If your business is a federal contractor, you need to know how best to comply with federal guidelines. Here’s how to ensure your business is OFCCP compliant.
If your business works with the government as a federal contractor or subcontractor and employs a certain amount of people or takes contracts of a certain value, you’re required to uphold a few extra guidelines and standards. Meeting these guidelines and developing an affirmative action plan (AAP) can be difficult and time-consuming, so here’s how to ensure your business is OFCCP compliant.
Perform an Internal Audit
Before the OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs) visits for its annual audit, it’s a good idea to conduct an internal audit of your own to thoroughly inspect your business’s inner workings and correct anything that may not meet the OFCCP’s standards. This is a good way to keep on top of your business’s duties. Putting together and coordinating a team to conduct your audit may require a real effort on your part, but it’s well worth the preparation so that you’re not scrambling as the OFCCP’s audit draws near.
Gather Your Data Early
Another task you should get an early jump on is compiling your business and employee data. This is a very time-consuming process, as you must gather files on every aspect of your business, your employees, your hiring practices, and the applicants you’ve received throughout the year. This is also a good incentive to digitize your business’s files, which will not only expedite the process but also store your information more securely.
Seek Assistance
Sometimes the best way to ensure your business is OFCCP compliant is to ask for help. As we’ve mentioned, taking the steps to ensure your business is OFCCP compliant is time-consuming, and it requires a lot of resources and effort. For that reason, consider outsourcing your AAP plans. AAP counseling can give you access to experts who are well-versed in the OFCCP’s guidelines, and their process of evaluation which can be invaluable—especially if you’re not sure what to look for during your own internal audit. Your business will be free to attend to its day-to-day responsibilities while the service you outsourced handles the preparation for your OFCCP audit.
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