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October 3, 2008    DOL Home > Compliance Assistance > By Law > E.O. 11246   

The Executive Order 11246


 Frequently Asked Questions

OVERVIEW

The Executive Order 11246 (E.O 11246) prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors and federally-assisted construction contractors and subcontractors that generally have contracts that exceed $10,000 from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also requires covered contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment.

The E.O. 11246 is administered by the Employment Standards Administration's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within the U.S. Department of Labor.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE MATERIALS

BASIC INFORMATION

FACT SHEETS

  • Facts on Executive Order 11246 - Explains the purpose of Executive Order 11246, which regulates equal employment and affirmative action requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors.

E-TOOLS

  • elaws Federal Contractor Compliance Programs Advisor - Helps federal contractors and subcontractors answer basic questions about coverage and compliance issues related to the equal employment opportunity laws administered by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

POSTERS

RECORDKEEPING

Federal contractors are required to maintain any personnel or employment records made or kept by the contractor for a period of two years from the date of the making of the personnel record or the personnel action, whichever occurs later. Examples of records that must be maintained include: job descriptions; job postings and advertisements; records of job offers; applications and resumes; interview notes; tests and test results; written employment policies and procedures; and personnel files. Contractors with fewer than 150 employees or who do not have a government contract of at least $150,000 only need to keep records for one year.

APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

  • Executive Order 11246 - Prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors and federally assisted construction contractors and subcontractors that generally have contracts that exceed $10,000, or that will (or can reasonably be expected to) aggregate to more than $10,000 in any 12-month period, from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; and it requires them to take affirmative action to ensure that equal opportunity is provided in all aspects of their employment.
  • 41 CFR Chapter 60 - Regulations issued by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs implementing Executive Order 11246.

RELATED TOPICS AND LINKS

DOL CONTACTS*

  • Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
    Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)

    200 Constitution Avenue, NW
    Room C-3325
    Washington, DC 20210
    E-mail: OFCCP-Public@dol.gov
    Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365), or 1-800-397-6251
    TTY: 1-877-889-5627
    Local Offices

  • For questions on other DOL laws,
    please call DOL's Toll-Free Help Line at 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Live assistance is available in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional service is available in more than 140 languages through a translation service.
    Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL
    TTY: 1-877-889-5627

*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc.



Phone Numbers