U.S. Department of Labor Hosts Virtual Event to Encourage Recruiting, Retaining Veterans for Contractors and Community-Based Organizations

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) will host an online town hall symposium on Aug. 4, 2020, for veterans and their spouses; federal contractors; state, local and federal agencies; and community-based organizations to highlight a locality-based model for recruiting and retaining veterans in Georgia.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Healthcare Systems and its partners – Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Goodwill of North Georgia, Money Management International, VETLANTA, WorkSource Cobb, Mary Hall Freedom House Inc. and the Warrior Alliance – will participate in this groundbreaking event. 

The symposium will provide contractors and hiring officials with useful information on how to recruit job-seeking veterans who have been prepared and supported by the participating organizations. Organizers are hopeful that the event will promote information-sharing and mutual understanding, and stronger networking to support veterans and their spouses as they pursue training, job opportunities, transitioning assistance and other resources.

WHAT:          Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ Town Hall Symposium

Addressing Recruiting and Retaining Veterans

WHEN:          Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT

WHERE:       Register for the online symposium ASAP

                        Attendance is free, but space is limited.

This event offers participants the opportunity to learn about the services that Veterans Affairs and some of its partners in Georgia offer along with the services that OFCCP makes available.

“We hope this event will encourage other federal agencies and organizations in the Southeast to join forces to support our covered veterans and their spouses,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Southeast Regional Director Samuel Maiden. “Together we can promote training, employment opportunities and employment retention. We also invite those who attend to join our Multi-Agency Veterans Integrated Support Services’ committee to brainstorm best practices and processes to empower and increase opportunities for our veterans.”

OFCCP also provides compliance assistance to discuss best practices for effective outreach, as well as the upcoming focused reviews designed to ensure contractor compliance with the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

For more information, contact Director of Regional Compliance Regina Jones at Jones.regina@dol.gov or Regional Liaison Karmen Johnson at Johnson.karmen@dol.gov for more information.

In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws, as amended, make it illegal for contractors and subcontractors doing business with the federal government to discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In addition, contractors and subcontractors are prohibited from discriminating against applicants or employees because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their compensation or the compensation of others subject to certain limitations, and may not retaliate against applicants or employees for engaging in protected activities. These laws also require that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit https://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.