Government Contractor Compliance & Regulatory Update

OFCCP Updates The Federal Contract Compliance Manual

By Guy Brenner and Caroline Guensberg on Posted in OFCCP

On December 30, 2019, OFCCP updated its Federal Contract Compliance Manual (FCCM) for the first time since 2014.  The FCCM “provides guidance for OFCCP’s compliance officers . . . in conducting compliance evaluations, complaint investigations and providing federal contractors with compliance assistance.” In a press release, OFCCP explained that the updates “reflect revisions to OFCCP’s regulations, changes in practices, and to ensure transparency and provide greater clarity.”

OFCCP has provided a detailed overview of the changes and additions to the FCCM, broken down by Manual section. The changes to the FCCM include:

Contractors can download and review the full updated FCCM here.

Tags: FCCM, OFCCP, VEVRAA

Join Our Webinar: OFCCP – The Year That Was and the Year Ahead

By Guy Brenner on Posted in OFCCP

Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, to review the significant changes and initiatives implemented by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in 2019, what they mean for federal contractors and what federal contractors can expect in 2020. Partner Guy Brenner and labor economist Dr. Rick Holt, a Director at Resolution Economics, will address topics including:

  • The new Voluntary Enterprise-Wide Review Program
  • Section 503 and VEVRAA Focused Reviews
  • Lessons learned from recent OFCCP settlements
  • Anticipated developments in 2020

To register and for more information click here.

Tags: OFCCP, webinar

OFCCP Proposes Rules Codifying Procedures for Resolving Alleged Violations and Setting Thresholds For Discrimination Findings

By Guy Brenner and Caroline Guensberg on Posted in OFCCP

Quick Hit: OFCCP has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) it states would “codify the procedures that the agency currently uses to resolve potential discrimination and other material violations” and “clarify definitions to specify the types of evidence OFCCP will use to support its discrimination findings.”  The procedures dictate OFCCP’s use of Predetermination Notices (PDNs) and Notices of Violation (NOVs), and also provide the statistical and non-statistical requirements for discrimination findings.

Key Takeaways:

The proposed rule has a number of important components.  First, it codifies the procedures for two formal notices—PDNs and NOVs—OFCCP uses to notify contractors of findings of employment discrimination.  As such, if adopted, the proposed rule will provide contractors more clarity with regard to this process and make it more difficult for the agency to change the process.  The agency has been criticized for having opaque and inconsistently applied procedures.  For example, much of what occurs during an audit is guided by the Federal Contract Compliance Manual (FCCM), but the document itself makes clear it “does not establish substantive agency policy.”  As such, contractors had little recourse if compliance officers ignored provisions of the FCCM.  Moreover, OFCCP could change the FCCM’s procedures anytime it wished.  For example, OFCCP recently changed the PDN process in the FCCM via a Directive.  If adopted, the new regulations will codify the PDN and NOV process and prevent any changes absent a formal rulemaking with notice and the opportunity for review and comment.

Second, as part of the codification of the PDN and NOV process, OFCCP has proposed that contractors may bypass PDN and NOV procedures when there are preliminary findings of material violations and skip straight to conciliation, even when the violations involve discrimination.  This is consistent with OFCCP’s general effort to streamline the audit process and facilitate the resolution of audits on an expedited basis.

Third, and perhaps most important, the proposed rule defines the statistical thresholds necessary for the issuance of a PDN, providing that a PDN will not be issued when statistical indicators of discrimination are below three standard deviations absent “corroborating nonstatistical evidence” that “demonstrat[es] an intent to discriminate.”  However, “corroborating nonstatistical evidence” is not required to issue a PDN where the statistical indicators of discrimination are at or above three standard deviations.

More Detail:

On December 30, 2019, OFCCP issued the NPRM proposing a number of changes to its regulations.  OFCCP explains that the proposed rules are intended to “provide federal contractors and subcontractors with greater certainty about the procedures that OFCCP follows during compliance evaluations to resolve employment discrimination and other material violations.”  The proposed rules have a number of components.

First, they codify OFCCP’s use of PDNs and NOVs.  Under the proposal, which is similar to current stated practice, if a compliance review “indicates preliminary findings of discrimination,” the agency will send the contractor a PDN to inform it of the agency’s preliminary findings. The contractor will then have 15 calendar days to respond. If the contractor fails to respond “or provide a sufficient response within 15 calendar days of receipt of the notice,” OFCCP may issue an NOV.  Under the proposal, where the violations do not involve discrimination, a PDN is not required before issuing an NOV.

Under the proposed rule,  “[i]f a compliance review or other review by OFCCP indicates preliminary findings of discrimination or other material violations of the equal opportunity clause, OFCCP may issue a [NOV] to provide notice to the contractor requiring corrective action and inviting conciliation through a written agreement.”

In addition to codifying the process of issuing PDNs and NOVs described above, the proposed rules clarify that “[a] contractor may waive the [PDN and NOV] procedures . . . to enter directly into a conciliation agreement.” This bypass option is available even when the material violations involve discrimination. According to the NPRM, allowing contractors to skip the PDN and NOV procedures “would further the agency’s efforts to improve efficiency, codifying an expedited option for resolution that would apply to compliance reviews in their early stages.”

Second, OFCCP has proposed that it will not issue a PDN notifying a contractor of preliminary findings of discrimination unless its statistical analysis shows a disparity of at least two standard deviations.  Importantly, in instances where the statistical indicators of discrimination are between two and three standard deviations, the agency will require “corroborating nonstatistical evidence” demonstrating “an intent to discriminate” before issuing a PDN. The nonstatistical evidence OFCCP may examine includes “testimony about biased statements, remarks, attitudes, or acts based upon membership in a protected class; differential treatment through review of comparators, cohorts, or summary data reflecting differential selections, compensation and/or qualifications; testimony about individuals denied or given misleading or contradictory information about employment or compensation practices; testimony about the extent of discretion or subjectivity involved in making employment decisions; or other anecdotal or supporting evidence.”

However, the proposed rules provide that OFCCP may issue a PDN without any corroborating nonstatistical evidence where the statistical indicators of discrimination are at least three standard deviations.

Finally, the proposed rules update references to OFCCP’s agency head in regulations from “Deputy Assistant Secretary” to the correct title of “Director.”

Comments on the proposed rule are due by January 29, 2020 and can be submitted here. We will continue to advise our readers of developments related to this proposed rule as more details are made available.

Tags: FCCM, NPRM, OFCCP

OFCCP Will Not Use EEO-1 Component 2 Data In Audits

By Guy Brenner and Caroline Guensberg on Posted in Compensation, Department of Labor, Discrimination, EEOC, Employment Law, federal contractor, Federal Contractors, Labor Law, OFCCP

On November 22, 2019, OFCCP announced it will not “request, accept, or use” EEO-1 Component 2 pay and hours worked data from government contractors in connection with audits (or otherwise).

OFCCP explained that it will not request or use the data because it is “collected in a format that is highly aggregated” and, therefore, is “too broad to provide much utility” to OFCCP. Additionally, OFCCP stated that analyzing EEO-1 Component 2 data would place an unnecessary financial burden on the agency’s limited resources. Finally, OFCCP stated that it is not necessary for the agency to receive EEO-1 Component 2 data because it already “receives up-to-date, employee-level pay data from contractors that are selected for compliance evaluations.” OFCCP will, however, continue to receive EEO-1 Component 1 data, which provides an aggregated snapshot of an employer’s workforce, broken down by race and sex.

OFCCP’s announcement is not surprising. In its proposed revisions to its audit scheduling letters, OFCCP indicated it would seek only EEO-1 Component 1 data. In addition, as OFCCP notes in its announcement, the data it receives from contractors during audits is far more useful for determining pay discrimination issues than the data provided in the EEO-1 Component 2. Indeed, the utility of the EEO-1 Component 2 data has been questioned widely, including by the EEOC.

Although the burden of producing EEO-1 Component 2 reports is minimal, OFCCP’s announcement is welcome news for contractors as OFCCP has made clear that not only will it not request the information, it will not use it. Accordingly, although contractors still must concern themselves with the analysis OFCCP will apply to the robust, employee-level data they must submit during audits, they do not have to worry about OFCCP using the EEO-1 Component 2 data, with all of its limitations, to reach pay discrimination conclusions.

 

OFCCP Directive: Audits Will Investigate Discrimination Against Spouses Of Protected Veterans

By Guy Brenner on Posted in OFCCP

On November 8, 2019, just before Veterans Day, OFCCP issued Directive (2020-01) (the “Directive”), which addresses “Spouses of Protected Veterans.”  Its latest directive is the first of FY2020 and follows up on the agency’s supplemental CSAL identifying contractors selected for VEVRAA Focused Reviews.

The Directive observes that spouses of protected veterans are protected by OFCCP regulations, and directs OFCCP compliance officers to investigate potential discrimination against such individuals during onsite investigations.

Specifically, compliance officers will, among other things:

  • offer Human Resources staff and managers compliance assistance by providing a sample nondiscrimination policy;
  • ensure “the contractor understands its obligation not to discriminate against qualified individuals whom the contractor knows to be spouses or other associates of a protected veteran”; and
  • ask employees interviewed during onsite investigations if they are or have coworkers who are spouses of protected veterans, and request “any observations they have concerning the treatment of spouses of protected veterans.”

Key Takeaway:

Contractors are advised to review and update, if necessary, their nondiscrimination policies to ensure they prohibit discrimination against protected veterans as well as their spouses and others associated with protected veterans.  OFCCP has provided sample policy language contractors may wish to adopt or use to modify their existing policies:

It is [Federal Contractor, Inc.’s] policy not to discriminate because of a person’s relationship or association with a protected veteran. This includes spouses and other family members. Also, [Federal Contractor, Inc.] will safeguard the fair and equitable treatment of protected veteran spouses and family members with regard to all employment actions and prohibit harassment of applicants and employees because of their relationship or association with a protected veteran.

Contractors selected for any compliance evaluation, but particularly VEVRAA Focused Reviews, should be prepared for compliance officers to investigate potential discrimination of protected veterans’ spouses when conducting onsite visits.

OFCCP Issues Supplemental CSAL – Were You Selected For A New VEVRAA Focused Review?

By Guy Brenner on Posted in OFCCP

On November 8, 2019, OFCCP released its Corporate Scheduling Announcement List (“CSAL”) Supplement.  The list identifies 500 establishments selected for the new VEVRAA focused review compliance evaluation.  In 2018, OFCCP announced that it would be conducting focused reviews during which it would target its analysis on contractors’ compliance with  Executive Order 11246 (the “EO”) (equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin); Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (“Section 503”) (equal employment for individuals with disabilities), or the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (“VEVRAA”) (equal employment for protected veterans).

OFCCP has already commenced Section 503 focused reviews, but this is the first time the agency has scheduled VEVRAA focused reviews.  In its November 8, 2019 announcement, OFCCP also shared that it has created a VEVRAA focused review webpage “[t]o help contractors prepare for the upcoming reviews.”  The agency touts the resource as providing “best practices, protected veteran resources, answers to frequently asked questions, and other compliance assistance resources.”

Contractors are advised to review the Supplemental CSAL (available online) to see if they have been selected for a VEVRAA Focused Review and, if so, review the current and proposed VEVRAA Focused Review scheduling letters to prepare for their upcoming compliance evaluation, and consult with counsel as necessary.

OFCCP Sets New Record For Bias Settlements In FY19

By Guy Brenner on Posted in OFCCP

Any illusions that OFCCP would disappear during the Trump Administration should have already been put to rest with the nearly non-stop activity of the agency since 2017.  But to the extent there was any remaining doubt, a recent report about the monetary recoveries secured by the agency should put that to rest.

As OFCCP announced, in the recently completed fiscal year, the agency set a new record for monetary recoveries:  over $40 million, obliterating its prior record of $24 million in FY17.  This haul came primarily through settlement agreements with government contractors to resolve allegations of pay and hiring discrimination.

OFCCP may appear to be a more contractor-friendly agency than it was during the Obama Administration due to its initiatives aimed at increasing transparency and fairness, but that should not lull contractors into a false sense of complacency.  The agency has also made significant changes to the way it does business, making it more effective and expanding its reach.

Government contractors that continue to ignore their OFCCP compliance obligations hoping they will not be audited are playing a game where the odds of losing have increased dramatically, as have the financial and public relations consequences.  All government contractors should review their practices and policies to ensure compliance, and consult with experts to ensure they are aware of the latest developments and enforcement trends in order to avoid being part of OFCCP’s recovery tally for FY20.

OFCCP Proposes Changes to the Self-Identification of Disability Form

By Guy Brenner and Mark A. Linscott on Posted in OFCCP

On October 3, 2019 OFCCP submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget for approval of proposed changes to its Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form.  OFCCP explained that it had proposed the changes “in an effort to increase the response rate on the form.”

The proposed changes include:

  • Removing the reasonable accommodation notice;
  • Expanding the language under the “Why are you being asked to complete this form” section;
  • Revising and alphabetizing the disability example list, including:
    • Adding autoimmune disorders, depression/anxiety, cardiovascular/heart disease, and gastrointestinal disorders to the list;
    • Adding broad categories of disability, such as “psychiatric conditions”, to consolidate previously individually listed disabilities like bipolar disorder and major depression.

OFCCP explains that it removed the reasonable accommodation notice because it was “not necessary to the information collection and created confusion among applicants and employees who thought that completing the form automatically referred them for a reasonable accommodation.” OFCCP described its other changes to the form as “softening the tone…to make the language more positive.”

The proposed voluntary self-identification form can be found here. The current disability self-identification form, which does not expire until January 2020, can be found here. Contractors may submit comments on the proposed changes through December 2, 2019.

Contractors have continually struggled with low response rates to disability self-identification forms, so any effort to encourage higher response rates is welcome.  Even so, it is hard to see how these modest changes will, on their own, have much of an impact on response rates.

GAO Report Assesses OFCCP Progress and Indicates Annual AAP Collection Not Far Off

By Guy Brenner and Mark A. Linscott on Posted in OFCCP

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report (the “2019 Report”) evaluating the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) implementation of the GAO’s 2016 and 2017 recommendations for improving oversight of contractor compliance. The 2019 Report concludes that OFCCP has implemented only 4 of the GAO’s 11 recommended changes.

The key findings and recommendations in the GAO’s 2019 Report are described below, but perhaps the most interesting aspect of the 2019 Report is its revelation of OFCCP’s plan to require the annual submission of contractors’ affirmative action programs (“AAPs”). GAO had previously found that many (or even most) contractors were not preparing their annual AAPs, and recommended OFCCP develop a “mechanism” to monitor federal contractors’ compliance with the AAP requirements “on a regular basis.”

The 2019 Report reveals that OFCCP is about to do just that.  According to the report, OFCCP is creating an online portal through which contractors can submit their AAPs annually. In addition, OFCCP is reportedly developing an information collection request to have the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the annual collection of contractor AAPs.

We have been warning contractors for some time that OFCCP expects AAP compliance and will have little tolerance for contractors who they find have failed to comply. It now appears that soon OFCCP will not have to audit a contractor to learn if it has prepared an AAP; it will know by virtue of whether the contractor has submitted its AAP to the agency via a web portal. Moreover, based on prior statements, and GAO criticisms, OFCCP will likely use these AAP submissions (or the absence of such submissions) to target contractors for compliance evaluations.

We will continue to monitor this development and share any news when it breaks.

OFCCP Fully Implemented Three of the GAO’s 2016 Recommendations

The 2019 Report states that OFCCP has fully implemented the GAO’s 2016 recommendations concerning: (1) “the risk geographic imbalances in compliance evaluation assignments;” (2) “outreach and compliance assistance efforts and [] options for improving information provided to federal contractors;” and (3) “[the clarity of] existing contractor guidance.” According to the report “no further action [is] needed” to address these areas.

OFCCP Has Failed to Fully Implement Four of the GAO’s 2016 Recommendations

1. Changing the Contractor Scheduling List to Focus on Contractors With Greatest Risk of Non-Compliance

The 2019 Report notes that while OFCCP has taken steps to implement the Voluntary Enterprise-Wide Review Program (VERP), and a new scheduling list methodology, these steps may be inadequate to ensure compliance efforts target the contractors most at risk for non-compliance. The 2019 Report observed that OFCCP’s new methodology’s heavy reliance on previously utilized neutral selection factors may impede its ability to prioritize the highest risk contractors in compliance evaluations. Similarly, the 2019 Report stated that VERP would likely “do little” to identify contractors most likely to violate nondiscrimination requirements “without overwhelming volunteer participation.” The 2019 Report recommended that OFCCP “[e]nsure the process for developing the scheduling list is not weighted by prior scheduling list factors” in order to fully implement the 2016 recommendations.

  1. Developing a Mechanism to Regularly Monitor AAPs

While the 2019 Report found that OFCCP had not fully implemented this recommendation, it also revealed that the OFCCP is on the verge of implementing an online portal through which contractors can submit their AAPs. The 2019 Report states that OFCCP “anticipates delivery of the portal by the close of fiscal year 2019.” The report also revealed that OFCCP is developing an information collection request for the annual collection of contractor AAPs and “anticipates that OMB approval will be timely to align with completion of the AAP portal.” The 2019 Report recommends OFCCP obtain OMB approval and launch the new AAP portal for public use.

  1. Providing Timely, Uniform, and Continuing Training to Staff

The 2019 Report indicates that OFCCP’s recent attempts to standardize its training and evaluation process have not fully implemented GAO’s 2016 recommendation. The 2019 Report notes that OFCCP retained an expert consultant in 2018 and fully implemented an action plan to “address any program gaps” in 2019. The 2019 Report observed that OFCCP was “developing a learning management system that will allow new compliance officers easy access to training soon after [] hiring.” The 2019 Report recommends implementing the new system in order to fully comply with GAO’s 2016 recommendations.

OFCCP Fully Implemented Only One of GAO’s Five 2017 Recommendations

The GAO made five additional recommendations to OFCCP in November 2017. The 2019 Report finds OFCCP has fully implemented its recommendations to “take steps toward requiring contractors to disaggregate demographic data for the purpose of setting placement goals in [] AAP[s]”. The 2019 Report concluded that OFCCP fully implemented this recommendation “by providing guidance to contractors regarding the option to include more specific goals in their AAPs.”

The GAO pointedly notes “[t]he agency has not taken action to fully implement our other four recommendations that focus on improving oversight.”

Four 2017 Recommendations for OFCCP to Address

  1. Analyze Internal Process Data From Closed Evaluations to Better Understand Cause of Delays in Compliance Evaluations

In 2017, the GAO found “OFCCP did not analyze data on closed evaluations to understand the root causes of delays in its compliance review process that may be straining its resources and inhibiting OFCCP’s efforts to identify potential discrimination.” The 2019 Report notes OFCCP had concluded that procedures outlined in its Active Case Enforcement Directive (DIR 2011-01) caused delays, but criticized OFCCP insofar as it failed to show “this conclusion resulted from the recommended analysis of internal process data from closed evaluations.” The 2019 Report indicates OFCCP officials are continuing to study the causes of delays and potential policies to address them, but does not comment on the effectiveness of the agency’s efforts. The 2019 Report states that OFCCP needs to “[d]emonstrate…internal policy changes are addressing the root causes of delays based on data analysis of actual evaluations” to fully comply with GAO’s 2017 recommendation.

  1. Assess the Methods Used to Consider Industry Disparities in Compliance

In 2017, the GAO questioned the accuracy of OFCCP’s methodology for identifying disparities by industry. The 2019 Report states OFCCP contends that it is “exploring the use of U.S. Census Bureau and administrative data to refine its selection process to focus on industries with a greater likelihood of noncompliance.” The GAO notes that OFCCP’s newly implemented scheduling methodology – which incorporates industries with the highest violation rates as a factor – should be further refined by OFCCP after it completes the most recent cycle of compliance evaluations.

  1. Evaluate Establishment-Based Approach to Compliance Reviews

The 2019 Report found OFCCP had submitted revisions to its process for selecting contractors for compliance reviews to the OMB in June 2019. The 2019 Report did not specify the changes OFCCP had made to its process. The GAO recommends the OFCCP obtain approval for its revisions to fully comply with its 2017 recommendation.

  1. Evaluate the Functional Affirmative Action Program

In 2017, the GAO recommended OFCCP evaluate the Functional Affirmative Action Program (FAAP) insofar as it could be a useful alternative to establishment-based Affirmative Action Programs. The 2019 Report indicates that OFCCP had taken steps to encourage contractors to use the FAAP program, but notes that “few contractors participate in this program and the agency has not conducted an evaluation of it.” The GAO observed “[e]valuating the FAAP could help OFCCP improve its ability to achieve its objectives and may provide broader insight for OFCCP’s overall enforcement approach.”

Tags: AAP, OFCCP

OFCCP’s Second Opinion Letter: Contractors Can Seek Advance Approval of PAGs, But…

By Guy Brenner and Mark A. Linscott on Posted in Discrimination

On July 22, 2019, OFCCP issued its second published opinion letter addressing whether “contractors can work with OFCCP to develop a PAG [Pay Analysis Grouping] structure that OFCCP would accept as valid for use in future OFCCP audits.” PAGs are groupings of what should be similarly-situated employees or positions used by OFCCP for compensation analysis purposes. OFCCP will compare employees within PAGs to determine whether there are statistical indicators of discrimination. For obvious reasons, the individuals included or excluded from a particular PAG can impact the outcome of a compensation analysis. In many cases, a contractor’s own PAGs will show no indicators of discrimination, but the same data when examined using OFCCP’s PAGs will lead to different results. As such, it appears the entity that submitted the inquiry sought a method to obtain advance notice of the PAG structure OFCCP would find acceptable so that it could analyze its compensation practices using the same approach and avoid an “audit surprise.”

In the letter, OFCCP responded to the inquiry stating that “contractors [have] the opportunity to submit their PAG structure for review and to receive feedback from OFCCP, which OFCCP would take into account in future compliance evaluations.” It does not say how or to whom such submissions should be made.

But, such a determination would be of little value to a contractor. The opinion letter makes clear that even if a contractor submits its PAG structure for review and receives the OFCCP’s blessing, OFCCP

is unable to conclusively agree that it will rely upon specific, predetermined PAGs in all future compliance evaluations as there may have been material changes to factors considered by OFCCP in its initial evaluation of the contractor’s PAGs. OFCCP must conduct its analyses based on the contractor’s pay systems, functions, and workforce organization as they exist or existed during the period under review, and thus if those have materially changed since OFCCP’s prior review, OFCCP will need to make a new determination as to whether the PAGs are appropriate.

In other words, where a contractor has submitted its PAGs to OFCCP for review and receives OFCCP’s approval of its PAGs, OFCCP will not be bound by its feedback in a subsequent compliance evaluation.

In light of this warning, it is unclear what benefit a contractor would receive from voluntarily submitting PAGs to OFCCP for its review. As such, perhaps the most useful aspect of the opinion letter are the statements it makes concerning Directive 2018-05 and its approach to pay analysis generally. For example, the statement that OFCCP should take into account “any compensation policy or practice that has a disparate impact on a protected group but is job-related and consistent with business necessity,” and that “Directive 2018-05 require[s] OFCCP to attempt to design its compensation analysis based on the contractor’s compensation hierarchy and job structure.” Of course, this letter must be read through the lens of Directive 2019-03 – which created OFCCP’s opinion letter initiative. Specifically, while opinion letters “provide guidance on the application of OFCCP regulations to fact-specific situations” they “do not establish any legally enforceable rights or obligations.”

We encourage our readers to stay informed of OFCCP’s opinion letters. We will continue to report on note-worthy opinion letters as they become available.

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