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.

Shortly after the U.S. Department of Labor and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council extended the public comment period for pending proposals implementing Executive Order 13673, a group of Senate Republicans requested the U.S. Department of Labor withdraw its proposed guidance.

This is the second request made by Congressional leadership for withdrawal of the published guidance.  In

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