Nathan D. Woods is an Economist and Director of the Washington DC office of Welch Consulting. Dr. Woods serves as a consultant and expert witness and supervises economic and statistical research projects requiring the construction and analysis of large statistical databases. His experience includes econometric analysis of issues in cases involving allegations of discrimination against women and minorities in various employment practices and in cases involving all manner of state and federal wage and hour disputes. Dr. Woods has testified in matters involving class certification issues, survey sampling and extrapolation topics, selections in hiring and promotions, and he has evaluated economic damages in both class action and single plaintiff employment cases.

Dr. Woods received his Ph.D. in political science from the Claremont Graduate University’s School of Politics and Economics. He taught courses at the University of Southern California, including a graduate level advanced quantitative methods seminar. Dr. Woods serves as a Research Scholar with the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, where he provides analytical and statistical consulting and advises on survey design and analysis. Dr. Woods’ published research concerns the application of statistics to answering questions surrounding race and ethnicity, representation, public opinion and participation. His research is published in the American Political Science Review, the Journal of Politics, the Urban Affairs Review, the Journal of Urban Affairs, Social Sciences Quarterly, the American Review of Politics, the National Civic Review, PS and as chapters in three edited volumes.

SELECTED CASEWORK

Expert Witness, Wage & Hours: New York State class action suit charging employees of large grocery chain were subject to a common policy whereby they were not paid all overtime hours worked. Analyzed payroll records to assess how often, and in what amounts, overtime payments were made. Analyzed data to show whether incidence and amounts of overtime paid varied between stores and departments. Submitted report of findings and testified at deposition.

Consultant, Employment Discrimination: Nationwide class action and EEOC allegations of discrimination against racial/ethnic minorities, women and older workers employed with an industry-leading national general merchandise retailer. Analyzed company human resource, payroll and third party data to assess protected group differentials in hiring, assignment, pay, promotions and terminations of salaried workers. Investigated patterns in results to assess common class issues.

Expert Witness, Medicare Appeals: Multiple matters involving audits of the reimbursement practices of medical doctors. Analyzed sampling methodology. Submitted reports and testified as to the statistical reliability of sampling approach used by auditor and usefulness for purposes of extrapolation.

Consultant, Employment Discrimination: Nationwide class action allegations of discrimination against racial/ethnic minorities and women employed with an industry-leading national manufacturing and service providing company. Analyzed company human resource, payroll and third party data to assess protected group differentials in hiring, assignment, pay, evaluations, testing, promotions and terminations. Investigated patterns in results to assess common class issues. Performed analyses and supported counsel in preparing for deposition and trial testimony of opposing experts.

Consultant, Wage & Hours: Nationwide analysis of Service Contract Act compliance for industry- leading national delivery company. Assessed wage and benefits compliance with SCA regulations for hundreds of thousands of employees in multiple business segments performing different kinds of work in all geographic operating areas nationwide. Calculated estimates of potential exposure under several alternative measures of government contract work.

Consultant, Employment Discrimination: Nationwide EEOC allegations of discrimination against racial/ethnic minorities and women employed with an industry-leading national outdoor recreation retailer. Analyzed hiring by developing local labor market measures based upon census occupation data adjusted for participation in outdoor activities. Investigated protected group differentials in assignment, pay, promotions and terminations. Investigated patterns in results to assess common class issues.

Expert Witness, Wage & Hours: Allegation of Legal Malpractice against law firm that counseled check cashing company with regard to wage and hour compliance under California law. Generated analysis data from hard-copy work time records. Analyzed the data for meal break violations and assessed whether firm’s involvement was associated with change in rate at which meal violations occurred. Created presentation of findings which was used in settlement.

Consultant, Employment Discrimination: Multi-state EEOC investigation of discrimination against African Americans employed with industry-leading national home improvement retailer. Analyzed company data tracking expressions of interest and qualifications to assess differences in promotion rates. Investigated pay at hire and pay changes.

Consultant, Wage & Hours: Nationwide and California State claims alleging sales representatives working for industry-leading pharmaceutical company were misclassified as exempt. Developed national survey sampling approaches and participated in development of survey questionnaire. Analyzed responses to surveys to show how much of sales representatives’ work could be classified as “exempt” or “not-exempt” from overtime rules. Generated exposure estimates under several alternative assumptions to overtime, missed meals and associated CA state penalties.

Consultant, Employment Discrimination: Nationwide audit of promotion and hire selections in light of gender and race/ethnic diversity goals set by company. Developed alternative external labor market measures of availability and analyzed selection decisions relative to applicant tracking and external availability benchmarks.

Expert Witness, Wage & Hours: New York State class action alleging failure to pay for all time recorded, time shaving and illegal meal payment deductions for restaurant line cooks. Generated analysis data from hard-copy work time records, analyzed data for unpaid time and meal deductions. Estimated exposure and prepared analyses which were used to settle case.

Consultant, Wage & Hours: Several Nationwide and individual State private class action lawsuits and Department of Labor investigations into pre- and post-shift work off-the-clock for employees of an industry-leading international food product company. Analyzed company data and estimated exposure estimates for production and call center workers, and provided support for mediation and settlement of private lawsuits. Worked in conjunction with the DOL to reach agreements on approach to estimating back pay settlement amounts.