President Obama’s point person at the U.S. Department of Labor tasked with spearheading an effort that would have federal contractors employ more people with disabilities put those companies on notice that the time for them to act is now. “The waiting period is over,” said Patricia A. Shiu, the director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). Shiu delivered her remarks at a recent Corporate Forum cosponsored by the CEO Council of the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and the Exelon Foundation at the Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
Since quotas are not legal, Carol Glazer, President of the National Organization on Disability, said that in order for federal contractors to move toward attaining the 7 percent goal they must be very aware of what they are doing and how they are doing it. Glazer suggests utilizing a system to track applicants and hires with disabilities. “You have to keep that on file,” said Glazer. “You have to assess your practices to see how you’re doing. And you have to invite people to self identify voluntarily.”