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.

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

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

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

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

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

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