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 anticipated, the first lawsuit challenging the legality of the Fair Pay & Safe Workplaces executive order and final rules is now on the books. Filed by the Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction trade group, and the National Association of Security Companies, the complaint contains six counts which allege the Obama administration, the FAR

The final regulations for Executive Order 13706 (“Paid Sick Leave for Workers on Federal Contracts”) were published September 30, 2016.  Under the Executive Order and final regulations, paid sick leave obligations will begin with new solicitations and contracts beginning January 1, 2017.

Join my colleagues Patricia Pryor and Leslie Stout-Tabackman on October 20, 2016 for

On the eve of the end of its fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Labor has released final rules for new EEO-1 Pay Data reporting obligations as well as paid sick leave regulations for federal contractors.

EEO-1 Pay Data Reporting

As highly anticipated, and a day before the deadline for the 2016 EEO-1 reporting period

This week the General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report to the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce on its recent audit of OFCCP.  The report reviews (1) how the Agency conducts audits; and, (2) the Agency’s outreach assistance and guidance efforts. 

The 56-page report – titled “Strengthening Oversight Could Improve Federal

As we previously announced, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (“FAR”) Council have published the highly-anticipated final guidance and regulations implementing President Barack Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order (E.O. 13673), often called the “Blacklisting” or “Bad Actors” Executive Order. This rule will present significant challenges and

It rolls around each year:  back to school, Labor Day, football season and the September 30th deadline for government reporting.  While next year may bring changes given the proposed  EEO-1 pay report, the filing obligations remained unchanged for this year.

Extensions

Of note, we suspect the deadlines may not be automatically extended this year

The second day of the 2016 ILG National Conference was filled with many informative sessions including those on implementing affirmative action plans, diversity initiatives, steering, and everyone’s favorite topic – pay.

The day opened with an address from EEOC Commissioner Victoria Lipnic. Commissioner Lipnic shared details of the Agency’s work studying harassment in the workplace.