With the transition to a new presidential administration well under way, everyone is looking for signs to help predict the future. Given President Trump’s sweeping executive action, including entering an Executive Order requiring the identification of two regulations to be eliminated for every new regulation proposed, the question of whether the make-up of the
veterans
Federal Contractors Not the Only Ones with Disability Goals
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Compliance Tip, Regulatory Update
Federal agencies soon will be required to engage in affirmative outreach for individuals with disabilities. The final rule issued by EEOC on December 30, 2016, will require federal agencies to take steps to increase the number of its employees that are individuals with disabilities beginning in January 2018.
This is similar to the affirmative action…
Will OFCCP bring back Courtesy Scheduling Announcement Letters in 2017?
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Compliance Tip, Regulatory Update
Happy New Year!
As we ring in 2017 and prepare for affirmative action and OFCCP compliance in a Trump administration, many contractors are wondering whether 2017 will bring an OFCCP audit their way.
Some may remember in years past around this time OFCCP would send out Courtesy Scheduling Announcement Letters (CSALs) providing advance notification…
OFCCP Publishes New FAQs on Veterans Infographic
By Laura A. Mitchell on
In August 2015, OFCCP released an infographic designed to assist veterans understand whether or not they were covered under the protections of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) for affirmative action purposes. The infographic spawned recent discussions surrounding the implications and interpretations of OFCCP’s definition of a protected veteran.
Today, OFCCP published FAQs…
Giving Thanks to Our Nation’s Veterans
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Compliance Tip
Today, as a country, we celebrate our nation’s veterans and recognize all they have done. We give our sincerest appreciation to all those who have sacrificed and given their service for our country.
Over the past 18 months, employers who do business with the federal government have been working hard to do their part to…
OFCCP’s Section 503 Regulations Withstand Challenge
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Case Law update, Compliance Tip
The United States Supreme Court has declined to accept Associated Builders & Contractor’s request to review the legality of OFCCP’s recently enacted regulations for individuals with disability. This rejection signals the end of ABC’s year and a half long challenge of the Agency’s Section 503 regulations.
While this may be the final chapter for…
Not Done Yet: An Update on OFCCP’s Regulatory Agenda
Posted on
Posted in Regulatory Update
With the release of the new veterans and individuals with disabilities regulations, as well as roll-out of the new scheduling letter and LGBT regulations, OFCCP accomplished a lot over the last year and it’s not done yet. The latter-half of 2015 and into 2016 looks to bring more regulatory changes. The following items remain…
Additional States Add Veteran Hiring Preference
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Regulatory Update
As an update to our recent post on the growing trend of veteran hiring preferences, Indiana and Georgia are now on the list of states with voluntary veteran preference programs. The addition of these two states increases the number of states with veteran preference to 19.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Veteran Hiring and Veteran Preferences Gaining Steam
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Posted in Uncategorized
This past March, Labor Secretary Thomas Perez issued a News Release announcing the overall unemployment rate for all veterans has dropped for the fourth consecutive year – this is great news.
In an effort to assist in the employment of veterans, covered federal contractors are required to set a protected veteran hiring benchmark as part…
National Veteran Hiring Benchmark Reduced to 7 Percent
By Laura A. Mitchell on
Posted in Regulatory Update
Utilizing 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) year-end data, OFCCP has revised the VEVRAA hiring benchmark to 7 percent – down from the current 7.2% mark. Pursuant to the revised veteran regulations, covered contractors and subcontracts must either adopt the national benchmark, or set their own using the proscribed five-factor method, for each establishment.…