Best Practices for Implementing Section 503

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JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Best Practices for Implementing Section 503 Robert “Bobby” Silverstein, JD Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC Alicia M. Wallace, MBA Wellpoint Director of EEO Compliance, Corporate HR Center of Excellence Team

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Best Practices for Implementing Section 503 Robert “Bobby” Silverstein, JD Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville , PC Alicia M. Wallace, MBA Wellpoint Director of EEO Compliance, Corporate HR Center of Excellence Team. Preparing for Section 503. Changes to Section 503: From OFCCP: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Best Practices for Implementing Section 503

Page 1: Best Practices for Implementing Section 503

JAN is a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Best Practices for Implementing Section 503

Robert “Bobby” Silverstein, JDPowers Pyles Sutter & Verville, PC

Alicia M. Wallace, MBA

Wellpoint Director of EEO Compliance,

Corporate HR Center of Excellence Team

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Changes to Section 503:

From OFCCP:

Section 503 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability by Federal government contractors and subcontractors. Section 503 also requires that covered contractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

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Changes to Section 503:

Goal of revised Section 503: Update and strengthen contractors’ affirmative

action and nondiscrimination responsibilities Reduce the disparity in the employment rate of

individuals with disabilities

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Changes to Section 503:

Purpose of Affirmative Action Program and Plans: Management Tool Institutionalizes commitment More than just a paper exercise Dynamic in nature Includes measureable objectives towards

progress

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Changes to Section 503:

OFCCP: Highlights of the Final Rule: Utilization goal 7% utilization goal for qualified

IWDs. Data collection Invitation to Self-Identify Incorporation of EO Clause Records Access ADAAA

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From OFCCP: Contractors with existing Affirmative Action Plans on

the effective date may wait to come into compliance with Subpart C as part of their standard AAP review and updating cycle. OFCCP recommends that all contractors begin complying with Subpart C of the new regulations prior to the issuance of their first AAP under the new rules.

Must comply with other revised requirements by the effective date.

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From OFCCP:

Self-identification - Pre-offer invitation to self-identify Post offer invitation to self-identify Employees invitation to all employees 1st year

and then every 5 years.

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From OFCCP:

Contractors must invite their employees to self-identify every five years, beginning the first year that they become subject to the Section 503 voluntary self-identification requirements. In addition, at least once during the years between these invitations, contractors must remind their employees that they may voluntarily update their disability status at any time.

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Utilization Goal:

From OFCCP:

The new regulations include an aspirational utilization goal of 7 percent. OFCCP created this goal to give contractors a yardstick against which they can measure the success of their efforts…More specifically, contractors should use the goal to measure the change in the representation of individuals with disabilities in their workforce….The goal is not a quota.

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From OFCCP:

The recordkeeping requirements are modified to incorporate the new three-year record retention timeframe required under § 60-741.44(f)(4) and (k).

Contractors must document all actions taken to comply with audit and reporting requirements and retain such documentation as employment records.

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From OFCCP:

Reasonable Accommodations Obligations to provide reasonable accommodation

is matter of nondiscrimination. If an individual with a disability is having

performance problems that may be related to the disability, contractor is required to ask if an accommodation is needed.

Written reasonable accommodation procedures are not required, but are best practice.

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From OFCCP:

“To do’s” before contractor’s next AAP cycle Invite candidates to self identify Conduct a self-id survey of employees Implement documentation procedures for:

Outreach and recruitment efforts Self audit and reporting systems

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From OFCCP: Conduct documented assessment of outreach

and recruitment efforts Train employees engaged in key personnel

activities Conduct data analysis related to applicants and

new hires Draft EO Policy statement showing top executive

support for AAP Ensure applicants and employees have equal

access to contractor’s personnel processes Conduct annual workforce assessment, apply

utilization goal, identify problems, and develop action oriented programs

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Technical Assistance: OFCCP Toll-Free at 1-800-397-6251 (TTY: 1-877-889-5627) or contact us by email at [email protected]. Or field office at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/contacts/ofnation2.htm

Crosswalk of previous rule and the new final rules:http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/factsheets/Section503_Crosswalk_QA_508c.pdf

Training: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/final_rules_webinars.htm

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JAN 503-Related Resources:

SNAP! Tool - Applicant Tracking Software Accessibility Tool http://askjan.org/media/webpages.html

Free Webcast Training Series: http://askjan.org/webcast/index.htm

Just-in-Time Training: http://askjan.org/training/library.htm

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Questions?