The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (“OFCCP”) announced today a proposal to rescind the rule titled “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption,” which has been in effect since January 8, 2021 (the “Religious Exemption Rule”).  The Religious Exemption Rule clarified the scope and application of the religious exemption contained in Executive Order 11246, which is enforced by OFCCP.  Our summary of the Religious Exemption Rule can be found here.

In a news release, OFCCP Director Jenny Yang explained the proposed rescission will preserve the Executive Order’s religious exemption, and result in a “return to [the] policy and practice of considering the facts of each case and applying Title VII principles and case law and other applicable law.” OFCCP justified the rescission of the Religious Exemption Rule because it “departed from OFCCP’s long-standing policy and practice of applying Title VII principles and case law to interpret the exemption.”

The proposal will be published on November 9, 2021.

Photo of Guy Brenner Guy Brenner

Guy Brenner is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and leads the Firm’s Washington, D.C. Labor & Employment practice. He is head of the Government Contractor Compliance Group, co-head of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Group and a member…

Guy Brenner is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and leads the Firm’s Washington, D.C. Labor & Employment practice. He is head of the Government Contractor Compliance Group, co-head of the Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Group and a member of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group. He has extensive experience representing employers in both single-plaintiff and class action matters, as well as in arbitration proceedings. He also regularly assists federal government contractors with the many special employment-related compliance challenges they face.

Guy represents employers in all aspects of employment and labor litigation and counseling, with an emphasis on non-compete and trade secrets issues, medical and disability leave matters, employee/independent contractor classification issues, and the investigation and litigation of whistleblower claims. He assists employers in negotiating and drafting executive agreements and employee mobility agreements, including non-competition, non-solicit and non-disclosure agreements, and also conducts and supervises internal investigations. He also regularly advises clients on pay equity matters, including privileged pay equity analyses.

Guy advises federal government contractors and subcontractors all aspects of Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) regulations and requirements, including preparing affirmative action plans, responding to desk audits, and managing on-site audits.

Guy is a former clerk to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the US District Court of the District of Columbia.