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.

Compensation – it’s on everyone’s mind and it’s what everyone was talking about at the 33rd Annual ILG National Conference in New York City.  Conference attendees, government officials and practitioners alike were all talking about pay and the tools available to employers and agencies to identify and investigate compensation issues.

Our Jackson Lewis colleague Scott

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today another extension of the public comment period for the proposed guidance and regulations implementing The Fair Pay & Safe Workplaces Executive Order 13673.  The deadline for submitting comments is now August 26, 2015.  This is the second extension for this public comment period.

The notice does not specifically

It’s that time again to file your required VETS reports.  Under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act of 1972 (VEVRAA), federal contractors and subcontractors with contracts of $100,000 or more are required to file reports annually with Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).

This year contractors will be filing for the first time the new

Today is the official start to the 2015 Industry Liaison Group National Conference where conference attendees will focus on “lessons from our past, strategies for our future” in the world of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 11246 OFCCP Director Patricia Shiu acknowledged in

Following announcement of a two-week extension of the public comment period for proposals implementing Executive Order 13673, on July 15, 2015, a group of Congressional Chairs submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council requesting the agencies withdraw their pending proposed guidance and rule.

The letter, signed by

The Department of Labor has extended the public comment period for the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed guidance (“DOL Guidance”) implementing President Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order (E.O. 13673).  The Department of Defense has done the same with respect to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (“FAR”) Council  proposed regulations (“

This week OFCCP sent its final regulations implementing Executive Order 13665 (“Non-Retaliation for Disclosure of Compensation Information”), or commonly referred to as the Pay Transparency Executive Order to the Office of Management and Budget for approval.

OFCCP published the proposed rules on September 17, 2014 and the public comment period closed December 16, 2014.

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