Valerie Hoffman Quoted in Workforce Management
"Diversity of a Different Color"

Valerie Hoffman was quoted in the June 2010 issue of Workforce Management in the article, "Diversity of a Different Color." The article discussed how companies are shifting their diversity initiatives from focusing on equal opportunity for workers toward accessing diverse markets. The article noted that "this new model may not survive stepped-up government enforcement and budget cuts threatening programs with unproven results." Val pointed out that the Obama administration is ratcheting up regulatory requirements and enforcement at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). According to Val, “A strong diversity program that ignores compliance is not acceptable to the OFCCP. The agency is busy asserting violations even when employees have not complained.”

Val cautioned employers to monitor minority representation in their companies. She explained, “With the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the OFCCP, it’s important to continue to be interested in composition, so those considerations should not be dispensed." She added, “Both the EEOC and the OFCCP are clearly staffed up and becoming more expert in their investigations. What is remarkable at both agencies is that the individuals now in leadership understand how private-sector employers work. This sophistication and increased staffing marks a new era for enforcement.”