Previously Delayed Due to Covid-19 Public Health Emergency After delaying the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collections on May 8, 2020 in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the collections will now open in April 2021.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, on March 8, 2021, however, AGC expects the incoming Biden administration to reexamine the rule prior to it becoming effective.

Public and private building markets, many of which are reeling from pandemic impacts, will find some respite through AGC’s success in landing significant development tax policies in the year-end COVID-relief and government funding bill enacted on December 27, 2020. These tax policies include $25 billion in tax incentives for community buildings development through the extension of the New Markets Tax Credit for five years; expanding tax credits for constructing more than 550,000 multifamily housing units via the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; and makes permanent, with updated ASHRAE standards, the commercial building energy efficiency tax deduction (Section 179D), which encourages private development. In addition, AGC was able to ensure that some of the $82 billion for public and private K-12 schools and higher education in COVID-relief is eligible for construction/renovation projects related to pandemic needs. For a detailed analysis of what was included in the year-end bill from a construction industry perspective, click here.

Tax Credits for Voluntarily Providing Leave Temporarily Extended

Blocks up to 37% Tax Increase by Allowing Deductibility

Tax Credits for Voluntarily Providing Leave Temporarily Extended The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted announced additional guidance to provide information about protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA’s paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave requirements expired on Dec. 31, 2020.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, on March 8, 2021.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. Have Worst Year-over-Year Losses, While Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. and Walla Walla, Wash. Register Largest Gains in Industry Jobs