Federal Contractors Prohibited From Discriminating Based on Gender Identity and Transgender Status: Employment Law Manual Updated

Author: Beth P. Zoller and David B. Weisenfeld, XpertHR Legal Editors

On July 21, 2014, President Obama signed an Executive Order protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals from discrimination and harassment by federal contractors and federal agencies.

Following this, on August 19, 2014, the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a directive that it will focus on investigating and remedying discrimination based on gender identity and transgender status as a form of sex discrimination, in accordance with the Executive Order.

Based on these developments, the EEO - Discrimination, EEO-Affirmative Action and Recruiting and Hiring > Affirmative Action sections of the Employment Law manual have been updated.