OFCCP Issues New Compensation, Recognition and Certification Directives
August 24, 2018
On August 24, 2018, OFCCP issued three new Directives, the most important of which rescinded the Obama Administration’s Directive 307, “Procedures for Reviewing Contractor Compensation Systems and Practices.” The agency also issued Directives creating a program to certify that contractors have prepared an Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) and are in compliance with federal affirmative action program requirements, and an initiative establishing a recognition program for contractors with high-quality and high-performing compliance programs and initiatives.
According to the agency, these Directives are part of the Department’s efforts to maximize the effectiveness of compliance assistance outreach.
- Clear Guidance for Contractor Compensation Practices : The new Compensation Directive , Directive 2018-05, rescinds Directive 307 (which had been renamed as 2013-03). Principally, the agency’s compensation analysis will now “mirror a contractor’s compensation system” when the contractor provides sufficient information. The Directive provides transparency to contractors on OFCCP’s approach to conducting compensation evaluations by further outlining the agency’s practices and approaches to similarly-situated employees, creating pay analysis groups, conducting statistical analysis and modeling, and other analytical matters relevant to conducting sound, compensation compliance evaluations and contractors’ self-audits. The Directive also emphasizes that where OFCCP “believes there are indicators of disparate impact in compensation, it will work collaboratively with the contractor to understand any defense that a policy or practice that caused the disparate impact is job-related and consistent with business necessity, and will fully consider supporting evidence the contractor provides.” The Directive takes effect for “all reviews scheduled on or after August 24, 2018 and they apply to open reviews to the extent they do not conflict with OFCCP guidance or procedures existing prior to the effective date.” Directive 2018-05 specifically outlines when information provided to OFCCP will be released as there have been some unauthorized releases of information about ongoing audits. Specifically, Paragraph 8 states “OFCCP does not release data obtained during the course of a compliance evaluation until the investigation and all subsequent proceedings, if any, are complete.”
- Affirmative Action Program Verification Initiative : Directive 2018-07 implements a verification process with the objective of ensuring that all covered federal contractors are meeting the most basic equal employment opportunity (EEO) regulatory requirement, namely, the preparation of a written AAP and annual updates to that program.
- Contractor Recognition Programs : Directive 2018-06 is re-establishing its contractor recognition program that will now include awards that highlight implementable best or model contractor practices, a contractor mentoring program that uses contractors to help their peers improve compliance, and other initiatives that provide opportunities for contractors to collaborate or provide feedback to OFCCP on its compliance assistance efforts.
The team at FortneyScott is reviewing these Directives in detail and determining what impact these new policies will have on federal contractor compliance and, more importantly, what next steps contractors should take to ensure compliance with the three new directives. Please contact your FortneyScott attorney or send an email to info@fortneyscott.com for more information.
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SESSION 4: Worker Categories, the 5% Gap, and Joint Assessments
New Enforcement Priorities at the Federal Agencies
AGC Labor & Employment Law Council's Construction Labor Law Symposium
SESSION 6: The Future of Global Pay Equity and Transparency – Caring for Employees
Fireside Chat with EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas
SESSION 4: Worker Categories, the 5% Gap, and Joint Assessments
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DOL Proposes New Joint Employer Standard In an effort to create a uniform, nationwide standard for determining joint employer status, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on April 23, 2026. The proposed Joint Employer Rule aims to restore a standard similar to the more business-friendly Trump 1.0 rule. Specifically, the proposed rule clarifies when multiple organizations would be considered joint employers under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. Comments are due within 60 days of the published date, or June 22, 2026. The proposed rule seeks to end nearly a decade of vacillating rules, as both the Trump and Biden administrations had tried promulgating a final rule previously. Those prior attempts created a series of conflicting executive and judicial rulings. As stated by acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, this NPRM is intended to establish a “clear standard on joint employment.” Four-Factor Test The proposed rule modifies the Trump 1.0 standard, which focused heavily on requiring actual control by one company over another to establish joint employment. A prior judicial challenge to that approach was successful, requiring some modification to any new standard introduced thereafter. The proposed rule, therefore, responds by offering a four-factor test that is still heavily weighed on aspects of control. The four factors are whether a company: has the power to hire or fire a worker; supervises or controls a worker’s schedule or conditions of employment to a substantial degree; determines the rate and method of payment; and maintains a worker’s employment records. No single factor is dispositive, and the analysis will focus on the totality of the circumstances. Single National Standard Still a Goal The DOL acknowledged that some circuit courts continue to consider more factors and said the four listed factors were “not exhaustive.” Additionally, other federal agencies and several states have their own joint employer standards, some of which are directed at specific industries. For instance, the NLRB finalized its joint employer rule in late February 2026, with a similarly aligned standard that has some variances from DOL’s proposed standard. A final rule is anticipated soon after the comment period closes. Once issued, the rule may be subject to judicial challenges from interested parties that previously opposed similar regulatory approaches. Contact your FortneyScott attorney for additional information on how to submit comments and/or prepare for its impact on your workforce.
