts lawmakers have now issued a much-welcomed enforcement extension. The extensions comes as employers in the Commonwealth worked to comply with the new law. The amended legislation, announced earlier this week … Continue Reading
[UPDATE: On June 11, 2019, state officials, including Governor Charlie Baker, issued a joint statement noting that the state has agreed to a three month postponement before companies will be assessed fees pursuant to the PFML, meaning the taxes will begin in October, 2019 rather than on July 1, 2019 as previously anticipated. We will continue … Continue Reading
On Friday April 12, 2019, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court confirmed that plaintiffs seeking to bring class actions asserting Massachusetts Wage Act (“Wage Act”) violations must meet the certification standards set by Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 23 (“Rule 23”), and cannot avail themselves of a lower bar to class certification. In Gammella v. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, … Continue Reading
[UPDATE: On June 11, 2019, state officials issued a joint statement noting that the state has agreed to a three month postponement before companies will be assessed fees pursuant to the PFML, meaning the taxes will begin in October, 2019 rather than on July 1, 2019 as previously anticipated. In May, 2019, the Department of … Continue Reading
On March 26 – 28, 2019, Harris Mufson, Danielle Moss, and Samantha Regenbogen attended the second annual HR Transform conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Proskauer was the exclusive legal sponsor of the conference. The HR Transform conference brought together business leaders and HR executives to discuss cutting edge issues regarding human resources and employee workplace … Continue Reading
As has been long anticipated, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently gave a green light to plaintiffs’ attorneys seeking a fee award under the Commonwealth’s Payment of Wages Act, even where an action ends in settlement. The Wage Act (Mass. General Laws ch. 149 §§ 148, 150) awards costs and fees when an employee “prevails” … Continue Reading
Massachusetts employers’ decision-making processes with regards to lateral, internal employee transfers are now subject to possible state law discrimination claims. On January 29, 2019, the SJC issued its decision in Yee v. Massachusetts State Police, SCJ-12485, holding that when two jobs at the same level for the same employer offer “material differences” in compensation opportunity, … Continue Reading
On January 23, 2019, Massachusetts released draft regulations on the Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”) Law, signed into law last summer (as previously discussed here) and set to begin taking effect this upcoming July. The Department of Family and Medical Leave released these draft regulations for public comment only, with the deadline for publication … Continue Reading
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, senior counsel Harris Mufson and associate Samantha Regenbogen discuss significant reforms to Massachusetts law that will apply to non-competition agreements as well as adopting the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA). The law will cover non-compete agreements entered into with Massachusetts residents and Massachusetts employees on or after October 1, 2018 (but not … Continue Reading
On August 10, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill making significant reforms to Massachusetts’ law regarding non-compete agreements, as well as adopting the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“UTSA”) (joining 48 other states as well as DC in adopting the UTSA at least in part, and leaving New York as the lone … Continue Reading
On June 28, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed “An Act Relative to Minimum Wage, Paid Family Medical Leave, and the Sales Tax Holiday” (HB 4640) into law. Last week, we covered three major changes the Act makes to Massachusetts law that employers should be aware of (available here). In short, the Act incrementally increases minimum … Continue Reading
On June 20, 2018, the Massachusetts legislature passed House Bill 4640, “An Act Relative to Minimum Wage, Paid Family Medical Leave, and the Sales Tax Holiday.” The bill increases minimum wage, eliminates premium Sunday pay for retail workers, and establishes a state paid family and medical leave insurance program. The bill also creates an annual … Continue Reading
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker recently signed Senate Bill No. 2371, “An Act Relative to Criminal Justice Reform,” into law. The law will go into effect October 13, 2018. Among the Act’s extensive criminal justice reform provisions are several important modifications to the “Ban the Box” anti-discrimination laws, outlined below, which will further restrict Massachusetts employers’ … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General recently issued guidance on the new amendments to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (“MEPA”), effective July 1, 2018. Although the guidance is extremely detailed and should be reviewed in full, employers should take note of the following details: Coverage The MEPA and amendments are substantial in scope, covering … Continue Reading
As the April 1, 2018 effective date of the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“MPWFA”) draws near, it is time to ensure that company policies and practices are in compliance with the new law. Within the last few months, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD”) has issued interpretative guidance (including initial guidance issued January 23, … Continue Reading
A bill prohibiting mandatory arbitration of employment-related claims, introduced in late 2017 before the Massachusetts House of Representatives, continues to gain traction in early 2018. The bill (House Bill 4058), which proposes legislation that would prohibit enforcement of mandatory arbitration agreements “relating to a claim of discrimination, non-payment of wages or benefits, retaliation, harassment or … Continue Reading
On July 27, 2017 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“MPWFA”), a bill which had unanimously passed in both the House and Senate. As discussed previously, the MPWFA (formerly H. 3816) ensures that pregnant workers or workers with pregnancy-related conditions (such as nursing) receive reasonable accommodations and protection … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously voted to pass “An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act” (“MPWFA”) in an effort to make sure that pregnant and nursing employees receive the same protections under Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 151B as do other protected classes of employees. The bill, which had previously unanimously passed in the … Continue Reading
On February 16, 2016, a federal district court in Indiana held that former athletes at the University of Pennsylvania were not university employees entitled to the protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The plaintiffs—former track and field athletes at Penn—brought collective action claims against Penn, the NCAA, and more than 100 other colleges … Continue Reading
The Massachusetts Attorney General recently released final regulations clarifying the Earned Sick Time law, a ballot initiative that passed in November 2014 guaranteeing employees paid sick leave. As discussed in our previous post on the new law, beginning July 1, 2015, employers with more than 11 employees must allow their employees to accrue 1 hour … Continue Reading
On January 7, 2015, Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a Parental Leave bill, which significantly amends Mass. Gen. L. ch. 149, section 105D. Before the amendment, the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (“MMLA”) provided eight weeks of job-protected leave to female employees for the birth or adoption of a child. Now, however, among other expansive … Continue Reading
Hearing Scheduled On Proposed Amendments to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
Massachusetts Announces Four Phase Plan to Reopen
Final Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Regulations Published and Other PFML Updates
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Deadlines Extended
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Updated: Massachusetts Employers Must Distribute Paid Leave Notice By June 30, 2019
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Leaves of Absences
Massachusetts SJC Weighs in on Wage Act Class Actions and Offers of Judgment
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Class/Collective Action, Wage and Hour
New Updates to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
Proskauer Unveils Employment Law Toolkit and Hosts #Metoo Panel at HR Transform
By Danielle J. Moss, Harris Mufson and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court OK’s Attorneys’ Fees for Wage Act Settlements
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Thomas B. Fiascone on Posted in Class/Collective Action, Wage and Hour
Massachusetts SJC Holds Employers’ Denials of Lateral Transfers May Be Adverse Actions in Discrimination Cases
Massachusetts Releases Draft Regulations For Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
[Podcast]: New Non-Compete Law in Massachusetts
By Harris Mufson and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Non-Competes and Protection of Corporate Assets
Massachusetts Passes Non-Compete Reform Law
By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Non-Competes and Protection of Corporate Assets
Massachusetts Governor Signs Minimum Wage, Family and Medical Leave Bill
By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Compromise Bill Increasing Minimum Wage, Establishing Paid Family and Medical Leave
By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Leaves of Absences, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Massachusetts Modifies “Ban the Box” Law
By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Hiring/Background Checks
Massachusetts Attorney General Issues Guidance on Updated Pay Equity Law
By Laura Franks, Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Wage and Hour, Workplace Policies and Procedures
Are You Prepared for the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to Go Into Effect on April 1?
Massachusetts Legislature Considers Prohibiting Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Claims
By Mark W. Batten and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Becomes Law
Massachusetts Senate Passes Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
College Athletes Not University Employees, Says Federal District Court
By Allan Bloom and Samantha Regenbogen Manelin on Posted in Class/Collective Action, Wage and Hour
Massachusetts Paid Sick Leave: New Regulations
Massachusetts Governor Signs Parental Leave Bill
By Mark W. Batten, Samantha Regenbogen Manelin and Vanessa Gilbreth on Posted in Accessibility & Accommodation, Leaves of Absences, Workplace Policies and Procedures
