Guidance on transgender bias issued for federal contractors

The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has issued guidance to companies that hold contracts with the federal government on the issue of extending federal discrimination laws to transgendered individuals.

OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu announced the issuance of the guidance in a Department of Labor blog Tuesday.

In June, Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez announced the Department of Labor was updating its enforcement protocols and nondiscrimination guidance to clarify that transgendered individuals have the full protection of federal nondiscrimination laws.

President Obama issued an executive order in July barring federal contractors from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“When employees can work without fear, when they can comfortably bring their whole selves to the job, companies benefit from the diverse perspectives and enthusiasm those workers bring to the job,” said Ms. Shiu in the blog, which notes the federal government holds contracts with about 200,000 establishments.

The guidance is available here.