OFFCCP Lowers Veteran Hiring Benchmark

For the seventh consecutive year, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently lowered the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) hiring benchmark. The new benchmark is 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent last year. In 2014, the benchmark was set at 7.2 percent. The OFCCP relies on the annual national percentage of Veterans in the civilian labor force to set the benchmark.

VEVRAA provides equal opportunity and affirmative action for protected Veterans to include:

·         Disabled Veterans.

·         Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.

·         Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a U.S. military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order No. 12985 (61 Fed. Reg. 1209).

·         Recently separated Veterans.

Federal contractors and subcontractors are required to establish annual hiring benchmarks for protected Veterans and assess their progress against the benchmark. Contractors have the option of establishing their own benchmark or adopting OFCCP’s annual national benchmark.

Visit the OFCCP website at https://bit.ly/31RUeqB for more information on VEVRAA compliance.

Photo Caption: Deborah Bibeau, a retired Air Force major, and Allen Bibeau, a retired Air Force master sergeant, hold a photo of themselves from their time on active duty while at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Maki)

Caption: Deborah Bibeau, a retired Air Force major, and Allen Bibeau, a retired Air Force master sergeant, hold a photo of themselves from their time on active duty while at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Maki)