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.

Pursuant to President Obama’s pay transparency executive order (Executive Order 13665), which amended Executive Order 11246, federal contractors must incorporate the OFCCP-prescribed Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (PTNP) in employee handbooks (or implement a stand-alone policy) and post it for applicants and employees.

 OFCCP recently revised the required provision to include a cite to

In addition to issues involving the environment, immigration, and national security, the Trump Administration has been in the headlines recently for its stance on matters impacting the LGBT community.

As we reported in a late-January, after close deliberation with daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, President Trump expressed support for LGBT rights and vowed to

It has come to our attention that OFCCP has sent out Courtesy Scheduling Announcement Letters providing contractors with advance notice of upcoming OFCCP audits.  Signed by interim Director Tom Dowd, dated February 17, 2017 and addressed generically to Human Resources Director, the letters provide warning that the establishment listed has been selected for an

Wasting no time to identify a replacement following Andrew Puzder’s withdrawal from consideration for Secretary of Labor, President Trump announced today that he has tapped R. Alexander Acosta for the role.  Acosta, who is the only Hispanic nominee in Trump’s cabinet, is a former U.S. Attorney and at one-time sat on the National Labor Relations

Andrew Puzder has withdrawn from consideration as Secretary of Labor.  As we previously reported, Puzder’s confirmation hearing, scheduled for tomorrow, had been postponed multiple times amid increasing scrutiny surrounding his corporate and personal business dealings. His withdrawal came today amid reports that support among Republican Senators was faltering.

A replacement nominee has not yet

After multiple delays, the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s Secretary of Labor nominee Andrew Puzder has been reportedly reset for February 16.

Puzder’s nomination has drawn heavy criticism and, when the hearing actually moves forward, he will most certainly face pointed questions regarding his business dealings, employment practices and positions on laws and regulations impacting