The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 503
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination and requires employers with federal contracts
or subcontracts that exceed $10,000 to take affirmative action to hire, retain,
and promote qualified individuals with disabilities. All covered contractors
and subcontractors must also include a specific equal opportunity clause in
each of their nonexempt contracts and subcontracts.
This law is enforced by the Employment Standards Administration's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) within the U.S. Department of Labor.
BASIC INFORMATION
FACT SHEETS
- The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 503
Fact Sheet - Both the ADA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 cover persons with a wide range of
mental and physical impairments that substantially limit or restrict a major
life activity such as hearing, seeing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing
manual tasks, caring for one's self, learning, or working.
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 Employment Standards Administration's Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Programs (OFCCP).
POSTERS
Federal contractors are required to maintain any personnel or employment records made or kept by the contractor for 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.
- The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 503 - Prohibits discrimination and
requires employers with federal contracts or subcontracts that exceed $10,000
to take affirmative action to hire, retain, and promote qualified individuals
with disabilities. All covered contractors and subcontractors must also include
a specific equal opportunity clause in each of their nonexempt contracts and
subcontracts.
- 41 CFR Part 60-741 - Regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which requires government contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.
- 41 CFR Part 60-742 - Regulations describing the procedures for complaints/charges of employment discrimination based on disability filed against employers holding government contracts or subcontracts.
- Employment Law Guide - Employment Discrimination and Equal Opportunity for Certain Veterans Who Served on Active Duty and Special Disabled Veterans - Provides a summary of the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA). See also Compliance Assistance By Law - The VEVRAA.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - Primarily enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice, this Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities.
- Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act - Prohibits employment discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. (Enforced by
the EEOC.)
- Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) - EEOC promotes equal opportunity in employment through
administrative and judicial enforcement of the federal civil rights laws and
through education and technical assistance.
- Facts About the Americans with Disabilities Act - Public Law 101-336 - The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment,
transportation, public accommodation, communications, and activities of state
and local government.
-
Job Applicants and the Americans with Disabilities Act - Guidance from the EEOC.
- Employment Rights, Who Has Them and Who Enforces Them - Describes the federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
- What You Should Know About Workplace Laws - Explains four workplace laws (ADA, Family and Medical Leave Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and Workers Compensation laws) that impact workers with disabilities.
- Federal
Contract Compliance Manual - This reference tool for federal contractors,
EEO, and human resources managers describes DOL's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' (OFCCP) standard operating procedures for OFCCP compliance officers.
- Office of Disability Employment
Policy (ODEP) Fact Sheets - A collection of fact sheets on compliance
issues, accommodation, hiring people with disabilities, etc., provided by DOL's ODEP.
- DisabilityInfo.Gov - Provides one-stop online access to disability-related resources, services,
and information available throughout the federal government.
- Recruiting and Hiring
Practices - Provides links to information on how to find qualified
applicants with disabilities and how to comply with laws prohibiting
discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace.
- DisAbility Online - The home page for the Disability and Workforce Programs (DDWP) of the
Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Provides a one-stop center for
information relating to issues and training for people with disabilities in the
workforce.
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - JAN is a free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and employing people with disabilities.
- Job Accommodation Network's (JAN) Web
Portal for Employers - Information for employers about accommodation,
legal issues, and human resources issues.
- Ready, Willing, and Available: A Business Guide to Improving Your Workforce by Hiring People with Disabilities - Provides guidance on the various issues and laws relating to hiring people with disabilities.
- Disability Friendly
Strategies for the Workplace - Provides strategies to successfully
incorporate persons with disabilities into the workplace.
- Affirmative Action and People
with Disabilities - Describes affirmative action steps that employers can
take to promote equal employment opportunity and to eliminate discrimination.
- Employment Checklist for
Hiring Persons with Disabilities - The do's and don'ts of hiring persons
with disabilities. Also includes information on how to determine if your
worksite is accessible.
- Accommodating Employees with
Hidden Disabilities - The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines
"disability" as an impairment that "substantially limits one or more of the
major life activities." Some examples of "hidden" disabilities may include learning
disabilities, mental illness, epilepsy, cancer, arthritis, mental retardation,
traumatic brain injury, AIDS, and asthma if such impairments substantially limit one or more of the major life activities.
- See also Compliance Assistance By Topic -
- 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.
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