If you're a business owner who has 50 or more employees and who makes $50,000 or more selling products or services to organizations that use them for a federal contract, you are considered a federal subcontractor. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, audits businesses that meet criteria to make sure that they have an affirmative action plan (AAP) that is compliant with OFCCP regulations. Thankfully, there are AAP software programs available to help you make up your plan.

Learning about these software programs and the features they offer to your business and making an AAP is key to you doing well should you have an OFCCP audit. Here are some more things to consider about making the most of affirmative action software:

1. Get the right affirmative action plan solution for your business by learning about the software applications offered by AAP software providers.

2. Learn about the features of different affirmative action software applications.

3. Find out about affirmative action applications that automatically track employee hiring statistics for your company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Prepare for your OFCCP audit with AAP software from affirmative action software vendors

As a federal subcontractor, you need to find the software solution that fits the needs of your business. Since there are many kinds of affirmative action software programs available, examine what each vendor is offering before making a decision. Also take the time to learn about government regulations for employers.

I recommend: Read the listings of providers of affirmative action plan systems at HR-Software.net. Visit Peopleclick to learn about the affirmative action software programs that provide the ability create reports that are compliant with OFCCP regulations. Go to the U.S. Department of Labor to learn about OFCCP regulations.

Get information about affirmative action plan software programs and solutions

Since you could be audited by the OFCCP, it's important to find the right affirmative action software solutions for your business. Examine the features of different AAP software programs to see how they meet with your business requirements and how they will help you prepare for an audit.

I recommend: Learn about the features offered by the affirmative action plan software program offered by Yocom & McKee. This AAP software comes with a plan development checklist to help make equity planning for your business easier and less time consuming. The affirmative action program software from DCI Consulting has auto census coding and can develop multiple plans from one report. Both companies offer trained assistance with their products.

Use AAP software that automatically tracks employee hiring practices for federal subcontractors

The ability to track anyone who applies to work for you and is compliant with affirmative action regulations will help you if you are ever audited. In the past, employers would manually track employees on spreadsheets, but because of these tracking programs, you can save time and energy when creating reports.

I recommend: Visit iApplicants and EEO Made Simple to learn about their affirmative action planning software that tracks data of AAP hiring and employee information for your business. Both of these programs can help you as a federal subcontractor to prepare for an audit by giving you printable employee tracking data.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some AAP software providers offer free download demos of their programs so you can see how these solutions fit in with your business requirements for developing affirmative action plans.

Affirmative action plans refer to the implementation of specific policies that promote the hiring and employment of historically non-dominant groups, such as minorities and women. Affirmative action software gives you the ability to automate and manage affirmative action strategies. This can be very helpful considering that every business — no matter how small — is subject to the affirmative action requirements laid out by the Equal Opportunity and Employment Commission. Affirmative action software can help you maintain compliance with these laws and can also help you implement strategic initiatives to embrace diversity in the workforce.

Inside this guide to affirmative action software, you’ll learn:

1. How to select affirmative action software that complies with laws.
2. How to choose software features that complement affirmative action plans.
3. Tips on choosing cost-efficient affirmative action solutions for large and small businesses.
4. Best practices for complementing technology with affirmative action consultants.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify the most important affirmative action software component: compliance

The Department of Labor's Employment Standards Administration's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces the Executive Order 11246 covering equal opportunity and affirmative action plans and requirements. Affirmative action solutions should include provisions for the latest modifications of these standards

I recommend: BALANCEaap from Berkshire Associates is an easy-to-use affirmative action software program that walks you through the creation of affirmative action plans that contain all the reports required for compliance with OFCCP. It is available for single users or for enterprise-wide solutions. Oracle provides compliant affirmative action solutions through its enterprise human capital management offering. A list of HR software programs, many of which include compliant affirmative action solutions, is available at Business.com.

Choose software with features that complement affirmative action strategies

Take a progressive approach to affirmative action plans. Along with compliance management, reporting and monitoring, many affirmative action solutions offer extra features that help your organization build a solid infrastructure for diversity.

I recommend: For affirmative action software features, such as pay equity analysis, try Peopleclick PayStat or DCI Consulting Group’s HR Equator. Biddle Consulting Group’s Adverse Impact Toolkit analyzes hiring and promotion processes. HR Action, another solution from DCI Consulting Group, provides features for building customizable affirmative action plans and reports. Peopleclick offers a variety of additional affirmative action software solutions that address both compliance and complex management reporting requirements. Check out sample reports and graphs of Yocom & McKee’s Complete AAP software.

Use web-based affirmative action software

If you prefer the flexibility of being able to access your affirmative action software on the go, consider web-based affirmative action solutions.

I recommend: Speediware’s SpeedEEO offers affirmative action solutions that allow you to create and maintain all necessary reports simply using a web browser.

Complement software with services from affirmative action consultants

If your company doesn't have the personnel required to implement affirmative action strategies, consider bringing in affirmative action consultants to complement technology efforts. Many vendors of affirmative action software also offer in-house consulting services.

I recommend: Biddle Consulting Group has been offering affirmative action consultants and software services since 1974. RLP Management Resources offers turnkey affirmative action plans and audits as well as online training services. Check the Business.com directory for more affirmative action consultants.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Solid affirmative action strategies employ diagnostic tools that evaluate the composition of the workforce and compare it with the composition of the relevant labor pool and then include practical steps for addressing problem areas.
• •  Have your HR staff or affirmative action consultants keep your company on top of any new developments in EEO or affirmative action compliance.
• •  Keep your affirmative action software updated to remain in compliance.

Affirmative action software is only as good as the people who use it. When used appropriately, software can help bolster your affirmative action policy and supply the data you need to prove compliance. Software helps give a method to the process of employment decisions and provide opportunities for all.

Affirmative action software education and training can help you make the most of your product. After all, the reason you have it is to be more efficient with data entry and able to produce reports more easily. A good software system will help you in a variety of affirmative action areas, including pay equity and promotions, as well as alerting you to any problems in a timely manner.

Be sure to get training on:

1. The affirmative action program software tracking system to account for job applicant information, the job title and the reason for not hiring the applicant.

2. How to create an applicable compliance report from affirmative action software programs.

3. How affirmative action plan systems address the use of your specific affirmative action policy, taking the worry out of the hiring process.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Access affirmative action plan (AAP) software demos to get an overall review

Many software companies offer demonstrations of their software for use when deciding on a package to purchase. Get a feel for what your training needs will be and how it will apply to your business at the initial demo so that you can be prepared.

I recommend: Demo DCI Consulting Group's HR Action and HR Equator software. Register for an online demo through iApplicants Applicant Tracking Systems.

Attend seminars and other training programs on affirmative action plan software

Your software vendor will keep you abreast of any developments within affirmative action compliance and updates to software. To do this, the vendor will put on training sessions and other seminars as well as consult you on other products.

I recommend: Peopleclick provides training on their suite of software as well as general affirmative action compliance seminars. You can set up individualized training with Yocom & McKee.

Use online tools and support for your affirmative action plan solution

Don't count on the vendor to keep you up to speed on changes in affirmative action. Seek out the answers for yourself through online resources. Your vendor may have its own online support area where you can access the answers you need. Or consider continuing your own education on affirmative action.

I recommend: Help is just a click away with Biddle Consulting Group's page of frequently asked questions. Check out the affirmative action webinar offered by HRResource.com. You can also purchase a CD and reference manual as well as a podcast.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose an affirmative action planning software package that comes with an audit function, and learn what the system checks during this review.

Affirmative action plan software solutions are designed to prevent discrimination in hiring and promotion practices for women and minorities as well as to promote the rights or progress of those considered disadvantaged. An organization’s commitment to affirmative action can be demonstrated by the development, implementation and monitoring of an affirmative action plan that is designed to offer equal opportunity in the recruitment, selection, employment and training of all employees regardless of race, color, ethnicity, or class.

There are wide varieties of affirmative action applications on the market that can assist with managing this process. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which is part of the U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for ensuring any business with 50 or more employees and which makes $50,000 or more selling services or products to a federal agency is required to have an affirmative action plan in place. There is also a myriad of firms that can consult with you and help you develop a plan or select a software package. In this guide you will learn:

1. What the key elements of an AAP software package should contain.

2. About some of the various affirmative action software providers on the market.

3. The types of support that are available from consultants for developing affirmative action plan systems in your organization.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify the affirmative action software basics you should look for in a package

An AAP software package should include all the statistical analyses and narratives recognized by OFCCP when conducting adverse impact in hiring, promoting and terminating women, minorities, veterans and disabled individuals. Specifically, some of the documents include: availability, utilization, job group and workforce analysis; current goals and progress; prior year progress and compensation analysis.

I recommend: See EEO Made Simple Consulting for a cost effective affirmative action plan solution. There are other affirmative action software vendors, one of which is People Click that offers a desktop decentralized affirmative action plan creator.

Compare the various AAP software packages on the market to find the best solution

Preparing an affirmative action can be quite expensive without the aid of a software package. Most small to medium sized business owners don't have the time or resources to do so and without an AA plan they can't do business with the government.

I recommend: An article from CBS Interactive presents a forthright discussion on what one of many affirmative action software providers offer in their package and which presents points to consider in your investigation. HR-Guide.com has a first-rate overview of consultant and vendor resources that can help you design your solution.

Learn what kind of consultation is available for your affirmative action software solutions

Once you have purchased the Affirmative Action Plan software package you will probably need some expert guidance and support to put your affirmative action software in action. There are firms that can help you with start up all the way through OFCCP compliance review preparation and even representation. Other AAP software providers offer training so you can speed up your learning curve.

I recommend: Pinnacle AAP has complete affirmative action services that go beyond the software installation. Biddle Consulting Group can help you by providing AA audit support and can conduct training on affirmative action via webinars so you don’t even have to leave your facility.