February 16, 18, and 23, 2010 Chapter staff, contractors and attorneys involved in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements should register now for AGC of America's first-ever Web-based collective bargaining workshop.  The webinar will be conducted in three 90-minute sessions on February 16, 18, and 23, starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

According to a news statement issued by the U.S. Department of Labor on December 21, 2009, the program that offers insurance premium reductions to certain employees that were involuntarily terminated and their dependents (collectively known as assistance eligible individuals or AEIs) has been extended.  The extension, which amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), relates to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the 65 percent premium reduction that it offers to AEIs.

On December 10, 2009, AGC completed its three-day webinar series on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA): The Ins and Outs of Federal Prevailing Wage Law.  With nearly 400 registered participants, the series helped many current and future federal contractors by providing information necessary to understand the specific requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in a contractor-friendly manner.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released an updated version of its Employment Law Guide, an online publication for workers and employers that describes the major employment laws administered by the department.

With President Obama declaring a national emergency in response to the H1N1 influenza, commonly referred to as "Swine Flu," many government entities have encouraged employers to create their own plans for helping to prevent the spread of such an outbreak in workplaces across America, while ensuring continued business operations.  The latest government entity to issue such guidance is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which wants to ensure that Americans with disabilities and workers with a different national origin are not discriminated against during the flu-prevention process.

Beginning on November 21, 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is requiring employers to post a revised "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster.  The new poster now includes language regarding the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which became effective on November 21, 2009, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), which became effective on January 1 of the same year.

On November 19, 2009, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) along with two agencies housed under its umbrella, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), hosted a workforce symposium in Washington, D.C., which  AGC attended along with approximately 200 of the nation's top immigration lawyers, employer associations, and a handful of employers.  With high-ranking DHS officials in attendance, including Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton, and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, the symposium was designed to increase the dialogue between DHS and employers across the country.

Are you or your company facing federal prevailing wage laws for the first time? With the downturn in the availability of commercial work, many construction contractors are bidding on federal and federally-assisted work, and having to comply with the Davis Bacon and Related Acts for the first time. The application of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts to all projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 leaves many contractors uncertain about the requirements of federal prevailing wage laws and the consequences of non-compliance. To help, AGC is offering a three-part webinar series during which industry experts, including the head of enforcement for the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division (WHD) and the head of the Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations division of WHD, will provide the information necessary to understand the specific requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts in a contractor-friendly manner. 

AGC recently held its joint 2009 HR Professionals and Training & Development Conference in Atlanta. More than 175 people attended to learn, share best practices, network and take home practical solutions to HR and training problems.

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (2010 NDAA), which expands the recently-enacted exigency and caregiver leave provisions for military families under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  The law took effect immediately.