Affirmative Action Plan Consulting Services

Affirmative Action Plan Advisor: Consulting Services

This Advisor helps federal contractors and subcontractors understand basic coverage and compliance information on equal employment opportunity laws and regulations enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Employees, job applicants and others may also find this Advisor useful for learning about the basic obligations of federal contractors and subcontractors.

The following three equal employment opportunity laws are enforced by OFCCP:

Executive Order 11246, as amended ( E.O. 11246) prohibits discrimination and requires affirmative action to ensure that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended ( Section 503) prohibits discrimination and requires affirmative action in the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities.

The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended (VEVRAA) prohibits discrimination against specified categories of veterans protected by the Act and requires affirmative action in the employment of such veterans. Effective December 1, 2003, the Jobs for Veterans Act (JFA) amended VEVRAA’s federal contracting provisions regarding coverage, protected groups and mandatory job listing requirements for all federal contracts entered into on or after December 1, 2003. Contracts entered into before this date are subject to the VEVRAA requirements as they stood before enactment of JVA.

OFCCP monitors compliance with these equal employment opportunity laws and their corresponding affirmative action requirements primarily through compliance evaluations, during which a compliance officer examines the contractor's affirmative action program and employment practices. OFCCP also investigates complaints filed by individuals alleging discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, status as a qualified individual with a disability or as a protected veteran.

The Federal Contractor Compliance Advisor is one of a series of elaws Advisors that the Department of Labor (DOL) developed to help employees, applicants for employment, and employers understand their rights and responsibilities under numerous federal employment laws. Each Advisor includes links to more detailed information that may be useful to the user, such as links to regulatory text, publications and organizations.

Note: If you are seeking information about equal employment opportunity issues relative to private employers who are not federal contractors or subcontractors, please contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Using the Advisor

The Federal Contractor Compliance Advisor was developed to:

1. Familiarize employees of and applicants for employment with Federal contractors and subcontractors with their rights under the laws enforced by OFCCP, and with how to file a complaint with OFCCP.

This section of the Advisor describes the areas of OFCCP jurisdiction and provides a link to the agency’s complaint form. In addition, it provides contact information for the OFCCP office nearest you.

2. Help businesses and organizations determine if they are covered Federal contractors or subcontractors under the laws enforced by OFCCP.

This section of the Advisor takes you through a series of questions or statements that help you determine whether you are a Federal contractor or subcontractor. If you determine that you are a Federal contractor or subcontractor, the Advisor will then assist you in identifying your obligations under the laws enforced by OFCCP.

3. Identify a business’s or organization’s obligations under the laws enforced by OFCCP.

This section of the Advisor takes you through a series of questions or statements that assist you in determining your obligations under the three laws enforced by OFCCP. Your obligations under those laws depend upon the type and dollar value of contract(s) or subcontract(s) held by your business or organization; and on the number of employees employed by your business or organization.

Please select the statement that best describes your interest:

§                       I am an employee of or an applicant for employment with a Federal contractor or subcontractor and want to know about my rights under the laws enforced by OFCCP or how to file a complaint with OFCCP

§                       I want to find out if I am a Federal contractor or subcontractor

§                       I am a Federal contractor or subcontractor and want to find out my obligations under the laws and regulations enforced by OFCCP