This is the second in our series of blogs on OFCCP’s proposed changes to its various scheduling letters.

Our previous publication focused on the Agency’s new Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Reviews.  In addition to rolling out the new Focused Reviews, OFCCP has also revived the Compliance Check, which has not been used in recent years. There were 500 Compliance Checks on OFCCP’s recent CSAL list, published in March. Intended to evaluate whether contractors have maintained records consistent with their regulatory obligations, Compliance Checks are expected to be the least invasive of the OFCCP reviews and are “more limited in scope than a compliance review.”

Nevertheless, just as contractors began to acquaint themselves with the requirements under the Compliance Check scheduling letter, OFCCP has proposed a new version of the letter.

Though the existing and proposed letters are quite similar, the proposed letter contains small, but meaningful, changes that contractors should not overlook.

  • Item 1: While the existing letter requests “AAP results for the preceding year,” the new letter asks for           “[w]ritten AAPs” prepared in accordance with EO 11246, Section 503, and VEVRAA. In both versions, the regulatory cites refer to contractors’ record-keeping obligations, and a narrow reading suggests that contractors may not be required to submit quantitative analysis. However, the spirit of the request may be broader. OFCCP’s expansion of the request in the proposed scheduling letter to include “the written AAP,” rather than “results of the preceding year” seemingly provides additional insight into what OFCCP may be expecting with this item. However, since OFCCP has not used Compliance Checks in the past several years, what the current Agency expects – both under the existing and proposed scheduling letters – remains to be seen.

 

  • Item 3: Importantly, if the proposed letter is approved, OFCCP will require contractors to submit “[r]equests made for accommodations for persons with disabilities, whether the requests were denied or granted.” This differs from the language in the existing letter, which simply asks for examples of accommodations provided. Given the Agency’s heightened interest in Section 503, the expansion of this request comes as no surprise.

The second item, which requests examples of job advertisements, including listings with state employment services, remains unchanged, as is the option to either send the requested information to OFCCP or make it available on-site for OFCCP to review.

OFCCP is reporting it estimates it will take contractors

approximately 2 hours to retrieve and supply the requested information

in the revised compliance check letter.

Again, we encourage you to review this scheduling letter and, if you would like to, provide comments by June 11th.

Stay tuned for our next blog in this series which will discuss proposed changes to the establishment review scheduling letter.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Laura A. Mitchell Laura A. Mitchell

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with…

As co-leader of the firm’s ESG group, Laura Mitchell partners with her clients to evaluate, set, achieve and monitor their organizational culture and human capital goals. She focuses her practice on data analytics, including pay equity and other employee analytics, working side-by-side with employers to build programs that benefit employees and create a stable, high-functioning workplace. Understanding that an inclusive, values-based culture provides a crucial competitive advantage in the modern workplace, Laura enjoys counseling companies on the development of proactive and equitable pay and diversity practices.

In Laura’s version of the reimagined workplace, attention to human capital issues, especially DEI and pay equity, would be the rule rather than the exception nationwide and she works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize this vision for her clients’ ongoing success. She helps clients understand all issues across the spectrum of their journey, helping to establish regular analyses as well as counseling organizations on implementation and compliance obligations, where applicable. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication.

Laura also represents companies in OFCCP matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations. She personally oversees the development of hundreds of Affirmative Action Plans for clients each year and is intimately involved in the defense of OFCCP audits. Her approach to compliance is one of facilitation and conciliation while simultaneously advocating in the best interests of her clients.

Photo of Christopher T. Patrick Christopher T. Patrick

Chris Patrick is a Principal in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and is a member of the Firm’s Affirmative Action Compliance and OFCCP Defense practice group and Pay Equity resource group.

Chris partners with employers on practical solutions to ensure…

Chris Patrick is a Principal in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and is a member of the Firm’s Affirmative Action Compliance and OFCCP Defense practice group and Pay Equity resource group.

Chris partners with employers on practical solutions to ensure equal employment opportunity (EEO), including counseling on affirmative action, pay equity and transparency, and diversity. In short, Chris develops actionable strategies under privilege that identify and eliminate unseen barriers to EEO in personnel practices—often informed by trends in employee data.

Photo of Lisa B. Marsh Lisa B. Marsh

Lisa B. Marsh is a principal in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She represents management exclusively in all areas of employment law, focusing on affirmative action and EEO.

Lisa assists clients with the drafting of affirmative action plans, representing government…

Lisa B. Marsh is a principal in the Denver, Colorado, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She represents management exclusively in all areas of employment law, focusing on affirmative action and EEO.

Lisa assists clients with the drafting of affirmative action plans, representing government and non-government contractors in Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) matters, preparing for and defending OFCCP audits, and counseling employers on issues stemming from OFCCP regulations.