OFCCP Issues Section 503 Focused Reviews Annual Report and “Certificates of Merit” for Contractors

The report covers the number of Section 503 focused reviews scheduled and completed to date, disability utilization goal findings, the top five violations found, and best practices for recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. It also recognizes the 2020 Excellence in Disability Inclusion (EDI) award winners (CVS and PepsiCo) and the “future” of Section 503 focused reviews. Of note were the top five contractor violations: 

1. Failure to conduct appropriate outreach and recruitment of individuals with disabilities that were reasonably designed to effectively recruit qualified individuals with disabilities;   
2. Failure to invite applicants and employees to self-ID as an individual with a disability;   
3. Failure to document the computations or comparisons pertaining to applicants and hires, as described in 41 CFR 60-741.44(k) and maintain this data for three (3) years;  
4. Failure to design and implement an acceptable audit and reporting system which measured the effectiveness of its affirmative action program; and 
5. Failure to develop and submit acceptable Section 503 AAPs and support data. 

To help prevent these violations, OFCCP suggests some best practices, including centralizing reasonable accommodation systems, providing alternative work arrangements, creating/using accessible online recruiting tools, coordinating with state/local vocational rehabilitation agencies, developing welcoming self-ID and disability inclusion programs, proactively analyzing personnel data, and employing a Chief Accessibility Officer. 

Briefly mentioned in the annual report, OFCCP also issued “Certificates of Merit” on January 19th, 2020, to recognize contractor’s successes in fostering disability inclusion. To receive recognition, contractors must 1) achieve the 7% disability utilization goal in 50% or more of their AAP job groups (or entire workforce with 7% representation 7%) and 2) receive no violations during their focused review. For FY2020, OFCCP acknowledged the following ten contractor establishments: 

• Ventech Solutions, Inc.
• Professional Management Enterprises
• Quantitech, Inc. 
• Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana 
• Systems Application & Technologies 
• Didlake Incorporated Consolidated 
• Airbus Helicopters, Inc.  
• Centers for Habilitation 
• Paul Hastings, LLP 
• Lighthouse for Blind in New Orleans 

As the new OFCCP administration settles in, including new OFCCP Director, Jenny Yang, stay tuned for more updates.