As AAP/EEO practitioners within the Federal Contractor community, we all know too well the reasons of, and importance behind, the self-I.D. process of our applicants, hires, and employees. One thing that can be challenging for Federal Contractors is to communicate that to applicants and current employees. People are often reluctant to self-I.D. their race/gender/veteran/disability status for many reasons such as data security, feeling that they will be retaliated against, lack of knowledge as to what the data will be used for, and many other reasons.
The OFCCP has attempted to help Federal Contractors with one part of this process and recently published an educational video to explain why companies must collect disability information. The deadline for Federal Contractors to conduct their initial employee survey has already passed, but the video may help educate applicants, future employees, and current employees who wish to modify their disability status. Contractors must invite their employees to self-identify every five years, beginning the first year that they become subject to the Section 503 voluntary self-identification requirements. In addition, at least once during the years between these invitations, contractors must remind their employees that they may voluntarily update their disability status at any time.
The video can be embedded on company websites or downloaded for internal posting and can be found at:
- The OFCCP website: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/SelfIdVideo.html
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAKsPd_lIw8#action=share
