Have we moved the employment needle for individuals with disabilities or just become more aware of disability inclusion initiatives? There has been tremendous buzz surrounding the business case for disability inclusion; however, this does not always translate into good jobs or career development. According to U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, "Americans of all abilities must have access to good, safe jobs....

United Parcel Service (UPS) has agreed to settle a nationwide lawsuit filed in 2009 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The settlement agreement will pay $2 million to approximately 70 current and former UPS employees who were alleged victims of disability discrimination. Read the EEOC Press Release issued August 8, 2017. The saga began in 2009 when EEOC charged that the world’s largest package del...

In a world where change seems to be everywhere, it is reassuring to know there are a few things that are constants. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Traffic will be congested when driving in a major city during rush hour. The federal government will issue regulations and some people will be unhappy about these regulations. While people are also in a constant state of change, something we traditional...

Tools for Your Toolbox – Understanding and Communicating the Fundamentals in Order to Achieve Success Topic: AAP In order to have effective Affirmative Action policies and stay on the right side of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations, it is critical to understand the difference between several sets of concep...

In order to have effective Affirmative Action policies and stay on the right side of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations, it is critical to understand the difference between several sets of concepts that are distinct, but often erroneously used interchangeably. Frequently, the assumption is that key staff understand these words or phrases, but in practice, terms relating to EEO are misunderstood by...

All businesses must comply with a number of State and Federal employment regulations. If you don’t know about employment laws and regulations, or if you know and do not follow them, your business could be required to pay fees or be in danger of being sued. What can smart companies do? Proactively conduct a human resources audit. A human resources audit is a comprehensive review of your employment policies and practic...

On July 14, 2017, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Recommended Decision and Order (the “Opinion”) in the case brought by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) against Google over Google’s refusal to turn over certain employee data as part of a compliance audit. The ALJ’s thorough opinion is informative, providing insights into OFCCP’s processes in complia...

Performance and conduct issues can be a source of concern for federal contractors in general, but can trigger even greater concern when employees with mental health impairments are involved. How do contractors address these concerns with their employees? It may be a difficult thing to do even when the contractor is aware of a mental health issue, but what if they are not aware? What if the contractor suspects that a men...

On July 26, 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a $10.5 million settlement with Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC for an alleged hiring discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the agency almost six years ago, on September 21, 2011. Bass Pro is a nationwide retailer of sporting goods, apparel, and other miscellaneous products headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. EEOC alleged...

To Merge or Not to Merge: Is That the Question? Topic: OFCCP The White House has proposed merging the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), purportedly to reduce redundancies in civil rights enforcement. Some prominent members of the federal...more...