Under the leadership of Craig Leen, OFCCP has made a renewed commitment to providing technical assistance to contractors. True to their word, and in furtherance of its Town Hall Action Plan, OFCCP announced on Friday the release of a number of new technical assistance guides (TAGs), with more on the way. Interestingly, Director
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.
Closing Day of the 2019 ILG National Conference
Well, another ILG National Conference is in the books. This year’s conference highlighted the continued return to a more collaborative relationship between contractors and OFCCP as well as the agency’s commitment to its four principles.
On the final day of the conference, attendees heard from practitioners as well as a panel of OFCCP…
EEOC Commissioner Victoria Lipnic Kicks Off Day 2 of the 2019 ILG National Conference
Day 2 of the 2019 ILG National Conference in Milwaukee started with a favorite guest – EEOC Commissioner Victoria Lipnic. Commissioner Lipnic last addressed the ILG National Conference in 2016, during which time, as she reminded attendees, she was likewise talking about pay data reporting, she had just created the Chief Data Officer role at…
Opening Day of the 2019 ILG National Conference
The 2019 ILG National Conference being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has officially begun.
OFCCP Director Craig Leen opened the conference with an energized keynote addressed that touched on the agency’s work on behalf of individuals with disabilities and veterans, as well as OFCCP’s continued action in furtherance of the four “bedrock” principles announced at last…
EEOC Update on Component 2 Filing
As required, EEOC has filed its scheduled update with the Court regarding the progress of collection of the new EEO-1 Component 2 pay data report.
The report is brief, but notes EEOC is still on schedule to allow a data file upload function and validation process as an additional method of reporting no later than…
OFCCP Issues New Guidance on Validation, Practical Significance, and Project-Based Workers
The official rules and authority that govern OFCCP’s actions are set forth in the federal regulations at 41 CFR 60. These regulations go through notice and comment, as well as substantive review to ensure the appropriate balance of OFCCP’s jurisdiction and tools against the burden they pose on the contractor community. Due to the…
OFCCP Rolls Out Changes to its Functional Affirmative Action Plan Program
Functional affirmative action plans (FAAPs) are not new. While the regulations require AAPs be prepared on an establishment-basis, OFCCP has permitted contractors to structure their AAPs by “function” or “business unit” – with Agency approval.
Implicitly, the Agency’s 2013 Directive on the subject recognized that business structures had evolved since the 1960s. Establishment-centered chains of…
Mergers and Acquisitions and Other Guidance Published for Component 2 Pay Data Reporting
In an effort to provide additional guidance to employers navigating the new Component 2 pay data filing requirements, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and NORC have just updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) with respect to how employers experiencing mergers, acquisitions, and spinoffs during 2017 and 2018 should be filing their 2017 and 2018…
OFCCP Issues Pay Analysis Grouping Opinion Letter
In just its second Opinion Letter, OFCCP has [somewhat] tackled the issue of Pay Analysis Groups (PAGs). Issued two months after the inaugural Opinion Letter which addressed the issue of Pell Grants, Director Craig Leen’s second letter touches upon the more controversial topic of compensation.
In the July 22, 2019 letter, Director Leen answers…
Updated Proposed Focused Review Scheduling Letters: OFCCP Still Seeks Substantive Revisions
This is the third of our series of blog posts on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) July 1 request for comments on OFCCP’s updated proposed scheduling letters. For background, OFCCP first proposed changes to its existing compliance check, establishment review, and focused review scheduling letters in April, and received comments from…