New! 'Higher Education Employment Law Corner'

Federal Employment Law Letter is excited to announce the addition of "Higher Education Employment Law Corner." It is anticipated that institutes of higher education are going to face increased U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) compliance challenges in 2021. In September 2020, the DOL's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) published its list of federal contractors who would be scheduled for compliance evaluations in fiscal year 2021. As anticipated, institutions of higher education were heavily represented among the establishments to be audited. In addition, Dr. Jill Biden recently tweeted:

We are going to fight for educators and students. That means hiring more counselors and school nurses. That means paying educators what they're worth. That means protecting the right to organize.

That statement telegraphs that the Biden administration is going to be looking at hiring practices, addressing pay equity concerns, and promoting unionization within the higher education workforce. While not limited to higher education, the administration will likely be addressing independent contractor classifications, which have unique considerations for higher education staff and faculty.

"Higher Education Employment Law Corner" will include timely articles to assist higher education employers navigate new regulations, interpretations, and enforcement activity. Come back next month for the first in a series of articles on DOL initiatives for higher education.