Photo of Laura A. Mitchell

Laura Mitchell is a principal in the Denver office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and leads the firm’s Workplace Analytics and Preventive Strategies Pay Equity subgroup. She partners with employers to evaluate, develop and implement policies and practices that ensure workplace fairness while mitigating legal risk. Laura is a guiding force in the firm’s most specialized and technical practice areas where she leverages an analytics-focused approach to partner with her clients in building legally compliant programs around which they can anchor their workplaces achieving productivity and stability.

Laura understands that creating a competitive advantage for employers in today’s workplace involves using a data-driven approach to counsel companies on the development of proactive and equitable non-discriminatory practices in hiring, promotions, separations and pay—and where advancements in technology can create both opportunities for efficiencies and risk that can be measured. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost while balancing legal risk, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication. Staying the course with employers across their organizational journey while balancing legal compliance obligations throughout their employees’ lifecycle ensures Laura’s position as a go-to resource.

Laura works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize the combined vision of legal compliance, increased productivity and economic growth enhanced by a focus on pay equity.  As part of the pay equity journey, she advises employers on the evolving pay transparency landscape, working to align compliant practices with the practical realities of the business world.

Laura partners closely with government contractors to understand, implement and demonstrate compliance with their EEO regulatory and compliance obligations. She also works closely with non-government contractor clients to conduct risk assessments of their programs, policies, and training to align with federal and state anti-discrimination requirements.

Laura is the editor and a principal contributor of the GovCon Employment Exchange blog and presents on pay equity and government contractor obligations. To round out her days, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and friends attending sports events, working out, riding her bike, playing pickleball and taking in Colorado’s incomparable sunsets.

On Monday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Marty Walsh as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor under President Biden.  Secretary Walsh will, of course, also be newly-appointed OFCCP Director Jenny Yang’s new boss.  While we have anticipated a change in OFCCP direction under Director Yang, the changes, thus far, have been limited, perhaps because

As a follow up to the Inauguration Day recession of former President Trump’s Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping Executive Order, the Biden Administration has issued a White House Diversity memo providing further direction on rolling back any remaining tenants of Executive Order 13950.

The memo, dated March 2, 2021, was published by the Office

OFCCP has just announced it has revised its Supply and Service FY 2020 audit scheduling list by removing all establishments selected to receive focused reviews and compliance checks.

An amended Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (CSAL)  and amended methodology  have been posted on the agency website.

The evaluations that will proceed include establishment-based compliance reviews, CMCE

In an e-mail sent out to registered stakeholders OFCCP announced in an effort to “improve efficiency and better integrate compliance assistance efforts,” it is discontinuing the Agency’s Contractor Assistance Portal as of March 1, 2021.

The notice emphasized OFCCP

remains committed to quality compliance assistance

and notes it will strengthen its efforts through improvements to

Following on the heels of President Biden’s inaugural day revocation of President Trump’s Executive Order on Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping, OFCCP has officially ceased all activities in connection with enforcement of Executive Order 13950.

Specifically:

  • OFCCP has rescinded the Frequently Asked Questions regarding Executive Order 13950.
  • OFCCP will completely shut down the phone hotline

As part of the many Executive Orders signed his first day in office, President Biden formalized is administration’s commitment to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community by signing an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.  The Order states:

Every person should be treated

As one of his first actions as President, Joe Biden has issued an executive order overturning the much controversial Executive Order 13950: Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping.  In addition to additional actions aimed at promoting and ensuring equity, the new Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal

As suspected, it appears imminent that former EEOC Commissioner will be named as Director of OFCCP under newly inaugurated President Joe Biden.  Ms. Yang’s name appears on the list of Department of Labor leadership as Director of OFCCP though no formal announcement has been made by OFCCP.

We will bring additional details as they develop.