Fed Contractors Can Soon Trade Hiring Data for 5-Year Audit Break

Government contractors settling workplace bias allegations with the Labor Department’s compliance watchdog can cut a deal to pause audits for five years. They’ll just have to agree to report companywide hiring, pay, or other employment data to the agency, as outlined in a directive to be released Nov. 30, an agency official told Bloomberg Law.

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will also begin publishing opinion letters to answer employers’ affirmative action and nondiscrimination compliance questions, and implement speedier audit procedures. The three new directives are part of a series of policy changes at the agency this year ...