Photo of Laura A. Mitchell

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with employers to build programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. Understanding that an inclusive, values-based culture provides a crucial competitive advantage in the modern workplace, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay and diversity practices.

In Laura’s version of the reimagined workplace, attention to human capital issues, especially DEI and pay equity, would be the rule rather than the exception nationwide and she works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize this vision for her clients’ ongoing success. She helps clients understand all issues across the spectrum of their journey, helping to establish regular analyses as well as counseling organizations on implementation and compliance obligations, where applicable. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication.

Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients.

As previewed earlier this year, OFCCP is scheduled to publish on November 6, 2019 its proposed rule making addressing jurisdiction for TRICARE contractors and subcontractors.  As a reminder, OFCCP has had an audit moratorium in place since 2014 for employers that participate in TRICARE.

The proposed rule making seeks to codify OFCCP’s most recent

The Technical Assistance Guide for Educational Institutions (the “Guide”) OFCCP released recently is largely a review of existing standards and regulations, but it also includes suggested best practices and concrete guidance specific to educational institutions.

The complete document is available with other guidance on OFCCP’s Technical Assistance website. A summary follows.

Since releasing the

In an Executive Order issued yesterday, President Trump revoked Obama-Era Executive Order 13495, which provided some protection – a right of first refusal for continued employment – to qualified service workers when a government contract was replaced with a new contract and successor contractor at the same location.  President Trump’s Executive Order provides no

As previewed a while ago on the Agency’s Technical Assistance website, OFCCP has released a Technical Assistance Guide for Educational Institutions.  The 80-page guide contains

  • An overview of the equal employment opportunity obligations for federal contractors
  • The required components of affirmative action programs and related information
  • What to expect during an OFCCP compliance

At a time when the Agency has begun embarking on Section 503 Focused Reviews, OFCCP continues work to prevent discrimination for individuals with disabilities. Last week, as national disability awareness month began, OFCCP quietly published a request to tweak its prescribed disability self-identification form.  The revisions seek to streamline the form and provide additional guidance