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Intentional, purposeful two-way communication is vital to a successful workday. Daily communication builds resilient relationships and enables a group to accomplish mission-driven tasks with a high degree of safety, quality and effectiveness. Daily toolbox talks and consistent start-up inspections create the environment where both communication and safety coexist successfully. The ABC STEP Safety Management System is designed to help you accomplish this to strengthen your safety culture. 

On May 1, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls for people working at heights in all industries.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has revised the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form (CC-305) with updated preferred language and examples of disabilities. Federal contractors use this self-identification information to support required affirmative action programs.

On May 1, the U.S. Department of Labor launched its “Mental Health at Work” initiative in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, which includes a new webpage. The initiative will increase awareness of mental health and well-being within workplaces and promote best practices and compliance by employers.

On May 1, ABC and 430 business organizations highlighted key immigration priorities for the 118th Congress in a letter urging U.S. representatives and senators to find a path forward to enact necessary reforms that ensure border security and address the economic and workforce needs of businesses throughout the United States.

On April 21, Republican Sens. John Thune, S.D., Tim Scott, S.C., Mike Braun, Ind., and Tommy Tuberville, Ala., reintroduced the Training America’s Workforce Act for the 118th Congress. This bill would expand opportunities for careers in construction, allowing for the federal recognition of industry and market-driven apprenticeship programs developed by the private sector. ABC worked

On April 26, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., introduced the Save Local Business Act (S. 1261 / H.R. 2826) to make clear that an employer may be considered a joint employer in relation to an employee only if the employer directly, actually and immediately exercises significant

On April 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a clarified ruling blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from enforcing a final rule published by the agencies on Jan. 18 that revises the definition of Waters

Beginning April 1, 2023, states that maintained continuous Medicaid enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic may start terminating coverage for individuals who are no longer eligible. Employers will likely see an increase in midyear enrollment requests as individuals lose eligibility for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage.

On April 19, ABC submitted comments in opposition to the Federal Trade Commission’s unprecedented proposal to ban all noncompete agreements nationwide, a radical departure from hundreds of years of legal precedent. Ultimately, this vastly overbroad rule will invalidate millions of reasonable

On April 12, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a ruling blocking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers from enforcing a final rule published by the agencies on Jan. 18 that revises the definition of Waters of the United States. The ruling was the result of a lawsuit brought by

On April 4, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that a commission authorized by New Jersey and Pennsylvania law to build and maintain Delaware River bridges lacked the authority to require controversial project labor agreements.

For over 30 years, ABC has helped contractors protect the physical safety of their employees on the jobsite through the STEP Safety Management System. Now the association is expanding on STEP with the introduction of the Total Human Health Initiative, or THHI. THHI “encompasses actions, initiatives and policies that emphasize the health, well-being and livelihoods of workers … [it incorporates] a whole-person approach to engage a person’s body, mind, heart and soul.”

On April 4, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service released additional guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy communities program bonus tax credits, which are in effect in advance of forthcoming proposed regulations that will implement the credits for all taxable years ending after April 4, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is hosting the webinar, “Best Practices to Prevent and Address Workplace Retaliation” on Friday, April 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for employers and employer groups. This webinar will highlight best practices as informed by the enforcement and compliance assistance efforts of five federal agencies covering a wide range of workplace laws.

On March 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the ABC-supported H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, in a bipartisan 225-204 vote, with four Democrats supporting and only one Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., opposing the bill.

On March 29, the U.S. Senate passed the ABC-supported H.J. Res. 27, the Waters of the United States Congressional Review Act Resolution, in a 53-43 vote with the support of all Senate Republicans and five Democrats, Sens. Rosen, Nev., Cortez Masto, Nev., Manchin, W.Va., Tester, Mont., and Sinema, Ariz. Four Senators did not vote.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is hosting an online forum for employers, contractors, workers and other stakeholders on May 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. The two-day, virtual event will feature panel discussions on compliance with federal laws governing wages and workplace issues, with a specific focus on construction and federal contractors.

ABC has commissioned management consulting firm FMI to conduct the fifth annual survey to quantify the current investment and workforce development efforts of member contractors. It is vital that each member contractor complete the survey.

Last week, ABC joined a coalition of national, state and local trade associations in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the administration’s active engagement with both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association to help them reach a final contract, bring negotiations to a close and end the uncertainty surrounding operations of the West Coast ports.  

On March 29, the U.S. Senate will vote on S. J. Res 7, a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 2023 revised Waters of the United States regulation.

On March 28, the National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo launched the “Know Your Rights” card series to educate workers on their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

On March 24, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law S.B. 34 and H.B. 4007, which respectively repeal the state’s right-to-work protections and reinstate prevailing wage requirements for public construction projects. The actions reward labor unions’ substantial financial and political contributions to Michigan Democrats’ unified state governmental control and garnered significant opposition from ABC of Michigan, the wider business community and Republican lawmakers.

This year marks three decades of the Accredited Quality Contractors program, and 10 ABC members have participated in the program for all 30 years of its existence.

In a speech delivered on March 22, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, Lily Batchelder, indicated that additional guidance on prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements for Inflation Reduction Act clean energy tax credits is months away.