On October 8, President Obama signed a bipartisan bill into law - the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act or PACE Act. The PACE Act amends the definition of “small employer” for purposes of the non-tax portions of the Affordable Care ACT (ACA). Under the law, states have the option to continue defining “small employer” as an employer with fewer than 50 employees in 2016. Absent the PACE Act, the definition of “small employer” would automatically increase for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2016 to include an employer with 100 or fewer employees. Notably, several states had already acted to redefine “small employer” as an employer with 100 or fewer employees, and it appears that in the absence of additional legislative action, those state actions will still take effect.
ż’s 2015 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference wrapped up Oct. 9 after two-and-a-half days of education, sharing of best practices and networking in St. Louis, MO. The conference continues to be a must-attend event for HR and training professionals in the construction industry.
November 3, 2015, 2:00-3:15 p.m. EASTERN
The NLRB's recent ruling in the Browning-Ferris Industries case relaxes the standard for determining when two companies constitute "joint employers" under the National Labor Relations Act.
The ż-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released its second report of the year on collective bargaining settlements in the industry. Settlements reported between January and September 2015 resulted in an average first-year wage-and-benefit increase of 2.5 percent or $1.25.
On September 16, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a new minimum wage rate of $10.15 for direct federal contracts and subcontracts covered by Executive Order 13658. Federally assisted contracts are not affected. The rate goes into effect on January 1, 2016.
On September 7 (Labor Day), President Obama announced a new executive order (EO) that will require federal contractors and subcontractors to provide up to seven days of paid leave for sickness and other covered purposes to covered employees annually. The new requirement will impact new federal contracts or contract-like instruments entered into on or after January 1, 2017. Federally assisted contracts are not impacted.
On September 11, the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued its Final Rule implementing Executive Order 13665, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against employees and applicants who ask about or discuss compensation. The regulations are effective January 11, 2016.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on August 6 issued an updated Form 1095-C and instructions following a June 9 letter from ż of America and the Food Marketing Institute urging the agency to make the revisions. Form 1095-C is one of the forms used by employers to report information regarding the cost and level of health coverage offered to employees under the employer mandate provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The form allows the IRS to verify whether an employer is subject to penalties under the employer mandate provisions of the ACA. A draft version of the updated form and instructions are available on the IRS website.
The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) has successfully defended recent changes to union-representation case procedures for the second time in federal district court. In the latest case, Chamber of Commerce v. NLRB, the ż-supported U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, along with others, sued the NLRB over the rule in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. On July 29, the court granted the NLRB’s motion for summary judgement.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently released an infographic to help veterans determine whether or not they are protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA).