Economy, finance and labor

Executive Order 13496: Notification of Employee Rights Under Federal Labor Laws

President: Barack Obama

Requires covered federal contractors and subcontractors to notify employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13496 still in effect? Yes. Active; Labor Department regulations continue to require notices under covered federal contracts.

What does Executive Order 13496 do?

EO 13496 requires a contract clause and workplace notice explaining employees’ rights to organize, bargain collectively and engage in protected concerted activity. Labor regulations at 29 CFR part 471 specify coverage, posting and enforcement, while small contracts and other listed categories are excluded.

Administration position: The poster explains existing labor-law rights; the order does not require employees to support a union or compel a contractor to recognize one without the statutory process.
SignedJanuary 30, 2009
Implementing rule29 CFR part 471
Required noticeNLRA rights poster

Before and after

Before the order

EO 13201 required a different notice focused on union-dues rights.

After the order

Covered contractors had to post a broader NLRA-rights notice physically and electronically where applicable.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Contracting agenciesInsert the required contract clauseContinuing
Contractors and subcontractorsPost the official notice and flow down the clauseContinuing
OLMS and OFCCPAdminister and enforce complianceContinuing

What happened next

EO 13496 signed and EO 13201 revoked.

Labor issued the final implementing rule.

Posting obligations began.