A new Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 52.204-27) enacted in June 2023 requires companies with covered contracts to ban the use of TikTok and other apps developed by ByteDance Limited on employee devices, including personal cell phones, which are used in the performance of government contracts. The ban does not apply to devices “incidental to a
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.
OFCCP Issues Statement Related to Technical Issues with the OFCCP Contractor Portal
…OFCCP will consider a
Breaking News: EEOC Pushes EEO-1 Portal Opening to Fall of 2023
In an update on its EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collection landing page, EEOC pushed
“the tentative opening of the 2022 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection to the Fall of 2023.”
As previously reported, EEOC originally anticipated the portal to open mid-July 2023. Due to the Agency completing a “mandatory, three-year renewal of the…
OFCCP Releases Revised Disability Self-ID Form
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has released a revised the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form (CC-305).
This form updates the preferred language for disabilities and expands the list of examples of disabilities.
Contractors have until July 25, 2023 to begin using the new form.
Revised Proposed OFCCP Supply & Service Scheduling Letter Published
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has been working to revise the scheduling letter and itemized listing it uses to initiate compliance reviews of supply and service federal contractors and subcontractors. After considering public comments, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released a new version of the proposed Scheduling Letter…
Jenny Yang Stepping Down as OFCCP Director
Jenny Yang announced earlier today in a letter to OFCCP stakeholders that she will step down from her position as Director of the OFCCP, effective March 31, 2023. Director Yang will begin a new position as the Deputy Assistant to the President for Racial Justice and Equity at the White House Domestic Policy Council…
OFCCP Rescinds Trump-Era Religious Exemption Rule
OFCCP has announced the rescission of the Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption rule adopted in January 2021 by President Donald Trump. The rescission is to be posted in the Federal Register on March 1, 2023.
In November 2021 OFCCP published a proposal to rescind the rule on the basis the…
OFCCP Further Extends Deadline to Submit Objections to Release of EEO-1 Data
As yet another update to this ongoing story, OFCCP has again pushed out the date by which contractors can notify OFCCP of their desire to object to production by the Agency of EEO-1 data in response to the Center for Investigative Reporting.
By way of notice on its OFCCP Submitter Notice Response Portal…
UPDATE: OFCCP Extends Deadline for Contractors to Confirm Objection to Disclosure of EEO-1 Data
As an update to our report last week, OFCCP has announced an extension of the deadline for contractors to confirm their desire to have their EEO-1 data withheld from production in response to the pending Center for Investigative Reporting FOIA request.
In a statement posted on the FOIA objection portal, OFCCP instructed:
This is a…
Breaking News: OFCCP Posts List of Contractors Whose EEO-1 Data Will Be Released on February 8, 2023
In an attempt to give contractors a final opportunity to object to release of their EEO-1 data, OFCCP has posted a list of contractors for whom the Agency will release the reports in response to the FOIA request filed by the Center for Investigative Reporting.
OFCCP’s e-mail message states:
To ensure the accuracy of…