After delaying the opening of the 2019 EEO-1 Component 1 Data Collections on May 8, 2020, in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that the 2019 and 2020 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection is now open. The EEO-1 is an annual survey that requires all private employers with 100 or more employees and federal government contractors or first-tier subcontractors with 50 or more employees and a contract/subcontract of $50,000 or more to file the EEO-1 report.
Sen. Schumer Promises PRO Act Vote with 50 Senators
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced on April 21 further details of tax credits available under the American Rescue Plan to help small businesses, including providing paid leave for employees receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.
AGC Learns More About Loan Forgiveness for PPP Loans Over $2 Million
AGC filed comments opposing the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division’s (WHD) recent proposals to withdrawal the Independent Contractor status and rescind the Joint Employer definition under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). AGC supports the Trump administration’s previous revisions to both rules, opposes these recent DOL actions and fully expects the opportunity to provide public input on any future revision or adoption of guidance regarding either rule.
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 3.8% for 2020 and are projected to rise by an average 3.4% in 2021. Though it is pointed out that historically executive staff predictions are low and readers are warned that it might not be until late in the second quarter that we get a better sense of true year end expectations.
AGC chapters and members should be aware that fraudulent unemployment claims are on the rise. While this has been a problem throughout the pandemic and while the construction industry is not a unique target, many AGC members have reported experiencing such claims and some have reported a spike in recent weeks.
Now that the country is on course to see all adult Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in a matter of days, and an increasing number of employees are returning to the workplace, vaccination status is likely to be an increasingly common topic over the coming weeks and months. This has led many AGC members to ask: when and how can employers ask their workers whether they’ve been vaccinated without getting into hot water? Whether it’s an innocent question asked while trying to make conversation or an inquiry posed to determine whether someone can return to normal duties, employers need to understand their legal rights and obligations regarding this serious topic. Missteps can easily lead to legal complications.