Four National Oil and Gas Pipeline Companies Reach $1.75M Settlement with EEOC for Discrimination and Harassment

Four national oil and gas pipeline companies will pay $1,750,000 and provide additional relief to 16 discrimination victims to resolve a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for systematic race, national origin and sexual harassment as well as retaliation in the workplace. The EEOC suit alleged that Plains Pipeline, L.P., Plains…
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OFCCP Portal: Certifying Affirmative Action Programs (AAPs) Ends June 30th

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) officially launched its new contractor portal for Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) verification on February 1, 2022. As a result, federal contractors who meet jurisdictional thresholds must now register for the portal and: Annually certify that they have a current AAP and are in compliance with OFCCP affirmative…
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Tesla to Pay $137 Million in Hostile Work Environment Case

A federal jury in California recently awarded a record-breaking $137 million award against electric car maker, Tesla, on accounts that the company did not adequately address racially discriminatory conduct against a former contract employee who is Black.  According to the suit (Diaz v. Tesla Inc., 17-cv-06748, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco)),…
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October is Disability Awareness Month: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

In celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Department of Labor has declared this year’s theme: “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”   “Our national recovery from the pandemic cannot be completed without the inclusion of all Americans, in particular people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Their contributions have historically been vital…
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OFCCP Settlements Zero In on Equal Pay and Hiring

A spate of recent conciliation agreements released by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) shows that the agency is making good on its promise to enforce equal pay and hiring rules. Equal pay has been a stated focus of the agency even before the Biden administration, which has promised to keep equal pay…
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