Executive Order Helps Level the Playing Field for Businesses with Federal Contracts
Statement by John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority, on an executive order signed by the president today that will ensure fair pay and safe workplaces for federal contractors
The president signed an executive order today that will help level the playing by promoting fair pay and safe workplaces for businesses awarded federal contracts. This is a step in the right direction to ensuring stable and safe work environments for employees̢??which is something small businesses overwhelmingly support. Small business owners believe ensuring workplace fairness helps attract and retain talented employees and create happier workplaces, which is also good for their bottom lines.
The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order will require companies that apply for federal contracts to disclose labor law violations they or their subcontractors have committed in the last three years. This means federal agencies will prioritize companies that are playing by the rules when considering bids for federal contracts. The order also helps protect against workplace discrimination and encourages contractors to settle disputes, such as paying back wages. The requirements will go into place beginning in 2016 for new contracts valued at more than $500,000. This will help ensure fairness across the board for thousands of businesses with federal contracts.
We know from our scientific opinion polling that small businesses support fair workplace initiatives, and that the vast majority already have provisions in place for ensuring a happy work environment for their employees. In fact, 57 percent of small employers support raising the minimum wage because it̢???s good for business and their employees. What̢???s more, the majority of small business owners already have other workplace-friendly policies in place, such as formal or informal family paid leave, and they support federal and state laws protecting gay or transgender employees.
When businesses play by the rules and ensure the wellness of their employees, everyone wins. We hope to see more actions like these that will continue to level the playing field for businesses and their workers.
<p><strong>About Small Business Majority</strong><br />
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/SBM_Media" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessMajority" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/smlbizmajority/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p>