The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) hiring benchmark for 2023. Effective March 31, 2023, the hiring benchmark will be 5.4 percent, slightly down from 5.5 percent in 2022. This benchmark is an annual goal for the percentage of hires who are veterans at each affirmative action plan (AAP) establishment.
Contractors Must Update Forms by July 25, 2023
The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released its annual report on Union Labor Costs in Construction. The report is useful for understanding current trends in collectively bargained compensation for union craft workers in the construction industry, providing data analyses by region and trade. It can be a valuable resource when preparing for collective bargaining negotiations, particularly when used in conjunction with CLRC’s latest Settlements Report.
In a recent article reporting on the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB or Board) decision in McLaren Macomb, which changes the Board’s approach to the lawfulness of key provisions often found in severance agreements, we indicated that the NLRB’s general counsel would eventually issue guidance on questions arising as a result of that decision. That day has come. On March 22, 2023, NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued Memorandum GC 23-05, Guidance in Response to Inquiries about the McLaren Macomb Decision. The Guidance covers a range of topics and questions of importance to employers.
In its February 21, 2023, decision in the McLaren Macomb case, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) explicitly overruled Baylor University Medical Center, 369 NLRB No. 43 (2020) and IGT d/b/a International Game Technology, 370 NLRB No. 50 (2020) and reversed Trump-era decisions in Baylor University Medical Center and IGT d/b/a International Game Technology that had permitted employers to include broad confidentiality provisions and non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements.
Reaffirms Existing EEO and Affirmative Action Requirements
The new report, 2022 National Construction Industry Workforce Summit: Success Stories and New Strategies offers a comprehensive summary of AGC’s most-recent Workforce Summit. This includes over 40 new workforce development solutions crafted by Summit participants, as well as details about what firms, AGC chapters and educators are already doing that is helping address the industry’s workforce needs. Please use this report as a resource for ideas about ways to better recruit, train and retain the industry’s workforce. We trust you will find the information in the report useful and encourage you to share it with colleagues as appropriate. And do not hesitate to email workforce@agc.org with any questions or if you need any additional details.
Tuesday, March 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET