DirectEmployers Blog
OFCCP Compliance
EEOC’s August 11, 2026 Public Hearing Provides a Preview of the Comments That Will Be Submitted In Response to the Proposed Elimination of Race and Sex Data Reporting Obligations
Key Takeaways The EEOC has proposed ending race and sex data collection through the EEO-1, EEO-3, EEO-4, and EEO-5 reports. The EEOC shortened the comment period to 30 days. The authors believe the timing could allow the agency to act before the next EEO-1 collection....
OFCCP to Publish Final Section 503 Rule Aug. 21, Ending Disability Self-ID and Utilization Goal Requirements
Key Takeaways OFCCP's Final Rule on Section 503 is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on August 21, 2026. The rule ends the requirement that federal contractors invite applicants and employees to self-identify as individuals with disabilities. It also...
EEOC Holds Its EEO-1 Rescission Hearing: What Federal Contractors Heard on August 11
Key Takeaways On August 11, 2026, the EEOC held a public hearing on its proposal to rescind EEO-1 through EEO-6 reporting and related recordkeeping under 29 CFR Part 1602. Twenty-two witnesses testified over roughly two and a half hours; no vote or decision was made...
VEVRAA Compliance in 2026: Requirements, Hiring Benchmarks, and Veteran Inclusion Best Practices
Key Takeaways VEVRAA requires covered federal contractors to provide equal employment opportunity and take affirmative action for protected veterans. Protected veterans include disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active-duty wartime or campaign badge...
Federal Contractors: VETS-4212 Report Portal Now Open Through September 30th
Key Takeaways The annual VETS-4212 reporting cycle runs from August 1 through September 30, requiring covered federal contractors and subcontractors holding a single contract valued at $200,000 or more (pursuant to recent FAR inflationary adjustments) to submit...
EEOC Puts EEO-1 Rescission in Writing: Formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Is Now Underway to Rescind Annual Race and Sex Reporting Requirements
Key Takeaways On July 21, 2026, the EEOC voted to issue a formal NPRM proposing to rescind EEO-1 through EEO-6 reporting and related recordkeeping requirements. This is a proposed rule, not a final rule; a 30-day public comment period and an August 11, 2026 public...
OMB Extends OFCCP’s Disability Self-ID Form Through 2029—Even as a Rule to Eliminate It Moves Forward
Key Takeaways OIRA approved OFCCP's Section 503 information collection without change on July 16, 2026, extending Form CC-305's approval through July 31, 2029. Form CC-305 is the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form federal contractors use under 41 CFR...
EEOC Votes to Rescind Its 1979 Affirmative Action Guidelines: What Changed, Why It Happened & What Federal Contractors Should Know
Key Takeaways On June 29, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to rescind its 1979 interpretive guidelines on voluntary affirmative action under Title VII (29 C.F.R. Part 1608), along with the related Compliance Manual Section 607. The...
The Quiet Renewal Federal Contractors Shouldn’t Miss: OIRA Extends UGESP Self-ID Data Collection to 2029
Key Takeaways On June 24, 2026, OIRA approved a three-year extension of the EEOC's information collection authority under the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (UGESP), keeping the requirement to collect and maintain applicant race, ethnicity, and...
Colorado’s New Employer ID Confiscation Law Took Effect June 3, 2026: The New Rules Explained
Key Takeaways On June 4, 2026, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1283, "Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents," into law. Effective June 3, 2026, the law prohibits employers from confiscating workers' government-issued IDs and...