"Hire a Veteran" - President Obama signs the Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011

Federal contractors who had undergone recent audits can attest to the fact that the OFCCP is stepping up their expectations and efforts with regards to outreach programs geared towards recruitment (and hiring) of more veterans. The OFCCP has gone beyond just asking for proof of job postings, but has also asked for proof of the contractor's active relationship with their local veteran's office and their utilization of the Department of Labor’s veteran outreach tools (e.g., asking for the local veteran’s office's contact information, when was the local office last contacted, etc.). This is also coupled with the expected Spring 2012 release of the revised regulations regarding the implementation of section 4212 of the VEVRAA (Vietnam Era Veterans' readjustment Assistance Act of 1974).



The current administration's focus on assisting the veterans to be part of the productive workforce has once again became apparent when President Barack Obama signed the "VOW [Veterans Opportunity to Work] to Hire Heroes Act" into law on Monday, November 21, 2011. This is another stepping stone for the Obama Administration in their high pursuit of making sure that our service members will have jobs available when they come home.



Read full article: Veterans Opportunity to Work to Hire Heroes Act of 2011

OFCCP: Federal Contractor Agrees to Pay $600,000 to Applicants in Recent Hiring Discrimination Case

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs today announced that federal contractor Caviness Beef Packers Ltd., doing business as Palo Duro Meat Processing Inc. in Amarillo and Caviness Packing Co. in Hereford, has agreed to a settlement resolving findings that the company discriminated against job applicants on the bases of race and gender by rejecting them for positions at the company's two meat processing facilities.

Read more about this hiring discrimination case at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/ofccp/OFCCP20111521.htm

Alcoa Mill Products Inc. Settles Discrimination Case with US Department of Labor

Alcoa Mill Products entered into a conciliation agreement with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). The terms of the conciliation agreement included paying back wages to 37 Hispanics and African-Americans in the amount of $484,656.19 and to two women in the amount of $35,516.88. Job offers will also be extended to nine of these individuals as positions become available. Alcoa Mill also agreed to spend $20,000 on equal opportunity, anti-harassment and sensitivity training for its personnel who are involved in the hiring process.

During a compliance evaluation of Alcoa's Lancaster, PA location, the OFCCP found that Alcoa Mill failed to meet its obligations as a federal contractor in ensuring that equal opportunity in employment is extended to all applicants without regard to race, sex, religion, color, or national origin. Director Patricia Shiu said, "No worker should be denied a job because of factors that have absolutely nothing to do with his or her ability to accomplish the work. I am glad we reached a fair settlement with Alcoa Mill Products, one that not only provides financial remedies for the affected victims, but also creates opportunities for good jobs."