Okla. Nonprofit Champions Compliance Efforts For Area Contractors

OKLAHOMA CITY - Sept. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- OKLAHOMA CITY– On September 3, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it would require government contractors to retain a percentage of their workforce for workers with veteran and disability status.  The Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma (GICO), which has programs that specialize in training and staffing workers who meet the disabled and veteran classifications, is excited to be a part of helping to bridge this gap.

“Supporting veterans and people living with disabilities in their quest for self-sufficiency has always been a huge part of our mission at Goodwill Industries,” says Chris Daniels, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma. “Our organization specializes in training both of these key demographics. We look forward to helping government contractors with compliance by equipping them with workers who come prepared to exceed their expectations.”

The new regulations make it mandatory for most government contractors to set a hiring goal of having people with disabilities make up at least seven percent of their workforce, with eight percent of that same workforce being set aside for U.S. veterans.  In addition, this new benchmark for veterans will also be subject to annual rate changes, dependent upon the overall number of veterans comprising the U.S. workforce.

For Patricia A. Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor, this new ruling opens the pathway of opportunity for individuals living with disabilities, and for veterans.

"Strengthening these regulations is an important step toward reducing barriers to real opportunities for Veterans and individuals with disabilities," said Shiu.

Recognizing the hurdles presented in properly accommodating many of these new employees is the reason that GICO encourages contractors to partner with them to help ensure that each transition is a smooth one. In forging this type of partnership, Goodwill aims to be able to minimize costs for potential employers, along with preparing its program participants with the specialized training needed to secure and retain long-term employment.

Connecting more than 10,000 of its program participants with employment resources in 2012, GICO has specialized in training and placing veterans and people living with disabilities in Central Oklahoma for more than 77 years. It is this rich foundation that Sarah Steffes, Director of Development and Corporate Compliance at GICO, hopes to build upon through partnering with local government contractors.

“Our goal is to match the need with the skilled worker,” comments Steffes. “It is this singular focus that GICO hopes will play a vital role in ensuring that contractors looking to stay in compliance with these new regulations have the staffing resources they need to meet yearly benchmarks.”

Last month, Goodwill introduced its new Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP). HVRP, once fully operational, is expected to connect local veterans with support services and match over 70 of its program participants with companies for employment within the next year.

To learn more about the Goodwill of Central Oklahoma’s job placement programs, contact Linda Hyatt at lhyatt@okgoodwill.org or 405-501-0663.