On January 11, 2016, the final rule implementing Executive Order 13665 (the “Order”) goes into effect. The Order prohibits federal contractors from firing or otherwise disciplining employees or job applicants for discussing their pay or the pay of their co-workers. Our previous blog post outlining the final rule’s requirements can be found here.
Today (January 5, 2016), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) announced that it will host a Webinar that “will provide an overview of the final rule, address questions received by the agency since the rule’s September publication, and illustrate the practical application of defenses provided in the rule through several hypothetical scenarios.” The Webinar is scheduled for January 11, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. EST. You can register to attend the webinar here.
With the final rule going into effect next week, employers should ensure that their existing policies are in compliance with the new protections. Contractors should be prepared to add the new non-discrimination language to their manuals and handbooks and either disseminate their updated policies to employees or post them conspicuously in the workplace. In addition, contractors should be prepared to post the updated “EEO is the Law,” poster available here.