On Oct. 30, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration launched a new website, FindTreatment.gov, to help people struggling with substance abuse and addiction locate treatment centers and to provide them with additional resources. 

On Nov. 5, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled Fluctuating Workweek Method of Computing Overtime, which would revise a DOL regulation concerning salaried, non-exempt employees who work hours that vary each week under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Elections were held yesterday in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia. Over the past few weeks, all eyes have been on Virginia, as the balance of power in the state was on the line. 

In a reversal of its previous policy, on Oct. 28, the Trump administration announced its decision to extend Temporary Protected Status for approximately 250,000 El Salv

On Sept. 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a final rule to make 1.3 million American workers newly eligible for overtime pay, a rule which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy released a new guidance document to help small businesses understand their role and participate in the federal rulemaking process.

On Oct. 15, ABC submitted comments as part of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Request for Information on Table 1 of the agency’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction.

ABC member and 2003 national chair Eddie Rispone, founder of ISC Contractors, will be the Republican candidate facing off against incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) in the Nov. 16 general election for Louisiana, according to the results of the state’s Oct 12 primary.

On Oct. 9, the Honolulu City Council passed a highly contentious ordinance that will require the city to negotiate a “community workforce agreement” with the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, the Hawaii Construction Alliance and their affiliated labor unions for certain public works projects. The city says the ordinance will apply to “critical city projects” in which the city has a particular interest in timely and cost-efficient project completion. The CWA will largely apply to critical road, wastewater, drainage and park improvement projects.

The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, craft and management education, talent management and diversity and community relations.  A company that meets the criteria set forth in the program and has earned STEP Gold, Platinum or Diamond status in ABC’s safety management system is formally designated an Accredited Quality Contractor.