affirmative action/ofccp compliance - ogletree

PRACTICE GROUP

• AAPPreparation

• DefenseofOFCCPComplianceReviews

• ComplianceAdviceandAssistance

• InformationonNewDevelopments

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WWW.OGLETREEDEAKINS.COM

Affirmative Action/OFCCP Compliance

We are proud to offer one of the largest, most experienced groups of OFCCP practitioners

in the country. Selected as counsel for numerous large and

small companies, we have advised and represented clients

in thousands of affirmative action and OFCCP matters, including focused reviews,

corporate management reviews, functional reviews,

and enforcement actions.

Affirmative Action Programs & OFCCP CompliancePRACTICE GROUP

OgletreeDeakinshasadedicatedpracticegroupdevotedtocompliancemattersrelatedtoAffirmativeActionPrograms(AAP)andtheOfficeofFederalContractCompliancePrograms(OFCCP).Unlikesomeofourcompetitors,ouraffirmativeactioncomplianceservicesarenotlimitedtoAAPpreparationservicesbutalsoincludeextensiveexperienceinassistingemployerswithOFCCPcompliancere-viewsandrelatedlitigation.Ourlegaladviceonaffirmativeactionandrelatedmattersisprotectedfromdiscoverybytheattorney-clientprivilege.

WehaveattorneyswhoareexperiencedinaffirmativeactionandOFCCPmatterslocatedthroughouttheUnitedStates.Wealsohavenumerousaffirmativeactiondataanalysts,includingformerOFCCPcomplianceofficers,dedicatedtopreparingAAPsandassistingwithstatisticalanalyses.ManyofourAffirmativeActionandOFCCPCompliancePracticeGroupattorneysarecertifiedinLegalLeanSigma™principles.OurattorneysuseworkflowprocessesandfacilitativesoftwaretoolsusingLegalLeanSigma™principlesdevelopedfortheAAPpreparationprocesstoensureefficiencyinservicedelivery.Ourattorneysandaffirmativeactiondataanalystsreceivein-depthtrainingon“bestpractices”andnewdevelopmentsandrequirements.Knowledgemanagementiscriticalinthisoften-changingregula-toryenvironment,andOgletreeDeakinsisproudthatitscollaborativecultureandtopicalinternaldatabasescanassistourattorneys,staff,andclientsintheaffirmativeactioncompliancearea.

WeareinvolvedwithOFCCPofficesthroughouttheUnitedStatesonanalmost-dailybasisandhavedevelopedprofessionalandpersonalworkingrelationshipswithmanyOFCCPmanagersandstaffmembers,aswellaswithsolicitorsattheU.S.DepartmentofLabor.Ourextensiveinvolvementinaffirmativeactioncomplianceissuesprovidesaunique“insider’s”viewofOFCCPmethodologiesandinternalinitiatives.WeunderstandthedifferentapproachesandstylesofvariousOFCCPoffices—knowledgethatprovesadvantageousforourclients.OurcredibilityandknowledgeofaffirmativeactionregulationsandprocesseshasearnedourpracticegroupanexcellentreputationwithOFCCP,whichisaprovenassetforourclients.

WE ROUTINELY PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

AAP Preparation:At leastoneaffirmativeactiondataanalystandoneattorneyareassignedtoprepareeach client’sAAPs.Our affirmativeactionanalysts andattorneysuseelectronic tools andmacros to ensure the integrity of data.Attorney reviewbefore,during,andaftertheAAPpreparationprocessiscritical;ourattorneysensureorganizationalanddataintegritybeforetheAAPpreparationprocessbe-gins,reviewtheaccuracyofeveryAAPbeforeitisfinalized,andareavailabletorespondtoanyclientquestionsorconcernsaftertheAAPshavebeendelivered.IfaclientisthesubjectofanOFCCPcompliancereview,asenioraffirmativeac-tiondataanalystandanattorneyreviewtheAAPandrelatedinformationfordataintegrityandreconciliation,aswellaslegalsufficiencybeforeanyinformationissubmittedtoOFCCP.

Defense of OFCCP Compliance Reviews:OurclientssubjectedtoOFCCPcomplianceevaluationshaveanad-vantagewhenwepreparetheirannualAAPs.TheyknowexactlywhereOFCCPmay focus its attention—even before submitting data for acomplianceevaluation―andweworkcloselywiththemtoincreasethelikelihoodthatthecomplianceevaluationwillbeclosedatthedeskauditstage.IfOFCCPinsistsonconductingamorecomprehensiveon-sitereviewofourclients’record-keepingandemploymentactivity,wearepreparedtobeactivelyinvolvedinthisprocess.Ourunparalleledknowledge ofOFCCP’s requirements canminimize the timeOFCCPspendson-siteandavoidorminimizeallegationsofsystemicdiscrimina-tion.Weregularlyassistourclientsinchallenginganddefeatingsuchallegationsofunlawfulbias.

Compliance Advice and Assistance:TrainingrepresentsakeyingredienttopreparingdefensibleAAPsandsurvivingOFCCPcompliancereviews.WeroutinelyconsultwithclientswhopreparetheirownAAPstoensuretheyknowoftheregulatoryre-quirementsandOFCCP’soften-changingfocus.Wealsohavesignificantexperienceindevelopingandexecutingin-housecomplianceassess-mentstotrainhumanresourcespersonnelandhiringmanagersandtoinvestigatepotentialproblemareaspriortoanactualOFCCPcompli-anceevaluation.Weoftencounselcontractorsondatamanagementandanalysis, testing,andcompensation issues,androutinelyassistwithEEO-1andVETSreportingrequirements.Ourexplanationsoftheaffirmativeactionandcomplianceregulations,therequirementsim-posedonhumanresourcesstaffandhiringmanagers,andthemonetaryimpactofnoncomplianceprovideavaluablebenefittoourclients.

Information on New Developments:OurattorneysstayabreastofthelatestOFCCPenforcementstrate-giesandregulatorychanges.Weprovideourclientswithcutting-edgeanalysisofthelatestchanges,whetherintechniquesforcompensationanalysis,trackingofInternetapplicants,pendingregulationsforveter-ansanddisabledindividuals,oranyotherissueaffectingcompliance.OurattorneysregularlypublishandspeaktoclientsandemployergroupsonOFCCPandotherdevelopmentsandtrends.WealsoregularlytweetatOFCCPNews@twitter.com,offerperiodiclivewebcasts,andpublishtimelyblogpostsonOFCCPdevelopments.

Ourcustomerservicephilosophyistoprovideexcellentlegaladviceinacost-effectiveandtimelymanner.OurattorneysareveryinvolvedwithclientsintheAAPpreparationandauditdefenseprocessesandareaccessibleforanyquestionsorconcerns.Currentclientsdescribeourworkingrelationshipascollaborative,strategic,andeffective.Wearetrulyinterestedindevelopingpersonalandbusinessrelationshipswithourclients,throughwhichwecanbetterunderstandthenatureoftheirworkenvironmentandneedssothatwemayprovidestrategicanddefensiblelegaladvice.

With offices across the United States, in Europe, and in Mexico, the firm represents a diverse range of clients.

We operate efficiently without compromising our commitment to service.

Ogletree Deakins is one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, representing management in all types of

employment-related legal matters.

OGLETREE, DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C.

WWW.OGLETREEDEAKINS.COM