On September 8, 2023, the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) released its second Corporate Scheduling Announcement (CSAL) of the year. Federal contractors should immediately review the 2023 CSAL because it serves as the only advance notification to contractors of upcoming audits.
Category: Counseling & Compliance Training
OFCCP’s New Supply and Service Scheduling Letter Significantly Increases Audit Scope
On August 25, 2023, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that it has updated its Supply and Service Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing (Scheduling Letter). According to the OFCCP’s announcement, the updated Scheduling Letter “encourages contractors to submit information electronically, clarifies existing requirements, and requests new information that will allow OFCCP to better assess compliance.”
No Robot Bosses! Congress Takes on Employers’ Use of Artificial Intelligence
Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) have recently introduced the No Robot Bosses Act (the Bill) to the Senate in an effort to regulate employers’ use of automated decision systems in the workplace. The Bill covers past and present candidates for employment as well as workers “performing work for remuneration.” This broad definition is of particular importance as many employers use AI to sift through past applications to solicit reapplications if a new position opens up.
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Complying with Students for Fair Admissions: Initial Responses by Institutions and Agencies
Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. University of North Carolina, institutions seeking to admit diverse student bodies may need to review and ultimately revise their policies and practices in order to achieve that goal through appropriate means.
Complying with Students for Fair Admissions: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice Issue Joint Guidance for Institutions
On August 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) jointly issued guidance to help postsecondary schools comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina et al. (together, SFFA). The SFFA decision held that race-conscious admissions policies violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While the departments’ guidance provides institutions with suggested approaches for supporting student body diversity, it also leaves open other important questions, including the funding and use of race-conscious scholarships and other financial assistance.
New York State DOL Issues Amended WARN Regulations
The New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) amended its Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (NY WARN) regulations, which took effect on June 21, 2023. Both NY WARN and its federal counterpart require covered businesses to provide advance notice of closures and layoffs to the Commissioner of Labor and affected employees. The NY WARN regulations are more expansive than the federal WARN regulations, defining “covered business” as any private business employing 50 or more full-time employees in New York. As outlined below, it also has stricter notice requirements.
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