U.S. Department of Labor Provides Compliance Assistance Guide For Educational Institutions with Federal Contracts

WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has released a new Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for Educational Institutions to assist them in meeting their legal requirements and responsibilities as federal contractors.

OFCCP published the new TAG to reflect current regulations and provide practical, useful compliance assistance resources for educational institutions – universities, senior colleges and junior/community colleges – with federal contracts. OFCCP recognizes that compliance evaluations of educational institutions may present unique challenges related to institutions' methods of governance, various organizational structures and multiple workforces. This guide helps contractors understand their legal and regulatory obligations, and prepare for compliance evaluations by highlighting best practices and providing useful references.

"Our new Technical Assistance Guide is designed to help educational institutions with federal contracts fulfill their obligations under the law as federal contractors," said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Craig E. Leen. "By providing assistance to those subject to federal compliance evaluations, we hope to enable these organizations to recognize and address issues that could result in violations."  

OFCCP is a civil rights agency in the U.S. Department of Labor. It enforces Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. Collectively, these laws prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Additionally, contractors must act affirmatively to ensure equal employment opportunity in their employment processes, and they must not discriminate against applicants or employees because they inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or that of others, subject to certain limitations. For more information, please call OFCCP's toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.