Avid readers have seen that OFCCP has been busy this summer.  In August alone, the Agency attended the 2019 ILG National Conference in Milwaukee, issued FAQs on student workers, proposed a new rule regarding religious exemptions, introduced a new Ombudsperson, opened a contractor assistance portal and issued multiple technical assistance guides.  But, OFCCP is not content merely coasting through the end of its fiscal year (on September 30).

Instead, OFCCP continues to issue additional guidance to contractors.  In a cleverly-titled “Back to School Update”, OFCCP unveiled new FAQs addressing preparation of AAPs that cover a campus environment.  The Agency noted common employers with campus environments include educational institutions, hospitals, and information technology companies, among others.  When an employer has multiple buildings or “work locations” in close proximity, there has often been an unresolved question – is it one establishment or many?

The Agency’s official position has been “[i]n appropriate circumstances, OFCCP may consider as an establishment as a single building or several facilities located at two or more sites when the facilities are in the same labor market or recruiting area.” But the recent FAQ’s provide additional guidance.

Specifically, OFCCP has clarified that employers may combine multiple buildings into a single establishment AAP, if the operations across those buildings are interconnected.

Similarly, contractors may conclude various buildings within a campus environment are operationally distinct and should be included in separate AAPs.   The FAQs provide a guideline of factors to assist contractors in assessing their situation.

This is not to be confused with the Agency’s Functional Affirmative Action Plan (FAAP) program which offers an alternative to establishment based affirmative action plan development.

These FAQs are new, so it may take some time to see them in action, but contractors with campus environments may want to evaluate if this new guidance provides a good affirmative action plan alternative for their organization.

Let us know if we can be of any assistance digesting how this guidance could be used in your AAP program.

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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.