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.

During a ceremony in the Rose Garden, President Trump signed a much-anticipated “Religious Liberty” executive order.   The Executive Order states it is the

policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce Federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom.

The relatively short Executive Order also recognizes that

the United States Constitution enshrines and protects the

In a long-awaited, much anticipated, yet relatively low-key vote, the Senate has confirmed Alexander Acosta as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor.  Following a moderately contentious hearing last month before the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee, the full Senate approved Acosta with a 60-38 vote, finally filling a key position in President

At a ceremony in Wisconsin this week, President Trump signed yet another executive order, this one entitled, “Buy American and Hire American.”

What does this mean for federal contractors?  It’s not exactly clear at this point, but as our colleagues have previously discussed, the “hire American” portion of the President’s latest Executive Order is focused

As anticipated, President Trump has put an end to Executive Order 13673 – Fair Pay & Safe Workplaces, also known as the “blacklisting” executive order.  As expected, the President signed legislation disapproving of the Executive Order pursuant to the Congressional Review Act.  He also issued an Executive Order officially revoking the initial authorizing Executive

The confirmation hearing for President Trump’s second Secretary of Labor nominee, Alex Acosta, has been set for March 15.

Acosta was nominated after President Trump’s initial nominee, Andrew Puzder withdrew from consideration following growing controversy.

While nothing prevents Acosta’s confirmation hearing from being postponed, as Puzder’s was several times before his eventual withdrawal, there does