Quick Hit: A federal judge has issued an order lifting the stay issued by the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) that halted implementation of the EEOC’s revised EEO-1 form that would have added compensation data to the annual EEO-1 survey submission (the “Revised EEO-1”). In so ruling, the judge ordered “that the previous approval of the revised EEO-1 form shall be in effect.”
See original post from our Law and the Workplace blog here.
OFCCP has announced that its next Corporate Scheduling Announcement Lists (CSALs) are expected to be published on its FOIA Library in “mid-to-late March 2019.” As we have previously reported, OFCCP will not mail out CSALs to contractors but will instead publish the lists on its website.
OFCCP also shared that the lists will include Section 503 Focused Reviews and Affirmative Action Program Compliance Checks. OFCCP additionally promised to provide more Section 503 contractor compliance resources on its website in anticipation of the upcoming focused reviews.
Key Takeaways: The OFCCP’s short announcement provides a few interesting kernels of information for contractors.
First, because CSALs typically are issued in February, OFCCP’s announcement provides contractors some comfort as to when to expect the CSALs to issue. In addition, OFCCP will issue an announcement once the list is posted so contractors can stop constantly checking the OFCCP’s website. We will receive that announcement and will promptly report when the lists are issued on our blog.
Second, the announcement notes that Section 503 focused reviews will be part of this fiscal year’s compliance evaluations. Given that the announcement does not reference VEVRAA or Executive Order 11246 focused reviews, it appears that such focused reviews will not be commenced in the near future.
Finally, the announcement curiously notes that the list will include “compliance checks as outlined in our Affirmative Action Program Verification Initiative Directive.” The AAP Verification Initiative Directive (the “Directive”) mentions compliance checks as a component of the verification initiative that is to be created by OFCCP, but those checks are supposed to confirm the veracity of a contractor’s certification that it has complied with its AAP obligations. As the Directive states: “This [AAP compliance] verification would initially take the form of OFCCP review of a certification, followed by potential compliance checks…” The agency has not provided any information about actual implementation of a certification program, or a compliance check follow up procedure. As such, the reference to “compliance checks” in the recent CSAL announcement is noteworthy. As we learn more details about the compliance checks, we will publish them here.
Quick Hit: OFCCP’s Directive 2019-04 reveals the development a Voluntary Enterprise-Wide Review Program (“VERP”). Once established, contractors will be able to voluntarily participate in the program, submitting themselves to an expanded compliance evaluation as part of an application process and, upon admittance to the program, will be removed from the pool of contractors in the evaluation scheduling process for either 3 or 5 years. According to the OFCCP, VERP’s purpose is to “focus on recognizing contractors that have comprehensive, corporate‐wide inclusion and compliance programs” and “facilitate…compliance by high performing contractors and those who wish to reach the top”.
Key Takeaways: The Directive continues the recent trend of OFCCP initiatives expanding the reach of its compliance programs and working to maximize its enforcement efficiency. Much like the Early Resolutions Procedures Directive, which we reported on here, the VERP directive seeks to “help[] OFCCP be more effective in achieving its mission to protect workers, promote diversity, and enforce the law.”
The carrot that VERP offers to contractors—avoiding the uncertainty of the evaluation scheduling process for either 3 or 5 years—is most likely to entice contractors who are already putting in the work to meet their compliance obligations. Unlike a typical compliance evaluation which only examines a single establishment, the VERP application process evaluation examines both a contractor’s headquarters and a sample of their other establishments. Contractors accepted into VERP must provide periodic reports, verifying their maintenance of a discrimination free and inclusive workforce, for the duration of their participation in the program.
While VERP contends that it will offer “meaningful cost‐saving compliance incentives to federal contractor participants”, the true motivation behind the program appears to be the financial and enforcement benefits OFCCP will enjoy from the program. By eliminating contractors that are meeting their compliance obligations from the evaluation scheduling process, the remaining pool of contractors becomes more concentrated with contractors who are likely not meeting their compliance obligations. A 2016 Government Accountability Office report found that only 2% of OFCCP compliance evaluations result in findings of discrimination. As such, OFCCP has recently been looking for ways to use its budget dollars more effectively. By weeding out compliant contractors, OFCCP, is more likely spend its evaluation resources on contractors in violation of OFCCP regulations.
Like most recent OFCCP Directives, the VERP Directive makes sense for OFCCP. But does it make sense for contractors? At this point, it is difficult to say as the Directive merely announces the development of the program – details will follow. As such, at this point we do not know what requirements VERP will impose on contractors during the application process, the evaluation process, or in the agreement contractors enter into as part of their removal from the evaluation scheduling process. The Directive does not specify the quantitative or qualitative aspects of participating contractor’s self-reporting obligations. Nor does the Directive explain what criteria a contractor must meet for admittance to VERP. Details such as these are crucial to the cost benefit analysis of contractor participation in VERP.
More Detail: On February 13, 2019 OFCCP issued Directive 2019-04 which presents the framework for VERP. VERP “enables OFCCP to blend its compliance evaluation and compliance assistance activities to work with high‐performing contractors toward a mutual goal of sustained, enterprise‐wide (corporate‐wide) compliance, outside of OFCCP’s neutral establishment‐based scheduling process.”
The VERP Directive envisions two tiers of contractor participation. The top tier will consist of top performing contactors who have implemented “corporate wide model diversity and inclusion programs.” Admittance to the top tier requires meeting a set of (yet to be established) “more stringent” criteria. Non-top tier contractors are those that are compliant with OFCCP requirements, but wish to receive “individualized compliance assistance to become top performers.”
The application process will require, at least, that contractors undergo an expanded compliance evaluation of both their headquarters and a subset of their other establishments. Contractors must demonstrate that they meet OFCCP’s basic compliance requirements and demonstrate application of, and commitment to, corporate-wide equal employment opportunity programs.
OFCCP will enter into an agreement with every successful applicant that removes that contractor from the compliance evaluation scheduling process for the duration of the contractor’s participation in the program. Top tier contractors may remain in the program for five years, with the ability to remain in the program after re-evaluation, while non-top tier contractors can remain in the program for three years. The exemption from compliance evaluations will not, however, deprive OFCCP of the right to conduct investigations into complaints submitted by individual or third party complainants. To remain in the program, contractors will have to submit “period reports and information” to OFCCP to confirm that they “maintain a workforce free of discrimination or other material violations.” Exactly what these reports will require and how often they will have to be submitted is not detailed in the Directive.
Addressing what is likely to be a concern among contractors, the Directive states that OFCCP will not automatically place contractor applicants rejected from VERP on a compliance evaluation scheduling list. Rather, rejected applicants will simply return to the compliance evaluation scheduling pool where they may or may not be selected for evaluation.
The VERP directive notes, however, that the agreement between OFCCP and participating contractors is conditional on the contractor abiding by all of the agreement’s terms. Contractors failing to maintain VERP’s requirements may have their agreements terminated and be returned to the compliance evaluation scheduling pool.
We will continue to advise our readers of developments on this initiative as more details are made available.
In this episode of The Proskauer Brief, partners Harris Mufson and Guy Brenner discuss the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Harris and Guy highlight OFCCP’s recent activities and discuss what government contactors should expect in 2019.
Quick Hit: According to published reports, OFCCP will not mail out Corporate Scheduling Announcement Letters (“CSAL”) this year, but rather will post the lists on its website.
Key Takeaway: CSALs provide contractors with advance notice of an upcoming compliance evaluation. Because, unlike in years past, OFCCP will not mail CSAL letters to contractors in 2019 and will, instead, publish the CSAL lists on its website, contractors need to check OFCCP’s website to find out if they have been selected for a compliance evaluation. Failure to do so will deprive contractors of additional time to prepare for OFCCP’s scheduling letter which initiates the compliance evaluation.
More Detail: CSALs notify contractors that they have been be selected for a compliance evaluation. CSALs were provided as a courtesy, giving contractors advanced notice to prepare for the impending compliance evaluation. Previously, CSALs were mailed to contractors, with the first batch issued in February of each year.
In a change to this practice, according to an article in Bloomberg Law News, OFCCP will not mail out CSALs to contractors when they are issued in 2019. Instead, contractors will have to check OFCCP’s website to determine if they have been selected for a compliance evaluation. This new approach is consistent with OFCCP’s efforts at increasing efficiency – an initiative discussed during Proskauer’s recent webinar on OFCCP developments (which is available here). OFCCP had already taken the step of publishing the list of contractors selected for compliance evaluations on its website. By directing contractors to check its website, OFCCP saves the time and cost of sending out CSALs directly to impacted contractors.
As a result, contractors should proactively monitor OFCCP’s website to see if they have been selected for an evaluation. This year’s CSAL list has not yet been posted. We plan to report to our readers when the OFCCP updates its website to announce the contractors selected for compliance evaluations.
Quick Hit: OFCCP is inviting contractor stakeholders, and their legal counsel, to submit “Burning Question[s]” to its Help Desk that the agency can answer in forthcoming Opinion Letters.
Key Takeaways: OFCCP’s invitation is its first public step towards implementing Directive 2019-03 (“the Directive”) which outlined the agency’s plan to enhance the utility of its existing Help Desk and to introduce Opinion Letters. This initiative is aimed at providing more guidance to federal contractors, who have long complained (with good reason) of the dearth of OFCCP compliance resources. It remains to be seen, however, whether the agency’s implementation of Opinion Letters will act as a salve or an irritant to the lack of compliance guidance plaguing the contractor community; contractors are hoping for clear, concise, and unambiguous answers to practical questions and not vague assertions that amplify the difficulties of compliance. Either way, contractors will need to stay on top of the Opinion Letters and Help Desk guidance in order to understand OFCCP’s views on compliance.
Another issue that remains to be seen is whether contractors will take advantage of the opinion letter service. Many contractors believe that contacting the OFCCP can lead to being singled out for a compliance evaluation – a view OFCCP has stated repeatedly is at odds with reality. Even so, in order to submit a question to the Help Desk or for an Opinion Letter, contractors will have to submit, at the very least, zip code information as well as either an email or phone contact number. This may dissuade contractors from submitting requests. One way for contractors to address such concerns will be to have counsel submit the questions on their behalf without revealing the identity of the client.
More Detail: As we previously reported, OFCCP issued Directive 2019-03 in November 2018 with the goal of enhancing compliance assistance. The Directive, among other things, outlines the agency’s intention to implement the use of Opinion Letters to assist stakeholders in responding to fact specific compliance situations. By soliciting questions from contractors, OFCCP appears to be gearing up to implement this program.
The request for “Burning Question[s]” provides several avenues for contractors to submit issues to be addressed through Opinion Letters. Contractors are advised to utilize the Help Desk Portal, submit a question via email to OFCCPOpinionLetters@dol.gov, or directly mail suggested topics to:
U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
ATTN: Division of Policy and Program Development
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite C-3325
Washington, D.C. 20210
Those who submit questions will be asked to provide certain location and contact information, but OFCCP states that identities of the requesting parties will not be included in their published responses. The request further notes that Opinion Letters will address issues only after obtaining the “consent of the submitter.”
Given that OFCCP hopes to target legal issues or fact-specific scenarios common to the contractor community, and has warned that it will consider a contractor’s compliance with an Opinion Letter when determining whether to issue a citation, members of the contractor community are well advised to keep up to date with the Opinion Letters as they are published.
For a more detailed review of the Help Desk and Opinion Letter Directive, see our previous reporting on the subject here. We will continue to advise our readers of developments on this and other OFCCP initiatives.
Quick Hit: OFCCP has requested applications for its newly created “Ombudsman” position. The opening follows the issuance of Directive 2018-09 (the “Directive”), which announced the “planned implementation of an Ombud Service” to address specific concerns “raised by OFCCP external stakeholders.”
Key Takeaways: OFCCP issued Directive 2018-09 in September. As we noted in this blog at the time, the Directive did not establish an Ombud Service – it merely announced OFCCP’s intention to implement the service. The posting of the “Ombudsman” position is OFCCP’s first concrete step (which has been made public) towards actually implement the service.
OFCCP’s choice of who will serve as the first Ombudsperson will be a significant decision. The individual chosen will be responsible for designing the Ombud Service. As noted in our prior post, the utility of the new Ombud Service will depend on the details of the program which have yet to be established. The choice of the first Ombudsperson will give contractors the first sense of what the Ombud Service may look like.
Obviously, the contractor community would welcome the selection of a person who has experienced OFCCP oversight from a contractor’s perspective. From the posting, however, OFCCP is not specifically seeking such experience in its first Ombudsperson; instead, OFCCP seeks someone with one-year of experience “in facilitating the resolution of disputes with regulated businesses, industries and other external stakeholders; and conducting a wide range of qualitative and quantitative analyses to assess and improve program effectiveness.”
When OFCCP announces the identity of the new Ombudsperson we will report it here.
More Detail: As set forth in the Directive, OFCCP is planning to establish an Ombud Service to “facilitate the fair and equitable resolution of concerns raised by OFCCP’s external stakeholders, conduct independent and impartial inquiries into issues related to the administration of the OFCCP program, and propose internal recommendations to continuously improve the quality of services OFCCP provides to its stakeholders.” The OFCCP’s job posting is the first public step the agency has taken to establish this service.
The Ombudsperson’s main responsibilities, as set forth in the job posting, are to:
· Design[], implement[], and execute[] the Ombud Service to bring an impartial and independent perspective to facilitate communication with external stakeholders on OFCCP matters.
· Manage[] all aspects of OFCCP’s Ombud Service. Plan[] work to be accomplished, set[] and adjust[] priorities and prepare[] schedules for completion of work, and provide[] recommendations to the director regarding resolution of concerns raised by external stakeholders.
· Provide[] regular reports to the director on Ombud activities, and ad hoc reports or recommendations on a range of issues related to OFCCP programs.
· Provide[] recommendations to the director to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of internal OFCCP operations in support of achieving the agency’s priorities, goals, and objectives.
For a more detailed review of the Directive and the creation of the Ombud Service, see our previous reporting on the subject here.
On January 16, 2019, Proskauer partner Guy Brenner and Resolution Economics Director Rick Holt delivered a webinar entitled: OFCCP – The Year That Was and the Year Ahead. The jam-packed presentation provided legal, practical, and econometric insights into the numerous actions taken by the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) in 2018, and looked ahead at what contractors can expect from the agency in 2019.
Over the course of the 70-minute presentation, Guy and Rick shared their perspectives regarding:
If you would like to experience this well-received webinar, it is available at this link: Download File
Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, to review the significant changes and initiatives implemented by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in 2018, what they mean for federal contractors and what federal contractors can expect in 2019. Partner Guy Brenner and labor economist Dr. Rick Holt, a Director at Resolution Economics, will address topics including:
To register and for more information:
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 announced a number of new initiatives with the stated purpose of aiding contractors in compliance and improving the relationship between contractors and the OFCCP.
