The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently released a final rule titled “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption.”
Although the rule may have a short life because of the change in presidential administrations, it has the potential for far-reaching implications for federal contractors. The new regulations went into effect on January 8, 2021.
Preference for ‘Individuals of a Particular Religion’
The new rule relates to Executive Order (EO) 11246, which generally prohibits federal contractors from engaging in discrimination. It also mirrors a provision in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, however, that allows religious organizations to show a preference for “individuals of a particular religion” in keeping with the entity’s religious identity.
