Inform Apprentices

The EEO Pledge expresses the program sponsor’s commitment to EEO and affirmative action for apprenticeship applicants and hires. Sponsors must post the pledge language contained in the apprenticeship EEO regulations in the workplace and include the language in their apprenticeship program standards, apprenticeship opportunity announcements, and appropriate publications.

Apprentices and applicants to Registered Apprenticeship Programs may file a discrimination complaint if they believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), sexual orientation, age (40 or older), genetic information, or disability with regard to apprenticeship, or if they believe they have been retaliated against. The complaint must be filed within 300 days of the alleged discrimination or the alleged failure to follow the EEO standards. Sponsors must notify apprentices and applicants of their right to file a discrimination complaint and the procedures for doing so, using the complaints notice information contained in the apprenticeship EEO regulations.

• Publish the EEO Pledge in apprenticeship program standards and in appropriate publications, such as apprentice and employee handbooks, policy manuals, newsletters, and electronic media.
  • Sponsors registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship may add the EEO Pledge Update Addendum in Circular 2017-02 to their existing standards.
  • Sponsors registered with a State Apprenticeship Agency should contact that agency for guidance.
  • You can find out if your program is registered with the federal government or a state government agency by looking at the State Apprenticeship Agency map.
• Post the EEO Pledge in conspicuous places in the workplace.
• Include the EEO Pledge in apprenticeship opportunity announcements.
• Notify apprentices and applicants for apprenticeship of their right to file a discrimination complaint and the procedures for doing so using the complaints notice information.
  • Provide the notice in the application for apprenticeship.
  • Display the notice in a prominent, publicly available location where all apprentices will see it.
• Conduct orientation and periodic information sessions for all individuals connected with the administration or operation of the program (including apprentices and mentors/ journeyworkers who work with apprentices) to inform and remind them of the sponsor’s apprenticeship EEO policy.  
• Maintain records to demonstrate adherence to these requirements and make these records available to the registration agency upon request.

Learn how to get your own EEO Pledge poster

Apprenticeship program sponsors are required to ensure that apprentices and apprenticeship applicants with disabilities receive equal employment opportunity. Most important, sponsors may not discriminate against apprentices and applicants on the basis of disability and must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified people where appropriate. This includes ensuring all outreach and recruitment efforts extend to everyone available for apprenticeship, including individuals with disabilities. Sponsors must invite individuals to disclose a disability at least:

• At the time of application.
• After they’ve accepted a position, but before they have started the program.
• At least one time after they’ve started the program.

However, individuals may request to disclose at any time. Click here to access the Disability Disclosure Form (ETA 671).