DEAMcon26 Day 2 Recap: The Stakes Got Higher, the Conversations Got Sharper
Key Takeaways DEAMcon26 Day 2 shifted from high-level vision to ground-level reality, delivering a stark warning on the rise of AI-enhanced candidate fraud and the legal dangers of “deliberate ignorance” in EEO compliance. Key takeaways highlighted the...
DEAMcon26 Day 1 Recap: 25 Years, One Room, and a Regulatory Landscape That Isn’t Waiting for Anyone
Key Takeaways Day 1 of DEAMcon26 kicked off DirectEmployers’ 25th-anniversary celebration by navigating a high-stakes regulatory transition, highlighting a pivot from traditional OFCCP oversight to DOJ-led enforcement under the False Claims Act—underscored by...
What is Section 503 and How Do I Comply? A Guide for Federal Contractors
Key Takeaways Complying with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act requires a proactive approach to disability inclusion and meticulous recordkeeping. For a quick overview, contractor obligations for complying include meeting the 7% utilization goal in each job group,...
What is VEVRAA and How Do I Comply? A Guide for Federal Contractors
Key Takeaways The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) remains a cornerstone of federal contractor compliance, requiring businesses to take proactive steps to hire and retain protected veterans. As of 2026, contractors must navigate updated...
Recapping SHRM Blueprint: Conversation, Cohorts & A Reminder to Stay Curious
The phrase, “The only constant is change,” couldn’t ring truer for 2025. Since January 21st, federal contractors have experienced unprecedented change that’s impacted the hiring landscape unlike any year before it, beginning with the Executive Order 14173, which...
Federal Contractor Regulatory Review: 2025 Highlights from January’s EO 11246 Rescission to July’s NPRMs Affecting Section 503 & VEVRAA
Federal contractors have navigated a turbulent regulatory landscape throughout 2025, starting with significant policy shifts as the Trump Administration re-entered the White House in January. For federal contractors subject to Office of Federal Contract Compliance...
OFCCP to Begin Processing VEVRAA & Section 503 Components of Open Compliance Reviews or Complaint Investigations
On July 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced Order 08-2025, formally lifting the temporary pause (abeyance) on the processing and enforcement of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and...
DEAMcon25 Day Three: Bringing Compliance & Recruitment Full-Circle
As the sun rose over the desert sky one last time for DEAMcon25, it brought with it just the energy needed to enter our final conference day–part excitement, part reflection, and a whole lot of gratitude. Day three might have marked the final chapter of this year’s...