Ashley Romanias to Step in as Director of OFCCP Upon Catherine Eschbach’s Departure
While no official announcement has been made by the U.S. Department of Labor on her departure, reports are making their way through the regulatory sphere that Catherine Eschbach is leaving the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), where she has...
DE Talk Unplugged | AI & Early Talent Hiring Trends with NACE
What is the outlook for entry-level candidates in the workforce? We recently kicked off season seven of the DE Talk podcast with a conversation with Shawn VanDerziel, President & CEO of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), to discuss the...
Senate Confirms EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas for Second Term
On Thursday, July 31st, the U.S. Senate confirmed Andrea Lucas for her second term as Acting Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a vote of 52-45 (see full press release). Lucas was originally appointed by Trump in 2020 where she served as a...
Annual VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark Drops to 5.1%
Despite recently proposed changes, federal contractor requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) remain strictly in place. As part of the legislation, which requires applicable contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative...
Federal Contractors: VETS-4212 Report Portal Now Open Through September 30th
Beginning today, August 1, 2025, the VETS-4212 Portal is now open for applicable federal contractors to submit their annual VETS-4212 Reports. This requirement, set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor and Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), is...
“Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”: ERGs Remain a Valuable Asset in Post EO 14173 Regulatory Environment
When the long-standing Executive Order 11246 was rescinded on January 21, 2025, and Executive Order 14173, titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity was introduced, contractors were left confused and unsure how to proceed. With no...
DE Talk Unplugged: Strengthening Workforce & Employer Partnerships Through NASWA & the NLx
Partners since 2007, DirectEmployers Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) have accomplished a lot over their time together. From establishing the National Labor Exchange (NLx) and the launch of the NLx Research Hub to policy...
More States Enacting Pay Transparency Laws: What Employers in New Jersey & Vermont Need to Know
With the current emphasis on merit-based hiring and equal employment opportunity efforts, many states are enacting pay transparency laws to help even the playing field. Established to help encourage pay equity, these laws give job seekers an idea of the wage range for...