Executive Order 13496 Frequently Asked Questions

General

Coverage Issues

Which federal contractors and subcontractors are covered by Executive Order 13496?
Is a contractor (that is also an employer under the NLRA) subject to the Order if its only federal contract resulted from a solicitation issued before the Order’s June 21, 2010, effective date?
Are there contracts that are exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 13496?
Is Executive Order 13496 applicable to construction contracts, as well as to supply and service contracts?
Is Executive Order 13496 applicable to a bank or other financial institution if it obtains federal deposit insurance, acts as an issuing and paying agent for U.S. saving bonds and notes, or is a federal fund depository?
How does OFCCP determine whether an entity (e.g., banks, hospitals, construction company, etc.) is obligated to meet the requirements of Executive Order 13496? What if an entity believes it is not subject to the Order?

Executive Order 13496 Requirements and Verification Procedures

Filing a Complaint of Non-Compliance with Executive Order 13496

Enforcement of Executive Order 13496

Sanctions and Penalties

What is Executive Order 13496?

Executive Order 13496 (EO 13496 or Order), 74 FR 6407 (February 4, 2009), requires that federal contractors provide notice to their employees of their rights under federal labor laws. Specifically, the Order requires that covered contractors provide notice of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the law that governs relations between unions and employers in the private sector. The NLRA guarantees the right of employees to organize and to bargain collectively with their employers, to engage in other protected concerted activity with or without a union, or to refrain from all such activity.

When does Executive Order 13496 go into effect?

The Executive Order and its implementing regulations became effective June 21, 2010. The implementing regulations were published in the Federal Register at 75 FR 28368 (May 20, 2010), and will be located in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR Part 471. The regulations can also be found at www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm.

Do companies still have to comply with Executive Order 13201 (the “Beck Notice”)?

No. Executive Order 13496 revoked the “Beck Notice” and it is no longer in force. Contractors that are not exempt from the NLRA and have contracts, subcontracts or purchase orders subject to Executive Order 13496 must satisfy the requirements of that Order and its implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 471 to be in compliance with the law.

Which federal contractors and subcontractors are covered by Executive Order 13496?

Federal contractors and subcontractors who are “employers” under the NLRA may be subject to the Order. Employers not covered by the NLRA, and therefore not subject to the Order, are:

The United States or any wholly owned government corporation;
Any Federal Reserve Bank;
Any state or political subdivision of a state;
Any person subject to the Railway Labor Act;
Any labor organization (other than when acting as an employer); and
Anyone acting in the capacity of officer or agent of such a labor organization.

Additionally, to be subject to the Order’s requirements at least some of the contractor’s workers at the establishment or work site must be covered by the NLRA. Employees excluded from NLRA coverage include those employed:

As agricultural laborer
In the domestic service of any family or person at his home
By his or her parent or spouse
As an independent contractor
As a supervisor as defined under the NLRA
By an employer subject to the Railway Labor Act
By any other person who is not an employer as defined in the NLRA

Is a contractor (that is also an employer under the NLRA) subject to the Order if its only federal contract resulted from a solicitation issued before the Order’s June 21, 2010, effective date?

No. Executive Order 13496 applies to prime and subcontracts that result from federal agency solicitations issued on or after the effective date of the regulations, June 21, 2010. If the amount of such a prime contract meets or exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $100,000), the prime contractor must comply with the Order. A contractor with a subcontract associated with a prime contract subject to the Order is also subject to the Order, provided the subcontract is valued at $10,000 or more.

Example: If a $100,000 prime contract, effective on June 22, 2010, is the result of a solicitation issued on June 6, 2010, the contract is not covered by Executive Order 13496. If, however, the solicitation is issued on or after June 21, 2010, the resulting $100,000 contract is a covered contract, and the prime contractor and its subcontractors (with associated subcontracts of $10,000 or more) are subject to the Order.

Are there contracts that are exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 13496?

Yes. There are specific types of contracts that are exempt from the Order. They are: federal-sector collective bargaining agreements; contracts for work performed exclusively outside the territorial United States; prime contracts that involve purchases below the simplified acquisition threshold, (currently $100,000); contracts resulting from solicitations issued prior to the effective date of the regulations (June 21, 2010); and subcontracts below $10,000.

In addition, the Director of Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), with whom OFCCP shares enforcement authority, has the authority to exempt a contracting agency or group of contracting agencies from the requirements of the Order with respect to a specific contract or class of contracts, when the Director finds that it is necessary or in the national interest to do so.

Is Executive Order 13496 applicable to construction contracts, as well as to supply and service contracts?

Yes. The Order is applicable to non-exempt, covered construction contracts, as well as to supply and service contracts. The Order’s requirements are the same for all contractors with covered contracts. However, the Order is not applicable to federally assisted construction contracts.

Is Executive Order 13496 applicable to a bank or other financial institution if it obtains federal deposit insurance, acts as an issuing and paying agent for U.S. saving bonds and notes, or is a federal fund depository?

A bank or other financial institution is a covered contractor if it has an arrangement that meets the definition of a “government contract.” In general, OFCCP interprets “government contract” under Executive Order 13496 as it has under Executive Order 11246. Thus, a bank or other financial institution that obtains federal deposit insurance, acts as an issuing and paying agent for U.S. savings bonds and notes, or is a federal fund depository is a government contractor for purposes of both Executive Order 11246 and Executive Order 13496. In addition, these entities may be covered contractors if they have any other arrangement that meets the definition of a “government contract” under the regulations. Such entities are subject to Executive Order 13496 to the same extent as are other federal contractors.

How does OFCCP determine whether an entity (e.g., banks, hospitals, construction company, etc.) is obligated to meet the requirements of Executive Order 13496? What if an entity believes it is not subject to the Order?

Whenever OFCCP is on-site, OFCCP will assess whether the contractor is a non-exempt employer as defined in Executive Order 13496. If OFCCP concludes that the contractor is a non-exempt employer, OFCCP will verify the entity’s compliance with Executive Order 13496. If an entity is not in compliance with the Order and believes that it is not subject to Executive Order 13496, it must provide OFCCP with evidence sufficient to support its assertion.

What are the physical posting and contract inclusion requirements of Executive Order 13496?

Contractors and subcontractors subject to the Order are required to post the Department of Labor notice informing their employees about their rights under federal labor laws. The size, form, and content of the notice are prescribed by the Secretary of Labor and can not be altered by contractors. The poster and related information are located on the OLMS website at www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm. Contractors and subcontractors must post the notice conspicuously in and around their establishments, work sites, and offices so that it is prominent and readily seen by employees that are covered by the NLRA and directly or indirectly (e.g., maintenance, repair, personnel or payroll work) engaged in contract-related activity. In particular, contractors and subcontractors must post the notice where other notices to employees about their jobs are posted, e.g., employee bulletin boards.

Additionally, all non-exempt federal contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders must include a prescribed contract clause that sets out the text of the employee notice, and outlines the contractor’s posting obligation. The employee notice clause can be incorporated by reference, rather than verbatim. To include the clause by reference, the contract or purchase order must cite to “29 CFR Part 471, Appendix A to Subpart A.” Appendix A is available at www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm.

How can contractors get copies of the poster? Can a company print its own posters?

Contractors can obtain the required poster in several ways. Posters can be requested from OLMS or OFCCP. The contractor can also obtain the poster from the federal contracting department or agency with which it contracts. In addition, the poster can be downloaded, free of charge, from www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm. Contractors can reproduce and use duplicate copies of the Department’s official poster. However, the poster cannot be altered and duplicates created by a company must be the same size as the Department’s official poster.

Must the poster be translated for employees that are not proficient in English?

If a contractor’s workforce has a significant number of employees who are not proficient in English, the contractor must provide the employee notice in the language(s) spoken by the employees. OLMS will provide translations of the employee notice that can be used to comply with the physical and electronic posting requirements. Arabic, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese translations are available at www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/EO13496.htm. If other translations are needed, the requester should follow the instructions provided by OLMS at www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/labor_rights_poster_translation.htm.

Does the poster have to be posted electronically?

If the contractor customarily posts employee notices regarding the terms and conditions of employment electronically, then the contractor must also post the Executive Order 13496 notice electronically. Electronic posting requires the contractor to post a link to OLMS’ website containing the employee notice where they customarily place other electronic notices to employees about their employment. This link must be no less prominent than other employee notices and must read “Important Notice about Employee Rights to Organize and Bargain Collectively with Their Employees.”

If the contractor posts the poster electronically, does it have to physically post, too?

Yes. Electronic posting cannot be used as a substitute for physical posting.

I understand that the Order provides for a complaint process. Who can file a complaint?

Employees, including former employees, of a covered contractor or subcontractor can file a complaint if the employee believes that the company has failed to comply with E.O. 13496. Complaints can be filed with OLMS or OFCCP at 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20210. A complaint can also be filed with any OLMS field office listed at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/contact-us, or with any OFCCP field office listed at www.dol.gov/ofccp/contact/district-area.offices.

What must be included in a complaint?

The complaint must be written and contain the following information:

The employee’s name, address, and telephone number;
The name and address of the contractor alleged to have violated the Order;
An identification of the alleged violation and the establishment or construction work site where it is alleged to have occurred;
Any other pertinent information that will assist in the investigation and resolution of the complaint; and
The signature of the employee filing the complaint.

If the complaint is not complete, the OFCCP Regional Office will contact the complainant to obtain any necessary information. Once the complaint is complete, it will be assigned to a field office to investigate. If a physical inspection is needed to make a compliance determination, an on-site investigation will be conducted.

Who enforces compliance with the Order?

OFCCP and the OLMS share enforcement authority. OFCCP will conduct physical inspections of contractor establishments (and, as appropriate, of contractor websites) to determine whether covered contractors are in compliance with the Order. OFCCP will also inspect covered contractors’ subcontracts and purchase orders, and investigate complaints that a covered contractor is not in compliance with the Order.

OLMS is responsible, primarily, for taking any necessary administrative enforcement action and/or imposing any penalties and sanctions for noncompliance with Executive Order 13496.

When will a contractor be subject to a compliance inspection under the Order?

OFCCP will routinely conduct Executive Order 13496 compliance verification during the on-site phase of any compliance evaluation of a covered contractor, including focused reviews addressing only compliance with the Order. OFCCP will also routinely check for compliance with the Order when it is conducting an on-site investigation of a complaint, whether or not the complaint alleges noncompliance with the Order.

What will OFCCP look for to determine compliance with Executive Order 13496?

When conducting a verification inspection, OFCCP compliance officers will conduct a physical inspection to determine whether the poster is displayed in conspicuous places in and around the contractor’s establishment, (e.g., facilities, work sites, plants and offices). Compliance officers will check for the poster in common work areas, break rooms, personnel offices, etc. If there are specific locations where employee notices are commonly posted such as on employee bulletin boards, the required Executive Order 13496 poster must be posted in these locations. The compliance officer will also determine whether the posters comply with the regulations in terms of size, form and content. Compliance with the electronic posting requirement will also be confirmed.

Additionally, during the on-site review, the compliance officer will inspect a sample of covered subcontracts/purchase orders (e.g., those resulting from solicitations issued on or after June 21, 2010) to determine whether they include the required Executive Order 13496 contract clause.

What is considered a violation of the Order?

If OFCCP determines that a covered contractor is not in compliance with the posting requirement or has refused/failed to include the required contract clause in its contracts and purchase orders, a violation of Executive Order 13496 exists and must be corrected. Additionally, a violation may exist if a contractor refuses to cooperate with OFCCP officials during a verification inspection or investigation, or fails to provide access to information needed to verify compliance with the Order. Violations also include a contractor’s refusal to take action with respect to a subcontract as directed by the Director of OFCCP or the Director of OLMS as a means of enforcing compliance with the provisions of the Order’s implementing regulations and a subcontractor’s refusal to adhere to the regulatory requirements regarding employee notice or inclusion of the contract clause in its subcontracts.

If a violation is found, what will happen?

If a violation is identified during a compliance evaluation or complaint investigation, OFCCP will make reasonable efforts to obtain compliance through conciliation, and the contractor must commit in writing that the violation(s) will not be repeated. If possible, OFCCP will facilitate the contractor taking corrective action during the evaluation/investigation. If posters are needed, compliance officers will provide posters and guidance on the proper posting during the on-site inspection. If electronic posting of employee notices is required, compliance officers will also provide guidance regarding this requirement. Additionally, upon review of a sample of contracts and/or purchase orders, if the required contract clause is not found, compliance officers will provide guidance on the amendment of the contracts/purchase orders to include the required contract clause.

If a violation of Executive Order 13496 is not corrected, the Director of OFCCP, or his/her designee, will refer the matter to the Director of OLMS, who may take enforcement action, as appropriate, under 29 CFR 471.13.

Are there sanctions or penalties for failing to comply with the Order?

Yes. OLMS is responsible for taking the appropriate enforcement action if a contractor fails or refuses to comply with the regulations. If a contractor is in violation of the regulations and fails or refuses to come into compliance, the contractor may be subject to sanctions, including suspension or cancellation of the contract or debarment. A contractor may only be reinstated upon a finding that the contractor has come into compliance and has shown that it will comply in the future.

Does Executive Order 13496 prohibit contractors from retaliating against employees who file a complaint or assist the government in its compliance efforts?

Yes. The same sanctions and penalties that may be imposed for non-compliance with the Order may also be imposed by OLMS if the contractor does not take all necessary steps to ensure that no person intimidates, threatens, or coerces any individual for the purpose of interfering with the filing of a complaint, furnishing information, or assisting or participation in a compliance evaluation, complaint investigation, hearing or other activity related to the Order.

The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

Last updated on June 15, 2020