U.S. Department of Labor Honors Nine Organizations for
Creating Opportunities in the Workplace

WASHINGTON—For their efforts to promote equal employment opportunity, nine companies and organizations were honored today by the U.S. Department of Labor at an annual awards ceremony hosted by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Three types of awards—the Secretary of Labor’s Opportunity Award, Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) Awards, and Exemplary Public Interest Contribution (EPIC) Awards—were presented to recognize innovative workplace programs and initiatives that increase equal employment opportunity for the American workforce.

“Each of these employers can take great pride in their efforts to provide women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities access to equal employment opportunities in our 21st Century workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “They create opportunity in America’s workforce and serve as role models for employers across the country.”

SCANA Corporation, headquartered in Columbia S.C., received the Secretary of Labor’s Opportunity Award. This award, OFCCP’s top honor, is given to one federal contractor each year that has established and instituted innovative workforce strategies and programs to ensure equal opportunity.

Recipients of the EVE Awards, honoring federal contractors that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative equal employment opportunity programs are: the Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, Calif.; Dell Computer Corporation, Round Rock, Tex.; LG&E Energy Corporation, Louisville, Ky.; and Tice Electric Company, Portland, Ore.

The EPIC Awards honor public interest organizations that assist federal contractors with equal employment efforts, especially in the areas of hiring and recruitment. Recipients are the National Business and Disability Council, Albertson, N.Y.; Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Portland, Ore.; Lynchburg Community Action Group, Lynchburg, Va.; and Nontraditional Employment for Women, New York, N.Y.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, part of the Labor Department’s Employment Standards Administration, administers and enforces laws that ensure equal opportunity for workers employed by federal contractors.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.