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.

Pursuant to President Obama’s pay transparency executive order (Executive Order 13665), which amended Executive Order 11246, federal contractors must incorporate the OFCCP-prescribed Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (PTNP) in employee handbooks (or implement a stand-alone policy) and post it for applicants and employees.

 OFCCP recently revised the required provision to include a cite to

In addition to issues involving the environment, immigration, and national security, the Trump Administration has been in the headlines recently for its stance on matters impacting the LGBT community.

As we reported in a late-January, after close deliberation with daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, President Trump expressed support for LGBT rights and vowed to

It has come to our attention that OFCCP has sent out Courtesy Scheduling Announcement Letters providing contractors with advance notice of upcoming OFCCP audits.  Signed by interim Director Tom Dowd, dated February 17, 2017 and addressed generically to Human Resources Director, the letters provide warning that the establishment listed has been selected for an

Wasting no time to identify a replacement following Andrew Puzder’s withdrawal from consideration for Secretary of Labor, President Trump announced today that he has tapped R. Alexander Acosta for the role.  Acosta, who is the only Hispanic nominee in Trump’s cabinet, is a former U.S. Attorney and at one-time sat on the National Labor Relations

Andrew Puzder has withdrawn from consideration as Secretary of Labor.  As we previously reported, Puzder’s confirmation hearing, scheduled for tomorrow, had been postponed multiple times amid increasing scrutiny surrounding his corporate and personal business dealings. His withdrawal came today amid reports that support among Republican Senators was faltering.

A replacement nominee has not yet

After multiple delays, the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s Secretary of Labor nominee Andrew Puzder has been reportedly reset for February 16.

Puzder’s nomination has drawn heavy criticism and, when the hearing actually moves forward, he will most certainly face pointed questions regarding his business dealings, employment practices and positions on laws and regulations impacting

With the transition to a new presidential administration well under way, everyone is looking for signs to help predict the future.  Given President Trump’s sweeping executive action, including entering an Executive Order requiring the identification of two regulations to be eliminated for every new regulation proposed, the question of whether the make-up of the