Overview
This section establishes that the rights granted to contractor employees under Executive Order 13706 and 29 CFR Part 13, regarding paid sick leave, are non-waivable. It prohibits both voluntary waivers by employees and any attempts by contractors to persuade employees to relinquish these rights.
Key Rules
- Prohibition on Employee Waivers: Employees are legally unable to waive their rights to accrue and use paid sick leave as mandated by the FAR and Department of Labor regulations.
- Prohibition on Contractor Inducement: Contractors are strictly forbidden from inducing, or attempting to induce, employees to waive their rights through any means, such as offering alternative benefits or using coercive tactics.
- Regulatory Compliance: The section explicitly links these requirements to the Department of Labor enforcement standards set forth in 29 CFR 13.7.
Practical Implications
- Contractors cannot use "opt-out" clauses in employment contracts or collective bargaining agreements to bypass paid sick leave requirements.
- Any private agreement between a contractor and an employee that purports to waive these rights is considered void and unenforceable, and entering into such an agreement could lead to non-compliance penalties or contract sanctions.