On Feb. 26, the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) that effective Feb. 28, 2013, there are significant changes in how the OFCCP addresses compensation in compliance audits and enforcement proceedings.听 These changes effectively open virtually every federal contractor鈥檚 actions, policies and practices that affect compensation to scrutiny, review and possible challenge by OFCCP.
The announced changes include the following:
- OFCCP will formally rescind the 鈥淰oluntary Guidelines鈥 and 鈥淐ompensation Standards鈥 issued by OFCCP in 2006. 听OFCCP has criticized these documents as improperly limiting OFCCP鈥檚 ability to conduct full investigations of compensation matters; and
- The OFCCP has issued new guidance, effective on Feb. 28, 2013, specifying the procedures that OFCCP鈥檚 investigators will follow to review federal contractors鈥 systems and practices for paying workers.听 The guidance is included in the newly-issued .