Are you frustrated too?
I have been assisting federal contractors with their OFCCP job listing and outreach requirements for over a decade. Many employers I have worked with felt the efforts of their 3rd party vendor were sufficient to satisfy OFCCPs requirements as it relates to positive recruitment activities. As much as I tried to encourage employers to conduct appropriate outreach on their own, we were always met with resistance and hesitation. Many employers, particularly small and mid-size employers stated they lacked the resources to devote to planning and executing an effective outreach strategy and document those efforts. Those that did try to do their own outreach became frustrated trying to find the right partners that will benefit their business and eventually stopped trying.
Did you know?
Proactive outreach is written into the regulations, although this was not always a priority during audits. Well, the tide is turning and OFCCP is paying attention.
Recently, OFCCP issued a report summarizing the results of recent 503 Focused Reviews from 2020. It listed it’s top 5 violations in the report. Can you guess what made it into the top? Well, it was “failure to conduct outreach and positive recruitment”.
More than just compliance
While outreach efforts are becoming more important and relevant in terms of OFCCP compliance, it can also be a highly effective way to attract qualified diverse talent to your business and an important piece to your D&I program. I think it is safe to say that there is a link between AAP goals, OFCCP compliance and D&I objectives.
Help is on the way!
There are thousands of organizations and educational institutions that serve under-utilized populations throughout the country. They are eager to work with employers to help their clients find meaningful employment. So, while finding the right organizations that can help your specific business needs may take some work, the benefits can be significant for your business.
If your business is struggling to formulate and implement an effective outreach program feel free to reach out to learn how Diversity Outreach Partners can help.
Alan Klapman is an OFCCP compliance professional and diversity recruitment enthusiast and has partnered with Mary Leone to form Diversity Outreach Partners, which can help your business build, grow and document your diversity outreach efforts.