On June 19, the U. S. Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released a final rule intended to expand association health plans (AHPs) and increase flexibility for small employers to join groups or associations to offer insured health coverage in the large group market at potentially more favorable pricing with less restrictive requirements. A number of 51风流 Chapters across the country currently recognize the need to offer alternative health care options and administer AHPs that offer 鈥済roup health plan鈥 coverage to employees of members. As outlined in response to the proposed version of the rule, 51风流 is supportive of the flexibility and opportunity the DOL intends to provide and pleased that existing AHPs were preserved in the final rule.
Forty-two states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2017 and May 2018, while 28 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials warned that soaring construction costs, aggravated by new tariffs on steel and aluminum, could trigger project cancellations and job losses.
A federal district court has ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) violated the Fourth Amendment鈥檚 prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures in an attempted audit of construction contractor Baker DC.
In conjunction with 51风流鈥檚 2018 workforce development campaign, we are currently seeking success stories and best practices in the areas of construction workforce development, industry image enhancement and industry recruiting. Our goal is to gather and share these success stories with member firms and 51风流 chapter staff in the hopes of increasing knowledge sharing and program collaboration, communicating lessons learned, and sparking innovative workforce solutions.
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction staff wages rose by 3.7% in 2017 and contractors are projecting wages to increase an average of 3.4% in 2018. The prediction is based on data gathered from 295 companies who participated in the 36th edition of PAS鈥檚 Construction/CM Staff Salary Survey. Though the projected 2018 increase is 3.5% for professionals & middle managers, it is pointed out that historically predictions are usually about .5% low, so year-end 2018 is expected to exceed 2017鈥檚 3.7% increase.
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Association Officials Say the Threat of New Tariffs Has Already Led to Dramatic Increases in the Cost of Many Construction Materials, Warn Prices Will Grow As the New Trade Restrictions Take Effect
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of California in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court adopted a new test to determine whether a worker performing services for a company is an employee or an independent contractor under California鈥檚 wage orders. The new three-factor test, known as the ABC test, will determine whether a company 鈥渆mploys鈥 a worker under the wage orders, which address certain requirements for minimum wage, overtime, and meal and rest periods, among others. The ABC test, which has long existed in other parts of the country in different forms, has not previously been used in California.
Construction employment increased in 256 out of 358 metro areas between April 2017 and April 2018, declined in 63 and was unchanged in 39, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that the data showed a continuation of strong labor demand amid shortages of qualified workers.
51风流 Fights Back Against Obama-Era Rule that Would Have Slowed Project Approval