A new guidance document from the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs may prove helpful to federal contractors. Artificial Intelligence and Equal Employment Opportunity for Federal Contractors concerns the use of artificial intelligence and other automated systems in the employment context.
The guidance responds to President Biden’s Executive Order 14110, which directs federal agencies to develop policies for managing AI’s hazards while recognizing its potential.
OFCCP’s guidance document presents frequently asked questions followed by promising practices that federal contractors can take as they implement AI-powered technologies. The guidance explains the legal standards that apply and the documentation that contractors will need to combat allegations that their use of AI is causing unlawful discrimination.
The FAQs remind contractors that OFCCP has not endorsed any particular software and that they remain responsible for any liability even when they outsource their selection decisions to a third-party vendor or software system.
OFCCP also emphasizes the importance of considering AI’s impact on individuals with disabilities. Its guidance states that contractors should ensure that their AI systems’ interfaces, data inputs, and outputs comply with accessibility standards for people with disabilities.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance can read more here.