Though we may be in the height of summer, there is no slowing down for OFCCP.  Following last week’s ILG National Conference, OFCCP has continued to release additional guidance and assistance for contractors.  Most recently, OFCCP has introduced its Ombudsperson and unveiled a Contractor Assistance Portal.

Ombudsperson

In September 2018, OFCCP first announced it would be reviving the role of the Ombudsperson.  After a lengthy search, OFCCP has selected Marcus Stergio to fill the role in the agency’s national office.

According to OFCCP’s announcement

Marcus’ first assignment will be to design and implement OFCCP’s Ombud Service to facilitate the fair and equitable resolution for specific types of issues raised by OFCCP stakeholders in coordination with regional and district offices.

Fittingly, his prior experience includes serving as the primary administrator of the dispute resolution process for a number of multi-national organizations, companies and institutions. Per OFCCP’s press release, he received his Master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and his Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University. Stergio also took part in Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation and Dispute Resolution in 2013.

The Ombud Service fits well into the agency’s principal of transparency as the role, according to Director Leen will

provide an independent perspective and facilitate communication between external stakeholders and OFCCP regional and district offices.

OFCCP also recently announced the appointment of a Deputy Director, Bob Gaglione.  Deputy Director Gaglione had a distinguished 30-year legal career in San Diego before joining the agency.

We are looking forward to getting to know Marcus and Deputy Director Gaglione and having the opportunity to work with them both.

Contractor Assistance Portal

Adding to its continually-expanding contractor resources, and in furtherance of its Town Hall Action Plan, OFCCP has unveiled a Contractor Assistance Portal.  Discussed previously in some instances as an “on-line” HelpDesk, the Agency has developed to portal as a place

where companies doing business with the federal government come together to learn solutions to common U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance problems and challenges.

Specifically, OFCCP envisions the portal to be a place where contractors can ask questions (without attribution) to receive verified answers, search our library of frequently asked questions, and access helpful reference and compliance assistance materials.  OFCCP notes the agency intends to “continuously update the online help desk with new features and compliance assistance resources.” 

Stay tuned for more . . .

Tags: Bob Gaglione, Contractor Assistance Portal, Deputy Director Gaglione, Director Craig Leen, ILG National Conference, Marcus Stergio, OFCCP, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Ombud Service, Ombudsman, Ombudsperson, Town Hall Action Plan
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Photo of Laura A. Mitchell Laura A. Mitchell

Laura Mitchell is a principal in the Denver office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and leads the firm’s Workplace Analytics and Preventive Strategies Pay Equity subgroup. She partners with employers to evaluate, develop and implement policies and practices that ensure workplace fairness while mitigating…

Laura Mitchell is a principal in the Denver office of Jackson Lewis P.C. and leads the firm’s Workplace Analytics and Preventive Strategies Pay Equity subgroup. She partners with employers to evaluate, develop and implement policies and practices that ensure workplace fairness while mitigating legal risk. Laura is a guiding force in the firm’s most specialized and technical practice areas where she leverages an analytics-focused approach to partner with her clients in building legally compliant programs around which they can anchor their workplaces achieving productivity and stability.

Laura understands that creating a competitive advantage for employers in today’s workplace involves using a data-driven approach to counsel companies on the development of proactive and equitable non-discriminatory practices in hiring, promotions, separations and pay—and where advancements in technology can create both opportunities for efficiencies and risk that can be measured. Committed to putting her clients’ organizational goals first and foremost while balancing legal risk, Laura views herself as an extension of her clients’ team, responsible for providing proactive guidance and engaging in transparent, ongoing communication. Staying the course with employers across their organizational journey while balancing legal compliance obligations throughout their employees’ lifecycle ensures Laura’s position as a go-to resource.

Laura works with companies across all industries—both new and well-established multi-national organizations of all sizes—to realize the combined vision of legal compliance, increased productivity and economic growth enhanced by a focus on pay equity.  As part of the pay equity journey, she advises employers on the evolving pay transparency landscape, working to align compliant practices with the practical realities of the business world.

Laura partners closely with government contractors to understand, implement and demonstrate compliance with their EEO regulatory and compliance obligations. She also works closely with non-government contractor clients to conduct risk assessments of their programs, policies, and training to align with federal and state anti-discrimination requirements.

Laura is the editor and a principal contributor of the GovCon Employment Exchange blog and presents on pay equity and government contractor obligations. To round out her days, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and friends attending sports events, working out, riding her bike, playing pickleball and taking in Colorado’s incomparable sunsets.

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