At the direction of President Obama, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule on June 30, that would change federal overtime exemptions for administrative, executive, professional, and computer professional employees—the so-called "white collar" worker classifications that have long been exempt from being paid time-and-one-half for working hours over 40 per week.  

Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV) voiced its concerns over the newly presented methodology for the calculation of prevailing wage rates in West Virginia after Workforce West Virginia released a summary of its report on June 1. The report, a product of prevailing wage reform legislation (S.B. 361) signed  March 12 by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D), illustrates how new methodology will determine  forthcoming prevailing wage rates on state-funded public improvements.  However, because Workforce West Virginia failed to publish its new prevailing wage calculations by the July 1 deadline because lawmakers complained t

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) regulatory agenda was released on May 21 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year. The most recent agenda focuses on overtime requirements, the persuader rule and more. 

As part of a coalition, ABC submitted comments June 15 to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) on proposed rules for the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ABC and the coalition offered its input in a number of areas where the public workforce system under WIOA can be better aligned with the needs of employers.

The latest OSHA regulatory agenda was released on May 21 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year regarding rules on silica exposure, recordkeeping and more. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 2578) June 3 and the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal year 2016 (H.R. 2577) June 9 without either problematic, ABC-opposed amendments that would unfairly harm federal contractors and increase costs to taxpayers and the federal government.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a proposed rule April 20 related to employer wellness programs, which is open for public comments until June 19. The proposed rule amends regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide guidance on the extent to which employers may use incentives to encourage employees to participate in wellness programs that include disability-related inquiries and/or medical examinations. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued the final “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule May 27. The final rule will go into effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register (rule has not been published). 

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released a proposed rule and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed guidance May 27, as directed by President Obama’s July 31, 2014, sweeping “blacklisting” Executive Order 13673 targeting the federal contracting community.

The U.S. Senate passed the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget (S. Con Res 11) for Fiscal Year 2016, May 5 which contains ABC-supported language adopted during Senate Vote-A-Rama, that would restrict the use of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). The budget was previously passed by the House on April 30.