During the last several weeks, OFCCP has been conducting a series of Listening Sessions to collect information for incorporation into a soon-to-be-released Academic Technical Assistance Guide (TAG). This TAG will serve as a resource for academic institutions who are federal contractors...more
To date, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has issued nine new and proposed directives in 2018. While most of the directives have been covered in prior articles, this article will provide more insight into the directives issued in September, as well as a few...more
Since the beginning of the #MeToo movement in October 2017, Congress and state and local lawmakers have introduced a series of laws aimed at eliminating sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace. As we explained in our June 2018 article, by mid-2019, over 125 bills had been...more
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to celebrate the contributions of America's workers with disabilities both past and present, and educate about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. In honor of NDEAM, we recently...more
Ask the Experts is an online forum where federal contractors and subcontractors are invited to submit questions to industry experts related to OFCCP compliance, affirmative action planning, and equal employment opportunity. Simply register your company on LocalJobNetwork.com to submit a question. Questions and answers will occasionally be featured in The OFCCP Digest for the benefit of all readers.
Question: Applicant – Inactive Posting
We have a situation where we are attempting to hire an old applicant that applied for a position back in January. The job posting is currently inactive and we were wondering what the best course of action would be moving forward. Should we disposition the candidate and have him apply to a more recent posting?
I would not reactivate the old job posting and would disposition this individual as "not selected" for whatever the reason was for that particular opportunity.
I'm not a fan of "sham" postings and they really are a waste of everyone's time, particularly those new/additional job seekers who apply thinking they actually have a shot at the opportunity. However, I know these things happen and it is perfectly legal to recruit/invite particular individuals to apply for any posted opportunity. "Best practice" in such cases would be to genuinely "consider" – i.e., evaluate the qualifications of those persons who express interest and possess the "basic qualifications" (as defined in OFCCP regulations) in addition to the individual you already have your eye on. You might be surprised! Or not. In any event, be prepared to defend your selection of this person based on his or her competitive qualifications with others who express interest.
If you are going to post something new for purposes of selecting the January job seeker, I remind you to do the necessary outreach in the listing of the job, but I suggest that you leave the posting up for a very brief time (e.g. 3-5 days) to limit the number of job seekers for whom you might make any selection decisions. Not surprisingly, the OFCCP is extremely skeptical of "single applicant hires," but if this is a position for which you typically recruit/hire multiple times in a year, it's unlikely that this particular situation – which I trust is unusual – will be noticeable in aggregate data.
Hurricane Michael Exemption Granted by OFCCP
Acting Director Craig Leen has signed a National Interest Exemption (NIE) related to OFCCP requirements for contractors involved with Hurricane Michael relief. The exemption and waiver include modified equal employment opportunity clauses in that employers would not need to create affirmative action programs (AAPs) if a contract is related to work for Hurricane Michael. However, contractors are still obligated to post the "Equal Opportunity is the Law" notice, keep and retain records for the three laws OFCCP enforces, and list openings with their proper employment service delivery system (ESDS). The exemption will be honored for any applicable contract entered through January 11, 2019. More information can be found on OFCCP's FAQ section.
OFCCP and ODEP Propose to Create Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award
OFCCP, in partnership with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) published a Notice in the Federal Register proposing to create the Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award, a contractor compliance award program that recognizes "federal contractor and subcontractor establishments that ensure equal employment opportunity, foster employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and have achieved a level of excellence in their compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Section 503)." The public is encouraged to provide comments on the proposal by December 4, 2018. The list of requirements and instructions for organizations to be eligible for this award, as well as a nomination form to be submitted for consideration, are available on the Federal Register website.
OFCCP Offers AAP Exemption for Hurricane Florence Projects
Deputy Director Craig Leen has signed a memorandum to exempt any projects or contracts from needing an AAP until December 31, if the efforts are related to helping victims of Hurricane Florence. While contractors will not need to develop an AAP until the end of 2018, they will still need to list their jobs with the appropriate Employment Service Delivery System (ESDS) as required under VEVRAA.
OFCCP Enters into Memorandum of Understanding with National Industry Liaison Group
In a recent announcement, OFCCP demonstrated its commitment to improving its relationship with contractors by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG). The main purpose of the MOU is for the groups to focus on collaborative efforts to promote compliance and emphasize how individual contractors can successfully implement programs to improve affirmative action and equal employment opportunities. The MOU is also in place to help "improve the relevance, clarity, accuracy, and consistency of OFCCP’s contractor education and compliance tools and resources."
Read more DOL Highlights throughout the month for timely updates.
For more than 70 years, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) has been observed in the month of October. The theme for 2018 is "America's Workforce: Empowering All," as the focus is on acknowledging how crucial it is that all Americans have the opportunity to work for a living. NDEAM emphasizes the importance of valuing each person's skills and experience, including those of individuals with disabilities.
Contact Us The OFCCP Digest is a complimentary resource featuring affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, and government compliance topics. Previous editions are available for easy reference on The OFCCP Digest Archives page. To subscribe or to provide feedback, email OFCCPDigest@LocalJobNetwork.com.
The opinions expressed in this newsletter are the opinions of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Local JobNetwork™. The information appearing in this newsletter is meant to provide the reader with a general understanding of topics relating to OFCCP compliance requirements and is not legal advice. If you are seeking legal advice to address OFCCP compliance issues or requirements, you should consult an attorney. The Local JobNetwork™ expressly disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this newsletter.
For more than 70 years,