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.

The Department of Labor has announced updates to the Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Law poster, required to be posted (in 11×17 format) by federal contractors and subcontractors pursuant to Executive Order 13496.

The changes include:

  • a new telephone number for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency responsible for enforcing

This week the Department of Labor announced its spring 2019 Regulatory Agenda.   Included was an new item from OFCCP that was part of its prior published regulatory agenda.  As OFCCP previously announced in 2018, its planned rule-making agenda for the near future includes rulemaking to address affirmative action obligations for TRICARE providers (slated for May 2019) and contractor’s use of religious exemptions (slated for June 2019).
Continue Reading OFCCP Adds to 2019 Rulemaking Agenda

OFCCP Director Craig Leen thinks the Agency has made good progress on implementing “the four pillars” but there is still work to be done.

Speaking this week in Florida, Director Leen shared accomplishments, and things to come, for each of the four tenants.  However, he noted he was not allowed to comment on the pending proposed changes to the scheduling letters.Continue Reading Director Leen Shares OFCCP Update

The past few weeks have seen a flow of new developments involving the recently reinstated EEO-1 pay data reporting obligations.  And Friday, May 3rd, was no exception.  At the same time EEOC was announcing its decision to collect pay data for 2017 as well as 2018, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was filing a Notice of Appeal of Judge Tanya S. Chutkan’s Order reinstating the pay data reporting obligation.
Continue Reading EEOC Provides Pay Data Reporting Update

One of the biggest outstanding questions about the recently reinstated pay data reporting obligation was whether employers will be required to provide more than one year of pay data during this reporting cycle.  EEOC has made its decision.  In an advance copy of a notice to be posted in the federal register May 3, EEOC puts employers on notice that it will seek to collect data for 2017 in addition to 2018.
Continue Reading EEOC Decides to Collect 2017 Pay Data In Addition to Data for 2018

As ordered by Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, EEOC has posted the following notice on its website alerting employers to the new EEO-1 pay data requirement.  The Notice indicates EEOC has not yet decided whether it will collect 2017 or 2019 data in addition to the current year of pay data.  EEOC has until May 3 to report its decision on this point to the Court and employers.
Continue Reading EEOC Posts Notice About EEO-1 Pay Data Reporting As Required