Wage theft – a broad term referring to various ways by which employers fail to pay employees their full compensation – is a growing concern and reportedly a bigger problem in construction than in any other industry. Many state and local governments have adopted wage theft laws that give workers new ways to recover unpaid wages, impose on employers new compliance obligations and liabilities, and increase the penalties for violations. Contractors operating in multiple jurisdictions especially need to know about the changing landscape.

In its latest Settlements Report, the 51·çÁ÷-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) advises that construction-industry collective bargaining agreements settled from January through June of 2023 provide an average increase in wages, fringe benefits and other employer payments for union craft workers in the construction industry had an average increase of 4.4 percent.

Construction contracts provide a foundation for project success or, if done wrong, project failure. Updating your contracts is essential. You should evaluate and update your contracts based on the latest technology trends, legal developments, and the insurance market. ConsensusDocs updates its documents more frequently than the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The ConsensusDocs Contract Content Drafting Council (Council) solicits and reviews industry feedback to keep the ConsensusDocs ahead of the curve in identifying and establishing industry best practices. UPDATE: On September 20th, ConsensusDocs published comprehensive revisions to its most used prime and subcontract agreements that address design-bid-build.

Delegated design is when the lead design professional, an architect or engineer, delegates a portion of design responsibility to the builder. Standard construction documents have traditionally addressed this issue in a rudimentary fashion. The updated ConsensusDocs now provide more details and procedures for design development, approval, and design coordination with the overall project design to better address delegated design.

Partnering Agreements No Longer Required for the Now-Named Marvin M. Black Excellence in Partnering & Collaboration Awards

51·çÁ÷ to offer an educational webinar on July 27 to help contractors prepare for what to expect from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in upcoming audits and if they become involved in your Mega Projects.