AGC recently hosted a webinar to educate construction contractors on the latest regulations that implement the employer mandates of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The webinar, Affordable Care Act Update for Construction Employers, is a follow-up to AGC’s 2013 webinar series, The Affordable Care Act: The Impact of Health Care Reform on Your Construction Business.  A recording of the webinar is available in the AGC Bookstore.

In response to a request from Director Pat Shiu of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), AGC provided the agency, and other invited Labor Department staff, with a detailed overview of the construction industry.  The request stemmed from a March 27 meeting between AGC and OFCCP Director Pat Shiu and her staff regarding the agency’s plans for revising the regulations related to the employment of women and minorities in construction and how AGC might be able to help the agency understand the application of those regulations to the construction industry. The presentation took place on June 2 at the Labor Department’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

On June 20, the agencies implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) released a final rule clarifying the effect of orientation periods (also known as “trial periods”) on the “90-day waiting period rule” under the ACA.  The “90-day waiting period rule” prohibits group health plans and health insurance issuers from imposing a waiting period of more than 90 days before the beginning of coverage for full-time employees.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a big victory to the AGC-supported Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in a June 26 opinion invalidating President Obama’s January 2012 recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board).

AGC of America’s Union Contractors Committee will hold its next quarterly conference call on Thursday, July 24, at 3:00 p.m. EDT.  The agenda includes reports on legal and labor relations developments since the last call and a roundtable discussion of activities of interest to union contractors.  The call is open to all AGC union contractors and chapter staff.  AGC membership is required, but Committee membership is not.  Chapter staff and leaders are encouraged to actively participate in the discussion and to come prepared to share information about local bargaining, jurisdictional disputes, and other matters, as well as any questions about labor concerns.

The Associated General Contractors of America announced today that it is joining the national Hiring Our Heroes program as part of the construction industry’s effort to add 100,000 veterans over the next five years.  The new partnership will make it easier for construction contractors to find, recruit and hire veterans, association officials added.

AGC has scheduled a webinar for Monday, June 30th from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM for the latest updates on Multiemployer Pension Plan reform. For nearly two years the National Coordinating Committee of Multiemployer Plans, Retirement Review Security Commission developed draft recommendations for legislative and other changes to the current multiemployer pension plan system.

The Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has updated its model notices that inform workers of their eligibility to continue healthcare coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”). The updates, announced May 2, are intended to clarify to workers that, if they are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage when leaving a job, they may instead choose to purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.  Click here for the revised Model COBRA Continuation Coverage General Notice and instructions.  Click here for the revised Model COBRA Continuation Coverage Election Notice and instructions.

If your firm is already experiencing challenges in finding craft workers or is anticipating challenges in the future, join AGC of America’s Open Shop Committee, HR Forum, and Training, Education & Development Forum for a web meeting on June 16 at 2:00 p.m. EDT featuring a presentation on “Best Practices in Recruiting Craft Workers.”  Ron Kubitz, Recruiting Manager for Brayman Construction, will share strategies he has found effective in meeting his company’s immediate needs for craft workers as well as those useful for developing a pipeline of workers for future needs.  Kubitz will address how to best use mobile technology, website language, employee referral incentives, job fairs, mentoring, and more.  A roundtable discussion will follow, offering you and your fellow AGC members a chance to share your own experiences and questions.  The program will also include an update on labor and employment legal developments from AGC staff.

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) have entered into a program together for the referral of untimely whistleblower claims, according to a May 21 memo from NLRB Associate General Counsel Anne Purcell to NLRB regional directors and officers.