This is a brief 'heads up' to the DK community about an item in today's Federal Register from the U.S. Department of Labor -- on the issue of Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in federal contracting.
This is part of President Obama's overall advocacy against gender discrimination and for an even playing field on such things as equal pay for equal work.
PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE MARCH 31, 2015 on the proposed rules.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor's (``DOL'') Office of FederalThis proposed rule should be of considerable interest to those working with organizations like NOW, ACLU, Planned Parenthood Advocates, etc.
Contract Compliance Programs (``OFCCP'') is proposing regulations that would set forth requirements that covered Federal Government contractors and subcontractors and federally assisted construction contractors and subcontractors must meet in fulfilling their obligations under Executive Order 11246, as amended, to ensure nondiscrimination in employment on the basis of sex and to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their sex. This proposal would substantially revise the existing Sex Discrimination Guidelines, which have not been substantively updated since 1970, and replace them with regulations that align with current law and legal principles and address their application to current workplace practices and issues. Most of the proposed provisions in this NPRM would clarify well-established case law or applicable requirements from other Federal agencies and therefore would not change existing requirements for entities affected by this rule. The NPRM's approach
with respect to pregnancy accommodation is consistent with the interpretation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and by the Government in Young v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 707 F.3d 437 (4th Cir. 2013), cert. granted (U.S. No. 12-1226, July 1, 2014). [emphasis added]