Government Contractor Compliance & Regulatory Update

Tag Archives: discrimination

OFCCP Announces “Compliance Assistance” Town Hall Meetings

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

Trump Administration Will Retain LGBT Protections for Government Contractor Employees

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

OFCCP Sues Google, Seeking Pay Data

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

New Sex Discrimination Guidelines Take Effect August 15, 2016

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 Settles Sex Discrimination Claims With Mental Health Provider

The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) recently settled a case involving allegations of gender discrimination with federal contractor, Integris Mental Health (“Integris”).  As part of the settlement, OFCCP and Integris entered into a conciliation agreement, governing the terms of the settlement. OFCCP found that Integris “discriminated against female applicants for occasional, part-time Mental … Continue Reading

OFCCP Publishes Final Rule Modernizing Sex Discrimination Guidelines

For the first time in more than four decades, OFCCP revised its Sex Discrimination Guidelines prohibiting discrimination by government contractors on the basis of sex (the “final rule”). The final rule applies to employers with Federal contracts or subcontracts totaling $10,000 or more over a 12-month period.  The final rule outlines sex-based discriminatory practices that … Continue Reading

DOL Settles Systemic Hiring and Pay Discrimination Claim With Government Contractor For Close to $2 Million

On November 19, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) announced that it reached a settlement with nine locations of a government contractor “to remedy systemic hiring and pay discrimination violations.”  The contractor in question provides uniform and facility services products to private businesses and the federal government. The … Continue Reading

OFCCP Expands The Available Languages For Its Complaint Form

On August 3, 2015, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) released its employment discrimination complaint form in five additional languages. The complaint form, which is available on OFCCP’s website, is now available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French. Previously, it had only been available in English. Employees of federal contractors may use … Continue Reading

OFCCP Publishes New Outreach and Education Poster

On August 3, 2015, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) published a new poster. According to OFCCP, the Outreach and Education poster is the result of “feedback received during stakeholder listening sessions.” OFCCP explains that the aim of the poster is to “increase public awareness of OFCCP and its mission,” as well as … Continue Reading

OFCCP Seeks Final Approval Of Its Pay Transparency Regulations From OMB

OFCCP recently sent its proposed final regulations implementing Executive Order 13665 (the “Order”) to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) for final approval. The Order, among other things, mandates that federal contractors disclose additional compensation information to employees and permit employees openly to discuss compensation without retribution. The Order directed the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading

DOL Files Discrimination Suit Against Baltimore-Based Federal Contractor

The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has filed a lawsuit before the Office of Administrative Law Judges against WMS Solutions LLC (“WMS”) alleging violations of Executive Order 11246. Executive Order 11246 prohibits discrimination in employment by federal contractors on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, … Continue Reading

The New OFCCP Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Protections Are Now In Effect

Yesterday, Executive Order (“EO”) 11246, as amended by EO 13762, officially went into effect, representing the first time in the federal sector that sexual orientation and gender identity have been expressly protected. On July 21, 2014, President Obama issued EO 13762, which amended EO 11246 to prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the … Continue Reading

Syracuse “Bans the Box” for City Contractors

Effective March 22, 2015, Syracuse has “banned the box” for any person that enters into a service contract or concession agreement with the City, or otherwise supplies goods and/or services to, or on behalf of, the City.  “Ban the box” refers to a growing movement at the state and local levels of government requiring employers … Continue Reading

President Obama Amends Executive Order 11246 to Protect LGBT Workers of Government Contractors from Discrimination

As the White House announced last month, President Obama signed yesterday an Executive Order that bans workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) workers of federal contractors.  Executive Order 11246, issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibits federal contractors from discriminating “against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, … Continue Reading

OFCCP Announces Settlement Regarding Hiring Discrimination

The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) recently announced that it reached a settlement with federal contractor Parson Brinckerhoff (“Parsons”) regarding claims of hiring discrimination based on race and ethnicity. During a scheduled compliance review, OFCCP determined that Parsons engaged in hiring discrimination between 2010 and 2012 that affected 247 Hispanic, … Continue Reading

President Takes Executive Action Over Pay Equity By Federal Government Contractors

Today, in connection with “Equal Pay Day” ceremonies at the White House, President Obama issued an Executive Order and a Presidential Memorandum aimed at ensuring that employees of Federal government contractors and subcontractors are not discriminated against with regard to compensation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Presidential Memorandum … Continue Reading

OFCCP Updates FAQs On Section 503 And Veterans’ Regulations

OFCCP recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) on the implementation of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (“VEVRAA”) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act final rules.  The most recent FAQs address questions regarding the availability of the “EEO is the Law” poster, the ability to use human resource information systems as the … Continue Reading

OFCCP Seeks Comments On Discrimination Complaint Form

OFCCP is seeking public comment its form for individual complaints of discrimination and retaliation.  An employee or applicant of a federal contractor may file a complaint of discrimination or retaliation with the OFCCP.  The OFCCP has a form for such complaints, designated Form CC-4.  The two-page form seeks identifying information about the complainant, a description … Continue Reading

Joint Standards Proposed for Assessing Diversity Policies and Practices of Dodd-Frank Covered Entities

On November 5, 2013, Proskauer issued a Client Alert providing an analysis of the jointly-proposed standards for assessing the diversity policies and practices of entities subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.  Attached is a link to the Client Alert.  Please be sure to check the Government Contractor Compliance … Continue Reading

Preparing for Future Government Shutdowns

Connie N. Bertram, co-head of Proskauer’s DC Labor and Employment practice and co-head of the Government Regulatory Compliance and Relations Group, was interviewed by Metropolitan Corporate Counsel regarding the impact of the government shutdown on government contractors and the steps contractors should take in preparation for another possible government shutdown and debt default.  Ms. Bertram … Continue Reading

OFCCP Announced a Series of Consent Decrees Impacting Contractors Prior to the Government Shutdown

Medtronic, Inc. and Medtronic Interventional Vascular, Inc. A Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) approved a consent decree on September 16, 2013 between the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) and Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) to settle claims of national origin discrimination in pay.… Continue Reading

Energy Company Settles OFCCP Racial Bias Allegations

On September 27, 2013, Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (“BGE”) announced that it entered into a conciliation agreement with the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) to settle claims of racial bias in its hiring practices.  OFCCP did not announce the settlement prior to suspending operations due to the government shutdown. … Continue Reading

ALJ Rules “Non-Asian” Group Not Protected Under Executive Order 11246

A Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) ruled on August 5, 2013 that the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) cannot proceed with a disparate impact claim against a clothing manufacturer because “Non-Asians” is “neither a race nor an ethnic group” for purposes of Executive Order 11246. OFCCP issued a Notice of Violation … Continue Reading
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