Companies with federal government contracts or subcontracts may soon risk losing their contracts if they do not meet quotas to hire more disabled workers.
The U.S. Department of Labor is considering changes to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that would require private employers with federal government contracts and subcontracts to set a hiring goal that 7 percent of their employees are qualified workers with disabilities. According to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the proposed rule changes would also spell out actions that contractors would be required to take when recruiting, training, keeping records, and implementing affirmative action policies, along with specific guidance on how to comply with the law.