Richard D. Alaniz

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) had earlier accused the Massachusetts-based company of violating federal affirmative action requirements.

According to the OFCCP, in May 2009, Tufts agreed to hire minority workers as customer service representatives to settle a finding that its hiring practices discriminated against minorities. Less than a year after that agreement, one of the workers complained to the OFCCP that he had been terminated due to his race and retaliated against due to his status as a member of a protected class. The worker claimed that minorities recruited under the OFCCP-mandated affirmative action program were segregated from other employees and had to abide by tougher standards during training. After an investigation, the office found that Tufts had retaliated against 12 class members.

“Our job is to protect workers, promote diversity, and enforce the law,” said OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu in a statement. “That responsibility to workers continues long after an investigation ends. Any effort to retaliate against workers who have already been victimized by unfair treatment only compounds the problem and will not be tolerated by this administration.”

Like Tufts, every company that contracts or subcontracts with the federal government for more than $10,000 is required to avoid discriminating against employees based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Nearly one-quarter of American workers are employed by a company that does business with the federal government, according to the Labor Department, so a significant number of companies come under the jurisdiction of the OFCCP.

The changing regulatory landscape has increased the pressure on contractors to comply with affirmative action requirements, as well as an aggressive enforcement agenda by the OFCCP. Since the National Equal Pay Task Force was introduced in 2010, the OFCCP has substantially increased the number of enforcement actions addressing pay discrimination, one of the areas targeted for enhanced review.

If companies with federal contracts or subcontracts are found to be non-compliant in regard to equal employment and affirmative action, they can face mandatory changes in their employment policies as well as bad publicity. In the worst case scenario, they may even be barred from working with the government. The laws governing the affirmative action programs for contractors are lengthy and complicated, so companies need to spend significant time to ensure compliance and to avoid trouble.

Three Laws, Many Rules

The OFCCP enforces three laws, which together govern equal employment opportunities for persons employed by federal contractors. These laws ban discrimination and require federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity for employment. These laws are:

• Executive Order 11246

EO 11246 prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors and federally assisted construction contractors and subcontractors that generally have contracts that exceed $10,000 from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also requires contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in every aspect of employment.

Companies must also make good faith efforts to achieve the goals that the OFCCP sets for employing women and minorities in “all crafts and trades” in their area where the contracts are to be performed.

• Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 503 requires affirmative action for qualified individuals with disabilities for all federal contracts over $10,000. It also stipulates that contractors and subcontractors who hold contracts over $50,000 and that have 50 or more employees must develop and maintain a written affirmative action program.

• The Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974

This law requires affirmative action for all personnel practices regarding covered veterans on contracts of $100,000 or more. The law requires certain affirmative action steps for disabled veterans, Armed Forces service medal veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans who served during a war, a campaign, or an expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized. Covered contractors and subcontractors with 50 or more employees must develop and maintain a written affirmative action program.

To ensure compliance with all of its conditions, the OFCCP periodically audits the employment practices of contractors. During these evaluations, the OFCCP looks at virtually every aspect of the company’s employment practices, including recruitment, job placement, training, promotion, pay, and termination. When the OFCCP identifies problems, it will recommend corrective action. Individual employees and organizations working on behalf of employees can also file complaints alleging violations.

If the OFCCP identifies a problem, it will normally enter into a “conciliation agreement” with the contractor. This can include back pay, job offers, seniority credit, promotions, or other forms of relief for victims. Companies may also need to institute new training programs, special recruitment efforts, or other actions.

If conciliation fails, the OFCCP will refer the case to the Office of the Solicitor for administrative enforcement hearings. If conciliation is not reached before or after the hearing, sanctions may be imposed. These can include cancelling, terminating, or suspending part or the entire contract. Contractors may also be debarred, making them ineligible for future government contracts. Cases also may be referred to the Department of Justice for judicial enforcement.

New OFCCP Regulations

The OFCCP recently issued new regulations pertaining to disabled individuals and veterans. These new regulations went into effect March 24, 2013; however, for companies whose affirmative action plan cycle is already in place, the new regulations will only apply at the next cycle.

The new regulations add a significant layer to the already complex world of federal affirmative action compliance. Specifically, the new regulations require contractors to aim for a 7 percent utilization goal for disabled employees and an 8 percent hiring benchmark for covered veterans. Neither of these goals are absolute requirements, but failure to meet them will make the OFCCP more likely to find a violation.

In addition, the new regulations increase identification issues, job listing formats, the maintaining and tracking of applicant information, and require increased record keeping. Contractors should be aware of these regulations and begin planning out how to meet their requirements.

Next Steps

In order to ensure compliance with lengthy, often-complex federal regulations, companies that work with the federal government, or that work with companies that work for the government, need to take several steps.

• Determine Jurisdiction

In most cases, it’s obvious whether a company needs to comply with the affirmative action obligations required by the OFCCP. However, some cases are less clear-cut. Affirmative action provisions also vary for non-construction and construction contractors. Companies need to know exactly where they stand in the eyes of the OFCCP, so they know what regulations they must comply with.

• Work with Attorneys

Ensuring compliance involves a dizzying set of rules, regulations, and actions. Companies that fall under the jurisdiction of the OFCCP need to consult regularly with legal counsel to be sure that they are taking all the correct actions.

• Work with Human Resources

Since the OFCCP’s jurisdiction is closely tied to hiring, training, retention, and promotion, human resources should be involved at every step.

• Train and Train Again

Anyone involved with hiring, training, promotion, and firing should receive regular training so they understand the rules that govern their employment decisions. Companies should also formalize training programs for employees, so they understand what constitutes a harassment-free environment and what the company expects of its employees. Workers should also know what to do and who to turn to when they encounter a problem or witness something that may violate the terms of their employer’s federal contract.

• Document Everything

The laws governing compliance for federal contractors require a hefty amount of paperwork and record-keeping. When the OFCCP conducts an audit or an employee files a complaint, thorough paperwork can go a long way towards addressing any concerns and minimizing questions.

• Set Up Referral Programs

Employers are supposed to encourage minority and female workers to recruit other minorities and women. By offering a referral program, companies can further motivate employees to refer friends, family, and acquaintances.

• Review the New OFCCP Regulations

The new regulations add increased headaches to affirmative action compliance. Contractors should review the new regulations with legal counsel in order to be ready when their implementation is required.

• Frequently Evaluate Processes and Procedures

In addition to the required yearly updating of the written affirmative action program, companies should periodically review every aspect of their affirmative action and equal employment programs in order to identify and address any areas of concern.

No contractor or subcontractor wants to endanger the status of their contracts with the federal government. In order to avoid issues and surprises, companies need to understand what is expected of their affirmative action programs and remain in compliance with all government regulations.

Publication date: 11/18/2013

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!