The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently released new resources to help veterans and employers understand the protections under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) of 1974.
Whether you love them or hate them, project labor agreements (PLAs) are a reality. In light of the new federal contractor PLA mandate and a growing number of state and local orders requiring or encouraging PLAs, contractors need to understand the intricacies of PLA terms and conditions now more than ever.
ԹϺ Smartbrief recently wrote a story addressing project delivery methods that featured the ConsensusDocs’ design-build and construction management at-risk standard contracts with the following:
On April 24, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plans to consult the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) on its proposed regulatory framework for the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule.
The 2024 ԹϺ/FMI Study highlights key risks in the construction industry. Based on responses from ԹϺ's in-house risk managers workgroup (collected Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024), the top concerns include labor shortages, design issues, changes in insurance terms and costs, project delays or cancellations, and changes in contract language. However, one of the most alarming trends highlighted by the study is the uptick in subcontractor defaults. Seventy percent of respondents are seeing an increase in subcontractor defaults compared to one year ago, with nearly half reporting firsthand experience of project disruptions due to subcontractor defaults. Root causes behind subcontractor distress include financial instability, lack of skilled labor, and quality issues -- especially affecting electrical, plumbing, and concrete trades. In response, construction risk managers are enhancing subcontractor prequalification measures, including more thorough financial and staffing evaluations, seeking out new subcontractors, and increasing review frequency.
UPDATE: On March 8, 2024, the court handed ԹϺ and co-plaintiffs a major victory when it granted our motion for summary judgment and vacated the NLRB’s rule. On May 7, 2024, the NLRB filed a notice of appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. On July 19, the Fifth Circuit granted NLRB's motion to voluntarily dismiss its appeal challenging vacatur of NLRB's 2023 joint employer rule.
Construction employment increased in 37 states in January from a year earlier, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that demand for construction remains strong in many parts of the country, but cautioned that labor shortages are restraining employment gains in the sector.