The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a proposal that would revise the Employer Information Report (EEO-1). The new report would require all employers with 100 or more employees to submit compensation data and hours worked in addition to racial, ethnic and gender status data that is currently required by the federal government. The new form would also apply to federal contractors with more than 100 employees, and, if implemented, will replace the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) proposed Equal Pay Report for federal contractors.
On February 1, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance for employers regarding internal audits of Employment Eligibility Verification forms, also known as Forms I-9. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their new hires' identity and employment eligibility. Immigration Customs and Enforcement – a division within DHS – and the Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices partnered to publish the guidance in compliance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act.
On January 11, 2016, the final rule issued by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) implementing Executive Order 13665 (EO) took effect. Issued in April 2014, the EO amended Executive Order 11246 by prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from retaliating or discriminating against employees and applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose his or her own compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants.
ż recently hosted a webinar to educate construction contractors on the reporting requirements and supporting forms for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Employer Mandate. The webinar, Affordable Care Act Update for Construction Employers: Employer Shared Responsibility Reporting and Legislative Changes, highlighted the mandatory reporting obligations of IRS forms 1094-C and 1095-C with respect to 2015. A recording of the webinar is available in the ż Store.
On January 20, ż submitted comments in response to a proposed rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update the equal employment opportunity regulations that implement the National Apprenticeship Act. In some cases, this is the first time the rules overseeing such programs have been updated since 1978.
The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has taken the next step in its nearly-six-year-old "fissured industries" initiative by releasing Administrator’s Interpretation No. 2016-1, dealing with concepts of "joint employment" under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).
On December 28th, the IRS issued Notice 2016-4 extending the 2015 filing deadlines for information reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Notice 2016-4 provides an automatic extension for the filing deadlines, so no requests for extensions are necessary.
On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Act) delaying the effective date of the “Cadillac Tax” until 2020 and making the tax deductible. Leading opponents of the tax have said they would continue to press for it to be rescinded altogether.
Looking for training on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts but missed ż of America’s recent webinar on the topic? An archive of each session of the two-part webinar “Understanding Davis-Bacon Compliance and Enforcement Act” held December 10 and 15 is now available for purchase and immediate viewing from ż’s online store. Visit http://store.agc.org/ and search for product codes WB355 and WB357. Be sure to log in to see discounted ż-member pricing.
On December 10, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule requiring the installation and use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) on commercial motor vehicles used in interstate commerce. The rule, scheduled to go into effect on December 10, 2017, mandates the use of ELDs for all drivers who are currently required to use records of duty status log books. These electronic devices are intended to be used for the enforcement of FMCSA’s Hours of Service Rules for truck drivers.