OFCCP Partners with ODEP

This week, OFCCP announced that the Office of Disability Employment Services (ODEP) published the results of its 2018 Survey of Employer Policies on the Employment of People with Disabilities. This survey has collected information on the participating employers’ recruitment efforts. In addition, the press release states that the survey collects information that speaks to the employer’s attitudes toward people with disabilities. According to the Final Report, ODEP uses the key findings of the survey to create meaningful pathways for the recruitment and hiring of people with disabilities.

OFCCP partners with ODEP to be able to use those same key findings during compliance evaluations to help federal contactors in addition to providing overall compliance assistance. The press release also reminds the contractor community it was this partnership that garnered the OFCCP’s Excellence in Disability Inclusion award to spotlight those federal contractors who “exemplify the spirit of disability inclusion”.

 Employers should consider reading the report and the briefs well ahead of receiving notice of an audit to  enhance the recruitment and hiring of individuals with disabilities, to gain insight on barriers to fostering an environment of inclusivity for people with disabilities, and/or to enhance future affirmative action planning for people with disabilities.