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.

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

This, our third and final blog in a series discussing the proposed changes to OFCCP’s scheduling letters, takes a look at the Agency’s proposed changes to the establishment review letter and itemized listing.

With the appearance of Focused Reviews and Compliance Checks on this year’s CSAL, contractors have been abuzz about their obligations

This is the second in our series of blogs on OFCCP’s proposed changes to its various scheduling letters.

Our previous publication focused on the Agency’s new Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Reviews.  In addition to rolling out the new Focused Reviews, OFCCP has also revived the Compliance Check, which has not been used in

As we reported last week, OFCCP published in the Federal Register for Notice and Comment revised scheduling letters for Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Reviews, Compliance Checks, and regular establishment compliance reviews. As a reminder, scheduling letters initiate a compliance review and set forth the required items contractors must provide to OFCCP in an

Last Week, OFCCP Director Craig Leen and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (“ODEP”) Jennifer Sheehy, joined with the National Industry Liaison Group to discuss disability and inclusion.

With 500 Section 503 Focused Reviews on OFCCP’s March 2019 CSAL list, the timing was perfect to hear directly from the OFCCP Director

On April 12, 2019, OFCCP posted on the Federal Register for Notice and Comment revised scheduling letters for Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Reviews, Compliance Checks and regular establishment compliance reviews. The proposed Establishment and Focused Review scheduling letters significantly increase the data submission required for veterans and individuals with disabilities, including hiring and