As 2026 approaches, the compliance landscape shaped by Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” is entering a more enforcement-focused phase. Based on the recent HR Unlimited Roundtable with former OFCCP and EEOC leaders, federal contractors must brace for a dramatic and high-stakes shift in anti-discrimination enforcement in 2026. The focus is…
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Guidance for HR Practitioners and Employees Workplace civil rights violations can occur in various forms of discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or retaliation for exercising protected rights. As HR practitioners, it is critical to not only help employees navigate these situations but also protect your organization from liability while fostering…
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August 28, 2025, marks the 62nd anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where over 250,000 people gathered to demand civil rights, economic justice, and an end to racial discrimination. The event became immortalized through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a call for a nation where…
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A recent EEOC lawsuit shows why federal contractors must continue to be proactive in preventing workplace discrimination. A Wake-Up Call from the EEOC On Friday, July 18, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a $360,000 settlement with Frontier Hot-Dip Galvanizing, a Buffalo-based steel company. This case should concern every federal contractor. The…
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The newly appointed Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has sent an email, June 27, 2025, inviting federal contractors to voluntarily report how they have wound down their compliance with Executive Order (EO) 11246. The letter asserts that EO 11246 encouraged discriminatory practices such as race- or sex-based quotas and implies…
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