Vigilant Blog

The rules apply to all sponsors of apprenticeship programs officially registered with the DOL or with a recognized state apprenticeship agency. The rules take effect on January 18, 2017, but the requirements are phased in over a two-year period. The states have one year to submit draft language to the DOL bringing the state rules…

A dental equipment manufacturer in Huntsville, Alabama, has agreed to pay $115,000 to job applicants who were systematically excluded from jobs, according to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Oral Arts Laboratory Inc. was a federal contractor when the OFCCP reviewed its hiring processes as part of a routine affirmative action audit. The…

Several branches of the federal government have created an interagency online tool to connect military veterans and employers. The new portal, located at ebenefits.va.gov, includes a section where employers can register to post jobs and search for veteran candidates. Tips: As a federal contractor, this offers one more option for expanding your outreach to veterans,…

Online application systems can pose a major barrier to individuals with disabilities if they’re not designed correctly, according to a recent webinar offered by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Many web developers have no idea that their beautiful web designs pose frustrating obstacles to applicants with visual, hearing, mobility, or cognitive impairments. For example, if…

On February 12, 2014, President Obama signed Executive Order 13658, which will require certain federal contractors to pay at least $10.10 per hour beginning January 1, 2015. Federal agencies will incorporate this minimum wage requirement into new federal contracts for construction or services. Affected contractors must then turn around and include the minimum wage requirement…

Following an affirmative action audit by the OFCCP, construction contractor M.C. Dean agreed to pay $875,000 in back wages and interest to be shared by 381 African American, Hispanic, and Asian American applicants. As a result of the case, the company will extend 39 job offers as positions become available, train its personnel, and periodically…

Because of problems with the launch of the 2013 VETS-100/100A reporting cycle, the U.S. Department of Labor has given federal contractors an extra month to submit their reports. The new deadline is October 31, 2013. Tips: Be careful to select the right snapshot date for your report. One of Vigilant’s members discovered that the online…