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Natalie C. Groot

Member

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1768

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Natalie counsels clients and litigates employment disputes on a wide variety of employment and labor matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Her litigation practice includes non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation claims, and wage and hour compliance. Natalie leads workplace investigations and conducts employee trainings on a regular basis. She also advises clients on employment and labor issues, including employment and separation agreements, terminations and reductions in force, internal workplace investigations, workplace health and safety, independent contractor and employee classifications, employee handbooks, and company policies, including family and medical leaves.

At Mintz, Natalie is a member of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee (a cross-sectional group of attorneys who select pro bono projects and provide support for long-term initiatives).  Natalie also championed the Firm’s adoption of a Compassionate Leave policy that provides paid leave following a miscarriage. Outside the Firm, Natalie is a member of the Associate Leadership Board of the Phoenix Charter Academy Network (an organization that serves a distinct population of students who struggle with their academic program). Natalie also participated in the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Boston's Future Leaders Program (a year-long program for mid-level executives with strong leadership potential that provides opportunities to enhance professional skills and expand networks).  The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has repeatedly recognized Natalie on its “Honor Roll” or “High Honor Roll” for the provision of pro bono legal services. Natalie has received numerous professional honors for her work as a lawyer and as a member of Boston’s legal community. 

Natalie’s additional legal experience includes internships with the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston.

viewpoints

Effective November 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) required employers to permit an employee, in the employee’s sole discretion, to supplement or “top off” their Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MA PFML”) benefit with any accrued paid leave (e.g., vacation, sick time, or other available paid time off) (together, “PTO”) so the employee could receive 100% of their regular wages during the MA PFML leave. This required employers whose Private Plans under MA PFML did not permit “topping off” to revise their plans accordingly.  We wrote about it here.

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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 has passed into law An Act Relative to Salary Range Transparency (the “Act”), which means that pay transparency and pay data reporting requirements will soon become official.  In advance of the effective dates in 2025, covered businesses must understand and prepare for  new compliance obligations. 

We previously wrote about this Act in its legislation phase here.  In addition, information regarding other jurisdictions requiring wage transparency, such as California, New York, and Washington, are available in our previous articles here and here.

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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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Expanding Existing Bereavement Leave Policies to Account for Fertility Related Losses

September 11, 2023 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Danielle Dillon

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Finally, Judicial Guidance Interpreting the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act

February 7, 2023 | Blog | By Geri Haight, Natalie C. Groot, Danielle Dillon

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

April 21, 2022 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Danielle Dillon

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) has issued a series of updates concerning Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MAPFML”).  These updates reflect the latest changes made to MAPFML since the Department’s last quarterly briefing, as discussed in our prior coverage of the MAPFML.

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Impact of Recent OSHA and CDC Updates on Employers’ Mandatory Vaccination Policies

February 14, 2022 | Blog | By Natalie C. Groot, Danielle Dillon

Now that OSHA has withdrawn its vaccine or test rule, many employers are considering the use of mandatory vaccination policies in their workplaces. Employers have met this development with varied responses – some employers have rescinded vaccination requirements that were compliant with the more stringent OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) requirements, some have retained mandatory vaccination policies compliant with the now-withdrawn ETS, and still others have created mandatory vaccination policies without reference to the ETS.
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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 share that Member Natalie Groot and Of Counsel Cassandra Paolillo have been selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as 2024 Excellence in Law ‘Up & Coming Lawyer’ honorees.

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Mintz proudly announced the election of 13 attorneys to Members and the addition of a record-setting 22 new lateral Members in 2023, with 11 Partners in the newly opened Toronto office. This diverse group strengthens Mintz’s core areas, spanning Commercial and IP Litigation, Life Sciences, Tech, Private Equity, and Energy & Sustainability. The elevated Members and new lateral additions bring invaluable expertise to help clients navigate complex legal landscapes. 

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 32 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 27 attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2023.

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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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Associate Natalie Groot was interviewed by SHRM and discussed her role in the advocacy for and implementation of the firm's compassionate paid-leave policy.

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BOSTON – Mintz is pleased to announce that Associates William J. Bussiere, Jr., Natalie C. Groot,  and Kevin C. Mortimer have been selected to join Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Boston’s Future Leaders Program.

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35 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers and 25 Mintz attorneys have been named Massachusetts Rising Stars for 2022.

Mintz Associate Natalie Young is quoted in this Turnarounds & Workouts article explaining a bankruptcy court’s decision to allow Trump Entertainment to reject expired collective bargaining agreements and the impact of the court’s decision on debtor-employers.
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Events & Speaking

Recognition & Awards

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

  • Super Lawyers: Included on the list of Massachusetts Rising Stars (2022-2024)

  • Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America – Diversity & Inclusion: Future Leader – Shortlist (2022)

  • Boston Magazine Top Lawyers – Employment (2021)

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Up & Coming Lawyer (2024)

  • Legal 500 United States: Workplace and Employment Counseling (2024)

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Involvement

  • Member, Mintz Pro Bono Committee
  • Member, Associate Leadership Board of the Phoenix Charter Academy Network
  • Advisory Board Member, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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