Frustrated with Congress’s failure to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and consistent with his recent Executive Order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for employees of federal contractors, President Obama once again signed an Executive Order on Monday amending Executive Order 11246 to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in the list of protected classes federal contractors may not discriminate against.
Continue Reading President Obama Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Federal Contractors from Discriminating Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Beginning today, March 24, 2014, federal contractors and subcontractors have a number of new responsibilities. Contractors already have the existing obligation to collect demographic data regarding race and gender and take affirmative action to recruit, hire, and retain qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans. Now contractors must take additional steps to recruit and hire individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, including the collection of data related to the status of applicants and employees as protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Continue Reading New Regulations Governing Affirmative Action Requirements for Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans Go Into Effect TODAY!

As expected, new U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez has wasted little time implementing a number of agenda items in the few short weeks since his Senate confirmation. Secretary Perez announced two new rules that amend longstanding regulations under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which deal with federal contractors’ and subcontractor’s affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations toward protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Among other things, these new rules establish specific hiring metrics, data collection practices, and recordkeeping requirements that federal contractors must implement for veterans and disabled individuals seeking employment.
Continue Reading DOL TO COMPEL FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO HIRE MORE VETERANS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently distributed scheduling letters throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. The OFCCP sends a scheduling letter to notify a government contractor or subcontractor that a particular establishment has been selected for a compliance evaluation. In response to the scheduling letter, the contractor or subcontractor must submit its written Affirmative Action Program (AAP) along with supporting information, including detailed data on compensation, hiring, promotion, and termination decisions.

Make no mistake, an OFCCP scheduling letter should be treated in the same manner as a class action lawsuit, because that is exactly what it is.
Continue Reading OFCCP Mid-Atlantic Region Issues Scheduling Letters

Today, Rick L. Etter, Esq. and Schaun D. Henry, Esq. of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC’s Labor and Employment Group issued an Employer Alert entitled "OFCCP Jurisdiction Extended to More Hospitals and Health Care Providers."

The Employer Alert discusses the jurisdiction of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which was recently extended

Target Corp. has agreed to pay $6 million in damages to plaintiffs in California unable to use its online site as part of a class action settlement with the National Federation of the Blind. The issue centers on the Americans with Disabilities Act’s requirements that retailers and other public places to make accommodations for people with