OFCCP Issues Final Rules on Affirmative Action Obligations for Veterans and Persons with Disabilities, by Kimberly Korando, Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P. , JDSupra Law News

http://tinyurl.com/k97tbpf

The United States Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) has issued two final rules that will require significant changes to covered federal contractors’ and subcontractors’ (“contractors”) affirmative action programs for veterans and individuals with disabilities. One of the new rules makes changes to the regulations implementing the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (“VEVRAA”) and the other relates to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”).

Contractors will be required to comply with the new rules effective March 24, 2014 with the exception of Subpart C regulations. The effective date for compliance with Subpart C regulations will vary depending on whether the contractor has an affirmative action plan in place on March 24, 2014. Contractors who do have such plans in place on March 24, 2014 will be permitted to delay compliance with Subpart C until the beginning of their first plan year after March 24, 2014.