From our Friends at National Glass Association

BEC Presents™ is the latest limited series of short videos that spotlight need-to-know topics of unique interest to installing companies that can be watched on demand, at the viewer’s convenience, in about 30 minutes or less.

BEC Presents episodes include:

• A state of the glass, metal and contract glazing industry conversation among market segment leaders
• Contract and HR considerations affecting the construction industry after COVID-19
• A look at the changing commercial real estate market
• Update on what technical codes & standards glaziers should know
• And more

There is no cost to watch and no registration required. Tune in to check out BEC Presents.

Brian Carroll (yes, THAT Brian Carroll) is ASA’s incoming president. Watch him in https://www.glass.org/2021-and-construction-industry-after-covid-19

Letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen

ASA, along with the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen at the end of March urging her Department to ensure transportation infrastructure is defined explicitly as a qualifying eligibility in the American Rescue Plan. The Department of the Treasury’s guidance on the measure’s $350 billion in relief funds for state and local governments and $10 billion in capital assistance will be critical. States and local transportation revenues were hit hard by COVID-19, with 49 states publicly projecting declines. State departments of transportation are facing at least $18 billion in estimated revenue shortfall through 2024.

During 2020, 18 states and 24 localities announced delays or cancellations of transportation improvements projects totaling over $12 billion. These real-world impacts of reduced transportation revenues highlight the opportunity presented by the American Rescue Plan’s investment to assist state and local governments with capital and operational challenges.  Providing clear guidance and flexibility on the funds’ use for transportation infrastructure will be critical to ensuring funds are used expeditiously and with maximum impact.

New Platinum Sponsor – Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie and ASA are partnering to provide members with professional development at special prices. Over 100 years of proven success has made Dale Carnegie the industry leader as a true benchmark in professional training and development solutions. The Dale Carnegie experience engages learners from the initial contact through follow-up and support to reinforce key behaviors. Our methodology supports the development of skills and habits needed to sustain performance change. We believe that the emotional shift is as important as the behavior shift. That’s why our Performance Change Pathway™ shows our deliberate approach to create training programs that drive improved performance.

Coming in May 

The month of May brings many good things…including three fantastic webinars to educate, inform, and make you better versions of yourself. All details and registration information can be found here.

May 12 – Planning for Recovery for SMB Contractors. As more regions start ramping back up,  projects get back on schedule, and more opportunities are available, 2021 is all about planning and recovering from the 2020 jolt. Join Procore’s Michelle Turner as she interviews Scalfo Electric’s Joelle Macrino on the ways that Small Business Specialty Contractors can embrace the new standard of digital transformation in the construction industry to stay ahead of the competition.

May 19 – ASA Day with SBA. The U. S. Small Business Administration’s Surety Bond Guarantee (SBG) Program helps subcontractors get bonds up to $10 million! Attend ASA Day with SBA to learn how to increase your contracting opportunities, dispel myths surrounding the program, and give you the opportunity to obtain solutions to your specific bonding challenges.

May 26 – Does Your Insurance Program Cover All of the Insurance Requirements in the Contracts You’re Signing? Gary R. Semmer, CIC, CWCA, Executive Vice President, AssuredPartners, Inc. will facilitate this discussion to make sure you’re knowledgeable about needed contract insurance requirements for all circumstances.

2021 COBRA Premium Subsidies

The latest round of COVID relief legislation that was signed into law in March (the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) included a provision to provide COBRA premium subsidies to help laid off employees and their beneficiaries retain health insurance coverage. 

COBRA provides certain employees and their beneficiaries with the right to retain coverage under an employer’s group health plan for a set period of time following certain triggering events including when the employee is laid off.  Typically the cost of the COBRA premiums are borne exclusively by the individual. However, the new law provides subsidies to cover 100% of the premiums for eligible individuals who qualify for COBRA coverage for the period from April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. During this period, the qualifying individual does not have to remit COBRA premiums and instead the premium will be reimbursed directly to the employer, plan administrator or insurance company (depending on the nature of the plan) in the form of a tax credit. 

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued two new sets of FAQs in early April to help employees and employers understand the new COBRA premium subsidies and COBRA in general. The DOL also issued new model notices that employers and plan administrators may use to satisfy their obligation to alert COBRA qualifying individuals of the COBRA premium subsidies. In the event of a termination/layoff or other action (such as a reduction in hours) that would end an employee’s regular coverage under the group health plan and cause them to be eligible for COBRA.

Employers Must Ensure Employee Handbook Policies Are Compliant with the NLRA

This article is from our friends at SESCO Management Consultants, ASA’s Human Resource Partner. To find out about this and all of the incredible member benefits included in your ASA Membership, click here.

Peter Sung Ohr, Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board), has issued Memorandum GC 21-03(GC 21-03) to the regional field offices signaling significant changes to enforcement priorities under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). GC 21-03 cites increased workplace health and safety issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as employees’ political and social justice advocacy concerns as factors necessitating increased enforcement of the NLRA. It is not uncommon for the NLRB and its general counsel to modify or reverse their interpretations of the NLRA with changes in the composition of the Board. The political party of the presidency enjoys majority representation on the NLRB. Consequently, changes in the presidential administration often lead to significant changes for employers. GC 21-03 is emblematic of that trend. It states that “recent decisions issued by the current Board have restricted [Section 7 rights] for employees.” The enforcement priorities highlighted in GC 21-03 are in stark contrast to enforcement priorities under the previous administration and a clear indication that employers should expect increased NLRB oversight for the foreseeable future. We recommend all employers have SESCO review their Employee Handbook on an annual basis to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws.