U.S. Department of Labor Honors Eight
Organizations For Creating Opportunities in the Workplace

WASHINGTON-For their efforts to promote equal employment opportunity, eight 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) Award, and Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Award-were presented to recognize innovative workplace programs and initiatives that increase equal employment opportunity for the American workforce.

"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 lead by example in creating opportunities for all and they inspire and enable people to pursue the American dream."

The Secretary of Labor's Opportunity Award, OFCCP's most prestigious honor, was awarded to Cinergy Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, for its innovative programs and initiatives designed to ensure equal opportunities for all applicants and employees. The three contractors receiving Exemplary Voluntary Efforts Awards for their outstanding EEO programs were Entergy Corporation, New Orleans, La.; Ivey Mechanical Company, Kosciusko, Mo.; and Pride Industries, Roseville, Calif.

OFCCP also recognized four public interest organizations with Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Awards for their support of federal contractors in their equal employment opportunity (EEO) efforts. These organizations are typically formed to help individuals with the least opportunities find and retain employment and often align their efforts with federal contractors to further EEO in the workplace. The recipients were Alaska Works Partnership Inc., Anchorage, Alaska; Black Veterans for Social Justice Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.; Greater Sacramento Urban League, Sacramento, Calif.; and Life'sWork of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pa.

OFCCP, an agency of the U.S. Labor Department's Employment Standards Administration, enforces Executive Order 11246 and other laws that prohibit employment discrimination by federal contractors. The agency monitors federal contractors to ensure that they provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability or veterans' status.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.