Compliance Stuff

Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) launches its opinion letters program United States Department of Labor sent this bulletin at 06/03/2025 10:47 AM EDT United States Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service June 3, 2025 Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) launches its opinion letters program It is the duty of responsive government to provide clear and consistent guidance to the public we serve. In that spirit, the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is launching its opinion letters program and updated compliance assistance resources and encourages submissions from the public.  VETS will issue official guidance on how the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applies to specific workplace situations. Opinion letters offer practical, common-sense answers to help employers, workers, and legal professionals understand their obligations and rights.  We are committed to providing compliance assista...

On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expanded its opinion letter program, which should provide guidance on areas handled by multiple enforcement agencies within the DOL . Publication of opinion letters is a priority for the Trump administration and this program is evidence of the federal government’s intention to issue more guidance to the public. Opinion Letter Process Opinion letters issued by the DOL are official publications that explain how the DOL enforces various laws and regulations under specific scenarios submitted by a requesting party. Opinion letters offer timely guidance to both employers and individuals, while also providing insight into the agency’s likely positions in future rulemaking or litigation. While they do not override existing statutes or regulations, they provide authoritative guidance that can help employers and individuals navigate compliance with greater confidence . Employers that rely on an opinion letter in good faith may use that relianc...

DOL proposes to eliminate agency.  The U.S. Department of Labor released its  proposed budget  for Fiscal Year 2026, which runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 . The budget proposal is the agency’s request to Congress for funding. In its proposed budget, DOL aims to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs entirely . The OFCCP enforces the non-discrimination and affirmative action obligations of federal contractors. Since January 21 when  President Trump rescinded Executive Order 11246 , the OFCCP’s only responsibility has been enforcement of Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and t he Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. The OFCCP laid off the vast majority of its workforce due to its diminished oversight responsibilities. Under the DOL’s plan, enforcement of Section 503 would be transferred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and enforcement of VEVRAA would move to the Veterans’ Employment and Traini...