It's no secret that enforcement has increased and many companies have faced recent audits, resulting in fines and penalties for the first time, but for most, debarment has only been a mere threat for non-compliance until now. Previously, Department of Labor (DOL) officials explained that debarment would be more widely sought as punishment for federal contractors who fail to comply with the law because in their opinion, contractors do not take fines seriously and consider fines as only a cost of doing business.
On Tuesday, June 14, the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing to review the state of private pension plans and the challenges facing plan sponsors, workers and retirees.  The challenges facing both single and multiemployer pension programs was not directly discussed in the hearing, however, this action indicates that Congress does realize that there are still challenges facing this retirement vehicle.Â
On June 3, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ô¤²â’s general counsel testified in Congress in support of H.R. 735, the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) appears to be heading in the right direction in its reconsideration of its proposal to update accounting standards concerning disclosure of an employer’s participation in a multiemployer plan. Â
Attention remains focused on the complaint by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with regard to Boeing’s South Carolina Dreamliner plant. The complaint claims that Boeing violated federal labor law by building this plant in retaliation against past strikes by the unions. Boeing disputes this claim.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has established a new standard for addressing the access rights of off-duty employees of an onsite contractor to the premises of the property owner for the purpose of distributing union-supporting handbills. While the case in which the new standard was issued involved a service contractor rather than a construction contractor, it could have ramifications in the construction industry.
The Obama Administration has focused heavily on the enforcement of employment laws by government agencies across the board, and now, new measures are being taken to allow various agencies and sub-agencies to collaborate on their independent enforcement directives. Employers are encouraged to prepare now or possibly face tough penalties.
The Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the agency that administers various affirmative action laws applicable to federal contractors, published proposed regulations on April 26, 2011, that, if implemented, will significantly increase contractors' obligations as they relate to protected veterans.Â
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched I-9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to Form I-9, the Employee Eligibility Verification form. This website is intended to provide employers and employees with one-click access to resources, tips and guidance to properly complete Form I-9 and better understand the Form I-9 process.
Registration is now open for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ô¤²â’s HR Professionals Conference, to be held October 4-6, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.