Browse by Date - 201803

AGC Seeks Input from Members on Potential Impact to Their Operations

AGC spoke out against proposed guidelines that would make establishing new mitigation banks more onerous.  The draft guidelines would make investment in mitigation less attractive and increase the cost of projects that rely on robust mitigation banks to comply with legal requirements and stay on budget.  Furthermore, provisions in the proposed guidelines go beyond what is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2008 Mitigation Rule and work against recent executive orders that prioritize regulatory reform and environmental streamlining.  Proposed by the Fort Worth District of the USACE, AGC is concerned that the guidelines may be adopted by other districts. 

As part of its ongoing efforts to increase transparency of preliminary findings with federal contractors, achieve consistency across regional and district offices, and encourage communication throughout the compliance evaluation process, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has issued Directive 2018-01 standardizing

Submission Deadline Extended to Friday, March 16, 2018

On March 6, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced a new nationwide pilot program, the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program, which intends to facilitate the resolution of potential overtime and minimum wage violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). According to WHD, the program's primary objectives are to resolve such claims expeditiously and without litigation, to improve employers' compliance with overtime and minimum wage obligations, and to ensure that more employees receive the back wages they are owed—faster.

On March 6, AGC submitted comments to the U. S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in response to a proposed 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 AGC Chapters across the country currently recognize the need to offer alternative health care options and have established AHPs that offer “group health plan” coverage to employees of members.  AGC is supportive of the flexibility and opportunity the DOL proposes to provide, but is also concerned of negative impacts the changes might have on current Chapter-sponsored health plans and others who might be interested in sponsoring health plans.

The saga of the joint employer standard under the National Labor Relations Act continues. It began when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) under the Obama Administration established a broader standard for determining joint employer status in the controversial Browning-Ferris Industries case in 2015.

Brent Booker, secretary-treasurer of North America’s Building Trade Unions (NABTU), addressed attendees at a Union Contractors Committee-sponsored session during AGC of America’s Annual Convention in New Orleans, LA, on Feb. 26.  He talked about NABTU’s current priorities and key activities, including the Capital Strategies program, craft training, infrastructure funding legislation, multiemployer pension plans, and owner community engagement. 

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