Connie Bertram
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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
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
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
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
The Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) has stayed the implementation of the new EEO-1 Form, which added compensation and hours worked components to the annual EEO-1 submission. The OMB’s decision was based in part on concerns about burdens the new form would place on employers and the questionable utility of the new information requirements. … Continue Reading
On August 16, 2017, OFCCP announced that, as part of its efforts to provide compliance assistance to federal contractors, it will be holding three town hall meetings. The meetings will be open to the public and held in Washington D.C., San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL. OFCCP explains that during the meetings, it wants “to … Continue Reading
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
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
Effective June 12, 2017, executive branch agency employees, contractors and subcontractors who have access to classified information or hold sensitive positions must report personal trips abroad as well as a wide range of foreign contacts. This new security directive, “Reporting Requirements for Personnel With Access to Classified Information or Who Hold a Sensitive Position,” was … Continue Reading
As previously reported, the Trump Administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 includes a plan to merge the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) into the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). Pragmatically, this would add the OFCCP’s broad responsibilities to an already overburdened EEOC, without providing the EEOC any additional funding to accomplish its … Continue Reading
On May 23, 2017, the Trump Administration released its proposed fiscal year 2018 budget. Not surprisingly, the budget proposes significant changes for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”). In the Department of Labor’s budget proposal, the Administration has laid the groundwork to merge the OFCCP into the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) by … Continue Reading
The OFCCP has announced its 2017 Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Benchmark. The new benchmark is 6.7%, slightly lower than the previous year’s 6.9% benchmark. The VEVRAA Benchmark is the figure which federal contractors must use to assess the effectiveness of their outreach programs for the hiring of veterans. Contractors may either use the OFCCP’s … Continue Reading
Earlier today, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that the Office of Management and Budget renewed the voluntary self-identification form for individuals with disabilities for an additional three years. This renewed Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form is exactly the same as the prior form, except that it has a new expiration date … Continue Reading
Although the first eleven days of the Trump Administration have been full of activity and controversy, federal government contractors have been waiting to see if President Trump will undo or modify the compliance obligations imposed on them through the numerous Executive Orders issued by President Obama. This morning (January 31, 2017) the White House announced … Continue Reading
This week, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued three proposed rules expanding data security and privacy requirements for contractors and subcontractors. The proposed rules build upon other recent efforts by various federal agencies to strengthen safeguarding requirements for sensitive government information. Given the increasing emphasis on data security and privacy, contractors and subcontractors are … Continue Reading
On January 4, 2017, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) sued Google, claiming that the tech giant is illegally withholding information about the compensation it provides its employees. OFCCP seeks the information as part of an ongoing review of Google’s compliance with the various equal protection laws enforced by the OFCCP.… Continue Reading
On October 24, 2016, just one day prior to effective date of the Regulations and Guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (collectively the “Rule”), Judge Marcia Crone of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas enjoined the implementation of almost every provision of the Rule. Specifically, Judge Crone … Continue Reading
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published its final rule implementing Executive Order 13706 (the “Final Rule”), which requires certain federal contractors and subcontractors to provide paid sick leave to their employees. Our previous blog posts on this development can be found here and here.… Continue Reading
Loyal readers of this blog are well aware of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order and corresponding regulations which go into effect next month. Those looking to learn more about the topic can access our recent webinar and blog post on the “Blacklisting” regulations and what contractors should be doing now to prepare … Continue Reading
On September 13, 2016, Proskauer Partners Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner hosted “The Final Blacklisting Regulations: What Contractors Need to Know” webinar as a follow-up to our blog post “FAR Council Issues Final Rule and DOL Issues Final Guidance on Fair Pay and Safe Workplace”. For those who were unable to attend the webinar, it … Continue Reading
Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulations Council (“FAR Council”) and the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued its Final Rule and Guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”), commonly referred to as the “blacklisting” rule. In total, the Final Rule, Guidance, and accompanying commentary totaled nearly 900 pages, responding to nearly … Continue Reading
Today, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council (“FAR Council”) published the final rule regarding the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order (the “Order”), better known as the “blacklisting” rule. The Order imposes a host of new obligations on government contractors with more than $500,000 in government contracts, including an obligation to report various labor law … Continue Reading
From August 3-5, the Industry Liaison Group, a community of government contractors and members of the government contractor community, held its National Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event featured various speakers on a multitude of topics, including pay equity and achieving equality in the workplace. Proskauer attorneys Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner, and Alex Weinstein … Continue Reading
We have previously written about the updated sex discrimination guidelines recently published by OFCCP. Among other mandates, the guidelines require federal government contractors to provide paternity leave on an equal basis to maternity leave. The guidelines also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sex-based stereotypes, such as whether an individual dresses in conformity with … Continue Reading
OFCCP Issues Compliance Relief to Federal Contractors in Wake of Devastating Hurricanes
By Connie Bertram and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Affirmative Action Plan (AAP), Federal Contractors, OFCCP
Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Increase Announced – Changes Effective January 1, 2018
By Connie Bertram and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Compensation, Federal Contractors
Department Of Labor Challenges ALJ’s Decision On Google’s Obligation To Respond To OFCCP Data Requests
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Discrimination, OFCCP
Trump Administration Signals Delay in Merger of EEOC and OFCCP
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in EEOC, OFCCP
BREAKING NEWS: New EEO-1 Form Put On Hold; Employers Have Until March 31, 2018 To Submit Prior Version Of EEO-1 Form
By Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in EEOC
OFCCP Announces “Compliance Assistance” Town Hall Meetings
By Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in Federal Contractors, OFCCP
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Votes to Defund Revised Form EEO-1 Requiring Disclosure of Pay Data
By Alex Weinstein and Connie Bertram on Posted in Compensation, Discrimination, EEOC, Federal Contractors
Google Prevails, In Part (And For Now), In Compensation Data Dispute With OFCCP
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Discrimination, OFCCP
Contractors with Access to Classified Information Now Subject to Heightened Reporting Requirements
By Connie Bertram and Ryan Hutzler on Posted in Federal Contractors
Labor Secretary Defends OFCCP-EEOC Merger
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Amy Blackwood on Posted in OFCCP
Trump Administration’s Budget Proposes Major Changes For OFCCP
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Ryan Hutzler on Posted in Department of Labor, OFCCP
OFCCP Announces New Veteran Hiring Benchmark
By Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in OFCCP
Renewed OFCCP Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form Now Available
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Ryan Hutzler on Posted in Federal Contractors, OFCCP
Trump Administration Will Retain LGBT Protections for Government Contractor Employees
By Guy Brenner and Connie Bertram on Posted in Discrimination, OFCCP
The Department Of Homeland Security Proposes New Rules Affecting Federal Government Contractors
By Amy Blackwood, Connie Bertram and Emilie Adams on Posted in Employment Law
OFCCP Sues Google, Seeking Pay Data
By Connie Bertram and Amy Blackwood on Posted in OFCCP
BREAKING: FEDERAL JUDGE ENJOINS IMPLEMENTATION OF PART OF FAIR PAY AND SAFE WORKPLACES (“BLACKLISTING”) EXECUTIVE ORDER, REGULATIONS, AND GUIDANCE
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Department of Labor, Federal Acquisitions, Federal Contractors, Labor Law
BREAKING: DOL Publishes Final Rule Requiring Federal Contractors To Provide Paid Sick Leave To Employees
By Alex Weinstein, Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in Department of Labor, Labor Law
Department of Labor Announces “Preassessment” Program For Government Contractors
By Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in Department of Labor, Federal Acquisitions, Labor Law
Proskauer Hosts Webinar On New “Blacklisting” Regulations
By Connie Bertram and Guy Brenner on Posted in Department of Labor, Federal Acquisitions, Labor Law
BREAKING NEWS: FAR Council Issues Final Rule and DOL Issues Final Guidance on Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Executive Order, Effective October 25, 2016
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Department of Labor, Federal Acquisitions, Labor Law
BREAKING: FAR Council Publishes Final Rule On Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (“Blacklisting”) Executive Order
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Federal Acquisitions, Labor Law
Proskauer Attends And Presents At The Industry Liaison Group’s National Conference
By Connie Bertram, Guy Brenner and Alex Weinstein on Posted in Labor Law, OFCCP
New Sex Discrimination Guidelines Take Effect August 15, 2016
By Connie Bertram and Amy Blackwood on Posted in Discrimination, OFCCP
