The Equal Pay Act at 58 Years

June 10th marked the 58th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, which made it illegal for employers to pay women less than men for substantially equal work. Still, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently remarked in commemorating the anniversary, although the nation has made progress, “equal pay is not yet a reality.”  Indeed, women in…
Read More

LGBTQ+ Developments: What Federal Contractors Need to Know

This month commemorates Pride Month. With a new administration firmly in place, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and other federal agencies have turned a new focus on LGBTQ+ workplace rights and equality. Here’s a rundown of recent developments. OFCCP commemorates Bostock decision OFCCP recently issued a statement commemorating the first anniversary of…
Read More

EEOC Settles With JBS Swift Over Religious Discrimination Claims

Federal contractors take note of this case International meat processing giant JBS USA LLC, doing business as JBS Swift & Company, recently reached an agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to settle claims that it discriminated against Somalian, Black, and Muslim employees at its Greeley, Colorado plant.  The EEOC’s 2010 lawsuit against…
Read More

Workplace Violence: How HR Professionals Can Prepare and Respond

Recent events underscore the rising number of active shooter incidents in the U.S. The Washington Post reports that one in four active shooter events occurs at a workplace. And according to the Bureau of Labor, acts of violence are the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries.  What can employers do to protect employees and clients…
Read More

What Federal Contractors Need to Know About Employee Background Checks

Many businesses are surprised to hear that conducting criminal background checks on applicants can put you in the crosshairs of anti-discrimination enforcers, like the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which ensures that federal contractors abide by equal employment and other rules. After all, the need to conduct background checks on prospective employees is…
Read More