Government Contractor Compliance & Regulatory Update

Alex Weinstein

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Craig Leen Formally Named Director of OFCCP

The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has announced that Craig Leen has officially been named the Director of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”).  Director Leen has served as Acting Director since the summer when then-Director Ondray Harris suddenly resigned.  Since Director Leen began serving as Acting Director, the OFCCP has … Continue Reading

BREAKING: The Government Shutdown Is Officially Here – What Does It Mean For Federal Contractors?

As of midnight on December 21, 2018, portions of the government have been shut down until Congress is able to pass a spending bill. Due to ongoing political fights surrounding the border wall, it remains unclear when the government will be fully operational again. In addition to the 400,000 government workers the Washington Post anticipates … Continue Reading

POTENTIAL PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – What Government Contractors Need To Know

A partial government shutdown may soon be upon us.  According to the Washington Post, “[t]he White House and a number of federal agencies have started advanced preparations for a partial government shutdown, as President Trump and congressional Democrats appear unlikely to resolve their fight over a border wall before some government funding lapses at week’s … Continue Reading

New OFCCP Directive Introduces Early Resolution Procedures For Compliance Evaluations

Quick Hit: OFCCP’s new Directive 2019-02 sets forth Early Resolution Procedures (“ERP”) to resolve violations discovered during a desk audit of contractors with multiple establishments.  OFCCP touts that “ERP allows OFCCP and contractors with multiple establishments to cooperatively develop corporate-wide compliance with OFCCP’s requirements.”  Contractors who successfully resolve violations through ERP will be spared full scale … Continue Reading

OFCCP Rescinds Active Case Enforcement Procedures

Quick Hit:  Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has issued Directive 2019-01 (the “Directive”), which rescinds Directive 2011-01 which established OFCCP’s now-defunct Active Case Enforcement or “ACE” policy.  Through ACE, OFCCP conducted fewer but more intensive compliance evaluations of government contractors.  In issuing the Directive, OFCCP is formally ending ACE, while adopting an approach … Continue Reading

OFCCP Introduces New Directive Enhancing Compliance Guidance Programs For Contractors

Quick Hit:  The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) issued Directive 2019-03 (the “Directive”), which announces two steps the agency will take to enhance compliance assistance for contractors.  OFCCP will now make “certain Help Desk inquires and responses dynamically available and searchable as a self‐service option on OFCCP’s website.”  OFCCP will also begin using … Continue Reading

OFCCP Seeks The “Carrot” Approach With Two Contractor Recognition Programs

Quick Hit: The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) is seeking to establish two new contractor recognition programs, which would promote contractors with sound compliance programs and provide temporary relief from compliance reviews and desk audits. First, OFCCP has proposed an Excellence in Disability Inclusion Award (the “Disability Inclusion Award”), which aims to “highlight … Continue Reading

OFCCP Proposes New FAAP Directive

The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) is seeking approval to change its Functional Affirmative Action Program  (“FAAP”) requirements. The proposed directive, for which comments are due by November 13, 2018, proposes sweeping changes to the current FAAP directive, with the stated aim of encouraging contractors to use FAAPs.… Continue Reading

OFCCP Announces Contractor Recognition Program

The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has announced though Directive 2018-06 (the “Directive”) the development of a Contractor Recognition Program, which aims to “recognize contractors with high-quality and high-performing compliance programs and initiatives.” The Contractor Recognition Program arises out of feedback the OFCCP received from the contracting community in 2017 and 2018. While the … Continue Reading

OFCCP Issues Directive Announcing “Affirmative Action Program Verification Initiative”

Quick Hit: OFCCP has issued a new Directive (Directive 2018-07), announcing its intention to develop an Affirmative Action Program Verification Initiative (the “Verification Initiative”). The Directive only notifies the contractor community that the program is in the works – for now, nothing has changed. However, the Directive shares that the program will, among other things, include … Continue Reading

OFCCP Director Resigns

Ondray T. Harris, Director of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”), resigned on July 27, 2018. No public explanation for his resignation has been provided, which came only eight months after he assumed the position. Reports indicate that Craig Leen, Senior Advisor to the OFCCP, will step into the role as Acting Director … Continue Reading

2017 EEO-1 Reports Now Available For Submission

Yesterday, the 2017 EEO-1 Survey became available.  Government contractors or subcontractors with 50 or more employees and a contract/subcontract of $50,000 or more must file EEO-1 reports by March 31, 2018.  Please read our post on Law and the Workplace for more details on this year’s reporting requirements.… Continue Reading

POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN – What Every Government Contractor Needs To Know

Once again, a government shutdown seems inevitable.  During previous government shutdowns, government agencies and departments issued stop-work orders, grinding work on government projects and contracts to a halt.  Contractors were then faced with the difficult task of remaining in compliance with their obligations to their employees while work and funding for those contracts has ceased. … Continue Reading

OFCCP Settles Hiring Discrimination Case with LandCare USA, LLC

The Austin, Texas location of LandCare USA, LLC (the “Company”), a company providing landscaping services, recently entered into a conciliation agreement with the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) to settle claims that the Company had discriminated in its hiring of females, and non-Hispanic applicants in its Laborer job group.  The Company has agreed … Continue Reading

OFCCP Appoints New Director (Not Craig Leen)

Two weeks after reports emerged that a new director of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) had been appointed, according to the OFCCP’s website, Ondray T. Harris has been appointed as the next director of the OFCCP.  The OFCCP’s website lists former Acting Director Thomas Dowd as the Deputy Director of the agency, … Continue Reading

Reports: Craig Leen’s Appointment As OFCCP Director Remains Uncertain

As we previously reported, various media outlets reported earlier this month that Coral Gables City Attorney, Craig Leen, would be appointed Director of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”).  These reports came amid silence by the Trump administration as to the anticipated appointment. Since our last post, the confusion over Mr. Leen’s role … Continue Reading

Reports: New OFCCP Director Appointed

According to multiple sources, on November 13, 2017, Craig E. Leen, was appointed the new Director of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”).  Mr. Leen has been the City Attorney for Coral Gables, Florida since 2011.  He has also served as an adjunct professor of law for universities in Florida.  If the published … Continue Reading

OFCCP Files Its First Complaint Against A Federal Contractor During the Trump Administration

On October 10, 2017, the U.S. Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) filed its first Complaint against a federal contractor since President Trump took office. The Complaint alleges that contractor Advance 2000 Inc. (the “Contractor”) violated a June 2015 conciliation agreement with OFCCP by failing to submit required progress reports and failing to respond to … Continue Reading

OFCCP Issues Compliance Relief to Federal Contractors in Wake of Devastating Hurricanes

In the wake of the devastating series of hurricanes throughout the United States, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has provided compliance exemptions to federal contractors providing hurricane relief.  OFCCP has issued three National Interest Exemptions:  one for Hurricane Harvey; one for Hurricane Irma; and one for Hurricane Maria. The notices provide contractors … Continue Reading

Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Increase Announced – Changes Effective January 1, 2018

On September 15, 2017, the Department of Labor announced an increase in the minimum wage that certain federal contractors must pay to employees.  This comes as part of a planned incremental increase in the federal contractor minimum wage implemented by President Obama’s 2014 Executive Order (the “Order”). As discussed in a previous blog post on … Continue Reading

Department Of Labor Challenges ALJ’s Decision On Google’s Obligation To Respond To OFCCP Data Requests

In July, we reported that an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) had ruled on OFCCP’s dispute with Google over the tech giant’s refusal to turn over certain documents in connection with a routine audit of Google’s headquarters. In his Recommended Decision and Order, the ALJ narrowed the scope of what OFCCP could request from Google without … Continue Reading

Trump Administration Signals Delay in Merger of EEOC and OFCCP

As we previously reported, President Trump, as part of his Fiscal Year 2018 Budget request, proposed a merger of the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) to “promote greater efficiency and effectiveness.”  In an August 24, 2017 letter, Acting Director of the OFCCP, Thomas Dowd, signaled a … Continue Reading

U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Votes to Defund Revised Form EEO-1 Requiring Disclosure of Pay Data

On July 13, 2017, the House Committee on Appropriations voted to defund efforts to implement the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (“EEOC”) revised Form EEO-1.  If the Appropriations Bill is ultimately passed, it will severely limit the EEOC’s ability to implement its revised EEO-1.… Continue Reading

Google Prevails, In Part (And For Now), In Compensation Data Dispute With OFCCP

On July 14, 2017, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) for the Department of Labor issued a Recommended Decision and Order (the “Opinion”) in the case brought by the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) against Google over Google’s refusal to turn over certain employee data as part of a compliance audit.  The ALJ’s thorough … Continue Reading
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