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Emma Follansbee

Associate

[email protected]

+1.617.348.4732

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Emma counsels clients on a wide variety of employment issues and litigates employment disputes before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Her litigation practice includes restrictive covenant agreements; discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation claims; and wage and hour compliance.

Emma regularly advises clients on compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including changes in Massachusetts non-compete laws and leave entitlements. Her practice also encompasses assisting clients with terminations and reductions in force, WARN notifications, workplace investigations, employee classifications, and employee handbooks and policies. She is a regular contributor to the employment group’s blog, covering topics such as the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act and Parental Leave compliance.

Emma has been engaged in a number of the firm’s pro bono initiatives, including the asylum and immigration practice and the Domestic Violence Project.

viewpoints

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Clarifies Rules on Benefit Accrual During PFML

September 18, 2024 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Emma Follansbee

On September 13, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (the “SJC”) ruled that the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (the “Act”) does not guarantee the accrual of benefits such as sick leave, vacation leave and length-of-service credit during a period of paid family or medical leave (“PFML”). Instead, the Act mandates only that employees return from leave to the same or equivalent position that they held at the commencement of leave.

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Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Updates – What Employers Need to Know

October 19, 2023 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Emma Follansbee, Kathryn Droumbakis

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For the first time since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are implementing a new wave of layoffs, particularly in the tech world, and it is anticipated that there are more to come as recession worries loom. Mintz attorney Emma Follansbee provides a brief refresher on how the WARN Act applies to plant closings and mass layoffs, and what, if anything has changed since 2020.

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(Updated) A Comprehensive Breakdown of OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rule

January 12, 2022 | Blog | By Michael Arnold, Jennifer Rubin, David Barmak, Corbin Carter, Evan Piercey, Danielle Bereznay, Danielle Dillon, Nicole Rivers, Paul Huston, Emma Follansbee

Read Mintz’s comprehensive analysis of OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard pertaining to workplace COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for employers with 100 or more employees.
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Conference Recordings: Mintz's Annual Employment Law Summit

March 12, 2021 | Webinar | By Michael Arnold, David Barmak, Micha Mitch Danzig, Geri Haight, Andrew Matzkin, David Lagasse, Jennifer Rubin, Alexander Hecht, Danielle Bereznay, Delaney Busch, Corbin Carter, Emma Follansbee, Natalie C. Groot, Paul Huston, Brendan Lowd, Nicole Rivers, Richard Block

Mintz’s Annual Employment Law Summit brought together thought leaders to discuss the most pressing issues employers are facing in today’s unprecedented work environment. Attendees heard presentations on the continued impact of COVID-19; social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; recent and anticipated changes to employment laws; and best practices for managing sensitive employee situations.
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Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law – January 2021 Update for Employers

January 8, 2021 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Patricia Moran, Emma Follansbee

Happy New Year! While many of us are thrilled to see 2020 in the rear view, 2021 ushers in a huge challenge for Massachusetts employers – the beginning of benefits and Job protections under the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave law (MAPFML).
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REMINDER: Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Next Steps

October 23, 2020 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Emma Follansbee, Patricia Moran

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COVID-19 Telecommuting Tax and Leave Issues for Employers

October 20, 2020 | Blog | By Emma Follansbee, Michael Arnold

Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, many employer telecommuting arrangements remain in place, with several large corporations opting to extend these arrangements well into 2021. The benefits of such arrangements have been clear for many employers during the pandemic, including that they permit continued productivity while keeping employees safe. However, the longer that employees remain out of the office, the more telecommuting-related issues arise, including with respect to taxation of employee income and leave requirements, which we discuss below.
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Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave Finalizes Revised Regulations: Here’s What You Need to Know

August 13, 2020 | Blog | By Patricia Moran, Natalie C. Groot, Emma Follansbee

Under the Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Law, M.G.L. c. 175M (“MAPFML ”), employees and other covered individuals in the Commonwealth will be entitled to a generous set of new leave benefits and rights beginning January 1, 2021. On July 24, 2020 , the Department of Family and Medical Leave (the Department) issued updated MAPFML regulations effective July 24, 2020 (the “2020 Regulations”). These regulations make several key changes to the MAPFML regulations issued in 2019 (the “2019 Regulations”). In our companion post, we cover the key changes between the 2019 Regulations and the 2020 Regulations. This post examines, in depth, changes affecting the MAPFML “Private Plan” exemption pathway.
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News & Press

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 31 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 35 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2024.

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187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

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Mintz Associate Emma Follansbee was quoted in an article published by EHS Today on legal considerations for employers as they educate and inform their employees of rapidly evolving news regarding the global Coronavirus outbreak.
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Mintz Associate Emma Follansbee was quoted in an article published by Bloomberg Law on legal considerations for employers as they take steps to safeguard workers from the global Coronavirus outbreak.
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Events & Speaking

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Aug
26
2020
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Aug
16
2018

Mastering Absence Management, "Compliance - Overview of Regulations"

New England Employee Benefits Council

Boston, MA

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Recognition & Awards

  • Featured in Best Lawyers in America Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law - Employee; Labor and Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024 - 2025)

  • Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Employment (2021)

  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Rising Star - Employment & Labor (2024)

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