The five-year anniversary of the revised Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (503) regulations is fast approaching. This anniversary will allow for profound reflection by contractors on their progress made to attract, select, advance and retain individuals with disabilities in the workplace. It is an opportune time for contractors to monitor progress, highlight effective outreach initiatives and programs, as well as begin...

Author’s note: Pay equity and pay equity analyses are a complex and nuanced issue, and context matters. Employers should always consult with legal counsel prior to engaging in any proactive pay equity studies and conduct those analyses under the attorney-client privilege. As part of their obligation to 'evaluate compensation system(s) to determine whether there are gender-, race-, or ethnicity-based disparities'...

A recent ruling by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) regarding Item 11 requests has some important implications for both contractors and the OFCCP. The case, OFCCP v. United Space Alliance LLC, DOL, OALJ, No. 2011-OFC-00002, 2/28/11, can be found here. Before discussing the case, it might be useful to briefly explain the process by which a federal agency obtains approval to request information from employers. When a federal...