Washington D.C. Employment Law Update : Washington D.C. Employment Lawyer & Attorney : Littler Mendelson Law Firm : Virginia, Tyson's Corner

On Tuesday, Victoria Lipnic was sworn in as a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), making the five-member Commission complete for the first time in nearly two years. EEOC Chair Jacqueline Berrien and Commissioner Chai Feldblum were sworn in earlier this month, joining current members Stuart Ishimaru and Constance Barker. Lipnic, the Republican nominee to the EEOC, was one of 15 recess appointments President Obama made over the spring legislative recess.

Before her appointment to the EEOC, Lipnic practiced management-side labor and employment law. Prior to entering private practice, Lipnic served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards from 2002 until 2009, where she oversaw the Employment Standards Administration (ESA). Lipnic has also worked as Workforce Policy Counsel to the Republican members of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and as labor and employment in-house counsel for the U.S. Postal Service. During the Reagan administration, Lipnic served as a special assistant for business liaison to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige.

• Email This
• Print
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) approved the nominations of Jacqueline Berrien to head the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Victoria Lipnic and Chai Feldblum to be EEOC Members. The HELP Committee also approved the nomination of P. David Lopez to be the EEOC’s General Counsel.

In a statement (pdf), HELP Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said: “At this time of challenge, Americans need committed, capable public servants working full time on their behalf,” adding, “These nominees will serve Americans by protecting workers from discrimination, facilitating public service and preserving our rich national traditions in the humanities. I am pleased to move their nominations forward.”

If the Senate confirms all three EEOC members, the remaining two seats of the five-member Commission will be filled by current Acting Chairman Stuart Ishimaru and Constance Barker, the sole Republican EEOC member. Acting Vice Chair Christine Griffin has already been confirmed to serve as the deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Once her successor is confirmed, she will leave the EEOC for her new position at the OPM.

• Email This
• Print
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

On Tuesday, President Obama submitted to the Senate the nomination of Republican Victoria Lipnic to be a Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Lipnic currently practices management-side labor and employment law. Before entering private practice, Lipnic served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards from 2002 until 2009, where she oversaw the Employment Standards Administration (ESA). Lipnic has also worked as Workforce Policy Counsel to the Republican members of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and as labor and employment in-house counsel for the U.S. Postal Service. During the Reagan administration, Lipnic served as a special assistant for business liaison to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige.

Earlier this year, Obama nominated Democrats Jacqueline Berrien to serve as the agency’s Chair, and Chai Feldblum to be an EEOC member. It is likely that all three nominees will be considered as a package. Current members Acting Chairman Stuart Ishimaru and Acting Vice Chair Christine Griffin are both Democrats, while Commissioner Constance Barker is the lone Republican serving on the five-seat Commission. Republican Naomi Earp, who served as EEOC Chair during the Bush Administration, resigned in the spring. Acting Vice Chair Griffin – who has been confirmed to serve as the deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management – is allowed to remain on the Commission until a successor is approved. If Lipnic’s nomination is confirmed, she will serve as EEOC Commissioner until July 1, 2015.
 

• Email This
• Print
• Trackbacks
• Share Link