Tuesday, September 30, 2014

REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPDATE - OCTOBER, 2014



Welcome to the October, 2014 Gregory Management & Consulting Services (GMCS) REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPDATE.  The regional commercial construction marketplace continues to announce more new projects almost daily.  GMCS is continuing to collaborate with regional developers, governmental authorities, facility owners, contactors and trades to advance even more projects in the coming months.  Along with this increased demand comes an ever growing strain on our skilled labor pool.  A shortage that GMCS has been forecasting for quite some time.  As the demand for skilled labor increases, so does the demand for construction executives and industry professionals.  In just the last several months, our Mid-Atlantic commercial construction industry has witnessed the tragic losses of several high profile organization’s lead executives.  Additionally, we have witnessed some regional industry executives transitioning to leadership positions with industry competitors.  Along those same lines, the demand for project executives, estimators and superintendents continues to grow and an even greater pace.  Personnel transfers amongst industry competitors happen almost daily.  GMCS regularly assists their contracted clients and recruiting firms in securing qualified and experienced placements for these mission critical positions.  Developers, facility owners and contractors continue to recognize the value of bringing GMCS into the discussion early on in the planning phases of their projects.  Developers and facility owners and contractors find tangible value and security in GMCS’s broad regional contractor knowledge base, trusted relationships and continued participation in industry wide discussions that seek to maintain harmony between facility owners, constructors and building trades.  We accomplish this through our long standing and trusted relationships in government, management and labor through the application of collaborative engagement and open discussion.  We help project stakeholders reach mutually acceptable resolutions enabling projects, their contractors and employees to return to work quickly.  In many cases, even before the dispute reaches the project.  GMCS is addressing and filling the industry leadership void by providing an open conduit for communication amongst the region’s developers, facility owners, governmental authorities, employer associations, trades and industry stakeholders through facilitating discussions that lead to solutions.  GMCS nurtures a Culture of Collaboration, Communication and Cooperation amongst Contractors and Building Trades.  GMCS remains firmly committed to our contractors and our industry.  Developers and facility owners should consider making GMCS an integral part of their next project planning team. 

GMCS clients are continuously updated on industry jurisdictional trends and events taking place in the field; many associations and contractors continue to utilize our Contracted Labor & Industry Relations Services to successfully avoid disputes by partnering with a recognized, respected and experienced industry service provider like GMCSWe continue to be a conduit for communication amongst the region’s employer associations, trades and industry stakeholders.  Many association members and national & local contractors, have come to rely on our professional and respected service when they need estimating, bidding and or project advice.  Did you know that national contractors that are interested in working within the Philadelphia marketplace contact GMCS for advice on establishing key relationships within the industry and its AEC community to gain a better understanding of the region’s collective bargaining agreements, language and contractor base?  If you or your employer association aren’t working with GMCS, perhaps it’s time to reconsider? 

Collaboration, communication and relationships are the keys to our success.  GMCS has successfully been providing Contracted Labor & Industry Relations Services to associations, contractors and construction users throughout these challenging times.  Our client’s success comes as a result of GMCS’s unique experience and industry relationships that enables GMCS to collaborate and communicate throughout the industry and to participate in the creation and implementation of project solutions that simply work.   

Having successfully resolved hundreds of matters related to area collective bargaining agreements and contractors throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan, Lehigh Valley and the entire Mid-Atlantic region, GMCS has become the only recognized, educated, experienced and reliable source for labor & industry relation’s support.  GMCS  is the single, unbiased, industry wide provider of labor & industry relation’s support for the Mid-Atlantic region assuring information sharing, professional, educated and experienced support to the entire industry along with centralized labor event tracking, data sharing and a vendor that serves each association & contractor, not just a single association’s board of directors.  This is the most effective and equitable model in management side construction labor relations.   Association members interested in receiving these valuable and informative support services through their associations should contact their board of directors and request a free consultation.  Independent contractor signatories and facility owners are urged to contact Wayne Gregory directly at GMCS, wegregory@gregorymcs.com

GMCS provides neutral, contracted Association Management and Labor & Industry Relations support to many of our associations, contractors, facility owners and industry stakeholders. We are focused on facilitating communication and collaboration amongst our construction employer associations, constructors, facility owners, building trades and governmental bodies with an emphasis on creating a centralized, focused community that actively promotes labor harmony, industry advancement, contractor opportunities and workforce development. Please accept this informative newsletter containing relevant industry topics that can impact your associations and organizations.  GMCS is always available to provide clarification or additional information on any of the topics contained within. 

This month’s newsletter is comprised of the most popular postings over the last 30 days on gregorymcs.blogspot.com. They are listed by the following categories: INDUSTRY, LABOR, OSHA, MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION PLANS, HUMAN RESOURCES. Additional topics and subject matter may be found on the GMCS companion blog @ gregorymcs.blogspot.comGMCS continues to track relevant industry legislation and provide summary updates on its companion blog. 

GMCS continues to provide an annual legislative affairs subscription service that monitors and reports on the daily activity of the PA General Assembly to Associations and organizations in all industries throughout the Commonwealth.  This is accomplished through our specialized GLASS Report’s product.   Current GLASS Report recipients include commercial & residential contractor associations, labor organizations, transportation management associations and local & regional governmental bodies.  Associations and organizations that subscribe to the GMCS GLASS Reports receive timely updates to each piece of legislation impacting their organizations as they occur along with a listing of the bill’s primary and co-sponsors.  Please contact GMCS @ wegregory@gregorymcs.com to discuss your organization’s needs and how you can benefit from this informative and essential service.

The Gregory Management & Consulting Services REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UPDATE is well into its second year of circulation.  Between our companion blog at gregorymcs.blogspot.com and the newsletter, our monthly industry reach continues to exceed 4,500 industry professionals interested in discovering more about the latest Industry, Labor, OSHA, Multi-Employer Benefit Plans and HR developments here in the regional construction marketplace and abroad.  Sponsorship opportunities are being made available to local employer associations, industry stakeholders and contractors; interested firms should contact Wayne Gregory @ wegregory@gregorymcs.com for more information. 

INDUSTRY:

Drexel looking for master developer for its Innovation Neighborhood:


Drexel University is seeking a master developer for its so-called Innovation Neighborhood, a 10-acre swath in University City that, when built out, could have more than 5 million square feet of new space.

Read more here…

East Market Project Gets Infusion of Funds:

Gov. Tom Corbett has just given the East Market project a $2.5 million shot in the arm, bringing the total state monies invested so far to $10 million. The city, according to a release that went out today, will spend $4 million to spruce up the area in question, once known as Market East (which previously had a train station known as Market East as well, but now known as Jefferson. Quiz later).

Read more here…

Conshohocken borough building bid comes in $900,000 below estimate - Regional Contractor, T.N. Ward, Submits Low Bid:

A Lower Merion general contractor and construction management firm was the apparent low bidder Friday to build the Conshohocken borough hall, police station and retail spaces in the former Verizon building on Fayette Street.

TN Ward Company submitted the $10,497,600 electronic bid to www.PennBid.net and it was opened by Borough Engineer Paul Hughes along with two other base bids at the borough engineer’s office. Allied Construction Services of Philadelphia bid $10,583,439 and Murphy Quigley Co. Inc. of Lower Merion bid $12,976,000.

Read more here…

High Construction Co. names new president:

High Construction Co. has a new president.

Richard Stoudt Jr., who recently served as senior operations executive with LF Driscoll Co. LLC in Philadelphia, assumes the role vacated in April by Matt Twomey.

Read more here…

Hill Intl. moving HQ from S. Jersey to Philly:

Hill International is moving its headquarters from Marlton to Center City Philadelphia, Gov. Corbett announced today.

Pennsylvania is offering Hill, a construction management and consulting firm, $1.7 million in incentives through three programs to relocate its headquarters and bring 222 jobs to Center City..

Read more here…

Construction firms added jobs in 36 states between August 2013 and August 2014 while construction employment increased in 28 states between July and August:

Construction firms added jobs in 36 states between August 2013 and August 2014 while construction employment increased in 28 states between July and August, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction activity continues to spread across most of the nation even as employment gains remain uneven by month and state

Read more here…

Construction spending increased in July and total construction reached the highest level since December 2008. Growing demand will put new pressure on an already tight labor market.:

Growing Demand for Construction Services Comes as New Study Finds One-in-Four Construction Firms Turning Down Work Because of Growing Labor Shortages for the Industry

All major categories of construction spending increased in July and total construction reached the highest level since December 2008, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials welcomed the robust spending figures, but cautioned that growing demand will put new pressure on an already tight labor market.

Read more here…

Unfilled Construction Sector Jobs Increase:

The estimate of the number of open, unfilled construction sector jobs was revised significantly higher for the month of June and remained elevated in July. While hiring and separations increased for the sector, the current count of unfilled construction jobs is among the highest since 2008.

Read more here…

PA amends Mechanic's Liens Law: Act 117 is effective September 7, 2014:

See the original GLASS Report: Legislative Action Alert: Senate Bill 145: Regular Session 2013-2014 detailing the history and specifics of this legislation and the language of ACT 117 by going here…

On July 9, 2014, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed into law Senate Bill 145 (aka "Act 117"), amending Pennsylvania's Mechanics' Lien Law of 1963. Act 117 is effective September 7, 2014.

Read more here…

The American Institute of Architects Releases Customized Kentucky Department of Education Documents:

GMCS Editorial:  Links to Comparatives and sample documents can be found within this posting below.

Washington, D.C. — September 2, 2014 — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the release of customized Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) versions of ten AIA Contract Documents®. The KDE versions of the AIA documents include KDE mandated amendments to the standard text of the AIA documents, and will be used for school construction projects administered by the District Facilities Branch of the Kentucky Department of Education.

Read more here…

BIM Evolved: This Is The Hard Hat Of The Future – Enter Integrated Augmented Reality:

Google Glass is amazing technology with one big problem: No one really seems to know exactly who or what it’s actually for.

Los Angeles-based startup DAQRI may be one of the first to crack the augmented-reality market proper by targeting a specific demographic — blue-collar workers.

The DAQRI smart helmet has been a four-year project for the company. Founder Brian Muller says, “You just can’t solve the most challenging problems with devices that were designed for consumers.”

Read more here…

BIM Evolved: Revolutionizing Job Site Project Management Through Collaboration and Cloud:

Turner Construction Company was tapped in early 2012 to build the new US$26 million central utility plant for the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California. Although the shell of the 8,300-square-foot plant is relatively straightforward, the structure will house an extremely intricate network of electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, all of which are critical to keeping the airport running efficiently around the clock.

Read more here…

3-D Printing Used in Restoration of Annie Pfeiffer Chapel:

A $50,000 grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources and a $350,000 grant provided by the Save America’s Treasurers Program of the National Park Service helped fund an ongoing project to restore the signature Wright-designed textile blocks in the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College. The project resulted in an innovative use of 3-D printers to assist in creating molds for the blocks Wright used to build the chapel. The process replaces the painstakingly hand-crafted molds previously used to make the blocks, significantly reducing the cost.

Read more here…

Building Reuse Key to Broader Revitalization of Philadelphia:

PHILADELPHIA –Reusing and adapting many of the city’s older, smaller buildings can help the city extend the benefits of revitalization beyond Center City, according to a study released today by the Partnership for Building Reuse and led locally by the ULI Philadelphia District Council. More than 200 real estate professionals joined keynote speakers Jim Lindberg and Mike Powe, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Green Lab, along with a panel of local experts, to learn more about the report’s priority recommendations, needed partners, resources, and next steps at a forum hosted by ULI Philadelphia this morning.

Read more here….

Architecture Billings Index - ABI: Pace of Billings Growth Slows Slightly at Architecture Firms in August:

Projects stalled due to financing are beginning to resurface.

Business conditions continued to improve at architecture firms in August, although the ABI score of 53.0 (any score over 50 denotes billings growth) indicates that firm billings increased at a slightly slower pace in August than in July. However, the outlook for the coming months remains positive, as the value of signed design contracts, which indicates upcoming work in the pipeline, continued to increase this month, and inquiries into new projects remained strong as well.

Read more here…

LABOR:

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – JULY 2014.

Job openings steady at 4.7 million in July; hires and separations also steady

There were 4.7 million job openings on the last business day of July, little changed from June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.5 percent) and the separations rate (3.3percent) were unchanged in July. Within separations, the quits rate (1.8 percent) and the layoffs and discharges rate (1.2 percent) were unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four geographic regions.

Read more here…

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finds that Secondary Activity Amounted to Coercive Union Harassment and Trespass:

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit court in Chicago, in 520S. Michigan Ave. Associates, Ltd. v. Unite Here Local 1, 13-1938, 2014 WL 3720253 (7th Cir. July 29, 2014), recently found that that  Unite Here Local 1, the “Union”, engaged in secondary activity that was coercive, threatening and harassing in its tactics to settle a long time strike against Congress Plaza Hotel, the “Hotel”, in Chicago.

Read more here…

Collective Bargaining So Far This Year Yields Average First-Year Increase of 2.2%:

The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has recently released its latest report on collective bargaining settlements in the industry. Settlements reported to CLRC between January and June 2014 resulted in an average first-year wage-and-benefit increase of 2.2 percent or $1.10. For newly negotiated multi-year agreements, the average second-year increase was 2.5 percent or $1.23, and the average third-year increase was 2.5 percent or $1.28. Each of these averages is very similar to the average increases negotiated in 2013 and slightly higher than those negotiated in 2012, CLRC reports. The percentage of settlements with no increases negotiated during the latest period was the same as that reported in 2012 but higher than that reported in 2013.

Read more here…

NLRB Orders Hospital To Pay Union’s Bargaining Costs after Hospital Refuses to Submit proposals/counter proposals and Improperly Declares and Impasse:

Employers take heed: the Board has signaled that refusing to bargain comes with costs. In Hospital of Barstow, Inc., 361 NLRB No. 34 (Aug. 29, 2014), the National Labor Relations Board found that Barstow Community Hospital violated Sections 8(a)(1) and 8(a)(5) of the National Labor Relations Act by refusing to submit proposals or counter proposals during collective bargaining until it received the Union’s entire contract proposal. The Hospital further violated the Act by declaring impasse and refusing to bargain unless the Union directed unit members to stop documenting purportedly unsafe work situations.

Read more here…

Misclassification Prevention:

Worker misclassification has been a problem for this nation’s workforce for a long time, one that my office and others in the Department have been working hard to address over the past four years. If someone is working and getting paid for that work, why should government care about whether the worker is an independent contractor or an employee?

Read more here…

$10.2M awarded to fund worker misclassification detection, enforcement activities in 19 state unemployment insurance programs:

The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10,225,183 to 19 states to implement or improve worker misclassification detection and enforcement initiatives in unemployment insurance programs.

Read more here…

Employers face crackdown over worker misclassification:

Since the onset of the recession, there has been a surge in worker misclassification litigation and enforcement against employers that are trying to effectively manage their finances, but are incorrectly classifying their workers. There is also concern around the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate, which may make misclassifications a tempting alternative to offering group health coverage.

The Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue oversee the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which establishes minimum wage and overtime pay standards and how much private and public employers should pay their employees. At the state level, there are also a slew of regulations that can make any HR professional or benefit plan sponsor concerned. 

Read more here…

Regional Collective Bargaining Settlement Sheets available:

GMCS has compiled a detailed settlement report defining the regional trade settlements from last year’s collective bargaining as well as detailing the previously negotiated settlements for trades and associations. Copies are available to associations engaged in regional negotiations.  Please contact GMCS at wegregory@gregorymcs.com today for instructions on how to receive your copy.  

GMCS is the Philadelphia Region’s Leading Labor Relations Solutions Provider:

A recent study by the Center for Construction Research and Training indicates that work site conflict costs, on average, $11,000.00 per incident.  GMCS provides contracted labor relations services to many of the region’s employer associations, contractors, facility owners and industry stakeholders helping you to avoid those costly conflicts.  With two levels of affordable annual agreements costing less than 50% of the cost of an average conflict, contracted labor relations services can help your organization stay on schedule and budget.

Contact wegregory@gregorymcs.com for your consultation today.

The Highs and Lows of Construction Unemployment Rates:

State-level construction employment numbers are available monthly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but jobless rates are not.

Therefore, for a state-by-state comparison of construction unemployment rates, the best one can do is to look at annual-average figures.

Read more here…

WTI: Uptick in Pace of Wage Increases Likely by Early 2015:

A modest pickup in the pace of annual wage increases for most workers is likely in the coming months, according to the revised third-quarter Wage Trend Indicator™ (WTI) released today by Bloomberg BNA, a leading publisher of specialized news and information.

Read more here…

OSHA & SAFETY:

OSHA extends compliance date for crane operator certification requirements:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a final rule extending the deadline for crane operator certification requirements in the Cranes and Derricks in Construction final rule* published Aug. 9, 2010 by three years to Nov. 10, 2017. The rule also extends by three years the employer's responsibility to ensure that crane operators are competent to operate a crane safely. The final rule becomes effective Nov. 9, 2014.

Read more here…

Comment period extended on proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injury and illnesses:

OSHA has announced it will extend the comment period on the proposed rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses to Oct. 14, 2014. The proposal, published on Nov. 8, 2013, would amend the agency's recordkeeping regulation to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information that employers are already required to keep.

Read more here…

OSHA announces new requirements for reporting severe injuries and updates list of industries exempt from record-keeping requirements:

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule* requiring employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. The rule, which also updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, for workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

Read more here…

National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2013 – Preliminary Results Published:

A preliminary total of 4,405 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2013, lower than the revised count of 4,628 fatal work injuries in 2012, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2013 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, compared to a final rate of 3.4 per 100,000 in 2012.

Read more here…

An infographic detailing OSHA's new incident reporting requirements for 2015:

OSHA's new incident reporting requirements for 2015 detailed in an easy to understand infographic poster format.  Use this infographic as a poster to raise awareness around your office or to email to other safety professionals.

Read more here…

Infographic of OSHA's recently most cited violations for 2014.:

The following is an excellent infographic for your daily tool box talk.  It’s all about the safety huddle and talking about these issues in your daily huddle may be that single determining factor that gets your entire workforce home safely at night.  Special thanks to Safe-Staff for another professional infographic.

Read more here…

Safety a Priority at Philadelphia's new Museum of the American Revolution Site:

Workers constructing Philadelphia's new Museum of the American Revolution will be safer due to a partnership undertaken Sept. 11 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Intech Construction LLC.

Read more here…

$10.6M in Harwood safety and health grants awarded by OSHA to 78 organizations across the nation:

OSHA has awarded $10.6 million in Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to 78 nonprofit organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, colleges and universities.

Read more here…

New Jersey OSHA instructor admits selling fraudulent safety certificates:

A South Jersey instructor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has admitted to selling fraudulent safety certifications to carpenters who didn't complete the required training.

Read more here…

New resources: OSHA updates Heat Stress QuickCard:

OSHA's updated Heat Stress QuickCardTM serves as a reminder to employers to acclimate workers to heat conditions. Employers should gradually increase workloads and allow more frequent breaks for workers who are new to the heat or those who have been away from work. The updated QuickCardTM also advises employers to modify work schedules and establish a complete heat illness prevention plan to protect their workers. OSHA's Heat Safety Tool, a mobile app that allows users to calculate the heat index, is also available for employers and workers.

Read more here…

Alliance with Scaffold and Access Industry Association renewed to protect workers from scaffold hazards:

OSHA has renewed its alliance with the Scaffold and Access Industry Association to provide information and training to protect the safety and health of workers who use scaffolds and lift equipment. Through the alliance, OSHA and SAIA will work to reduce and prevent fall and caught-in-between hazards and issues related to frame, mast climbing and suspended scaffolds and aerial lift equipment.

Read more here…

OSHA urges Employers to prevent texting while driving:

OSHA reminds employers that they have a responsibility to protect their workers by prohibiting texting while driving. It is a violation of the OSH Act if employers require workers to text while driving, create incentives that encourage or condone it, or structure work so that texting is a practical necessity for workers to carry out their job.

Read more here…

OSHA National fall Prevention Program:

Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and OSHA is working with NIOSH and the National Occupational Research Agenda to get the word out about how to "Plan, Provide, Train" to prevent fatal falls. To learn more, please check out OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign resource page here…

MULTI-EMPLOYER PLAN UPDATE:

Milliman analysis: Corporate pension funded status drops by $22 billion in August as discount rates fall below 4% and reach an all-time low:

Blistering 1.92% investment gain adds $24 billion to the asset total, but it is not enough to offset a $46 billion increase in liabilities, raising the Milliman 100 PFI funded status deficit to $281 billion

Read more here…

Group annuity, lump sum plan to help Motorola unload pension liability:

Motorola Solutions is incorporating a new group annuity and lump sum payment plan into the makeup of its traditional defined benefit plan that will help the communications company shave $4.2 billion in growing liabilities and benefit payments off its balance sheet.

Read more here…

Retirement Royalty: Where Workers Still Get a Pension:

For decades now, companies have been killing off their defined-benefit pensions. Instead of the promise of a monthly check from an employer in their old age -- however long that lasts -- workers get access to a voluntary 401(k) contribution plan. Those plans sometimes come with matching contributions from employers, but all the risks of saving enough for a long retirement fall entirely on workers.

Read more here…

MAP-21 “Pension Smoothing” Provisions Extended:

On August 8, President Obama signed legislation that extends certain “pension smoothing” provisions in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act that was signed in 2012. This pension funding relief will continue to allow plan sponsors to make lower contributions to their single-employer defined benefit plans in upcoming years by delaying the phase out of MAP-21 until 2017.

Read more here…

Harkin's ERISA bill could bank employers millions:

Sen. Tom Harkin’s (D-Iowa) S. 2511, first introduced in June, proposes a modification to Section 4062(e) of ERISA. The bill mandates that employers and plan sponsors will no longer face stiff payment plans from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation should there be a cessation of their single-employer pension plan.

Read more here…

HUMAN RESOURCES:

NLRB continues aggressive crackdown on social media policies:

GMCS Editorial:  An excellent article on the woes of employer social media policies and the NLRB.  Not only does it contain a summary of relevant cases, it also contains links to the NLRB decisions and why the NLRB arrived at the decision.  It’s well worth a read for all HR professionals.

Read more here…

Report: Cost of health care to rise significantly:

Projections by nonpartisan experts with the federal Health and Human Services Department indicate the pace of health-care spending will pick up starting this year and beyond. The introduction of expensive new drugs for the liver-wasting disease hepatitis C also contributes to the speed-up in the short run.

Read more here…

Courts remind employers that notice is crucial for FMLA compliance

In Wallace v. FedEx Corporation, the Sixth Circuit upheld the district court’s ruling that the employer interfered with its employee’s FMLA rights when it failed to notify her of the consequences of not turning in an FMLA leave certification. Similarly, in Lupyan v. Corinthian Colleges, Inc., the Third Circuit reversed a summary judgment finding in favor of the employer because there was a factual dispute regarding whether the employer had informed the employee that her leave from work had been designated as FMLA leave and that she had to return to work within 12 weeks or be terminated.

Read more here…

Who’s Got Policies on What? Survey Says …:

Do you have a policy on background checks? Social media? Want to know about policies your competitors have? Here are the results of our 2014 Policies survey.

The results of BLR’s 2014 Policy Practices Survey are in; here are some highlights

Read more here…

Who’s Offering What Benefits? (SHRM Survey):

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) released its 2014 Employee Benefits Survey at its recent Annual Conference and Exposition in Orlando. The findings are helpful for determining what benefits are commonly offered and which ones you might want to consider. 

Read more here…

This e-mail newsletter has been provided complimentary to Associations and industry stakeholders by Wayne Gregory of Gregory Management & Consulting Services (GMCS).  Wayne Gregory has been the recognized regional leader in the areas of Labor & Industry Relations since 2005 and is continuing to serve the industry and its multi-employer Associations under the GMCS brand, Knowledge, Trust, Integrity and a unwavering commitment to Serve the industry.  From Association Management & Executive Leadership services,  Owner Representation, Government & Legislative Affairs & Subscription Services and Labor & Industry Relations, let GMCS help your Associations and organizations to forge a new and clear path forward.

We hope that you enjoy the new newsletter format and welcome all comments and suggestions regarding these changes.  You may forward those to Wayne Gregory @ wegregory@gregorymcs.com.

Best wishes to all for a safe, prosperous, healthy & harmonious 2014.

Sincerely,
Wayne E. Gregory
Gregory Management & Consulting Services
Audubon, PA 19403
On the web: www.gregorymcs.com
The information contained within this e-mail is provided free of charge to you as a service to the industry.  Any information or advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon by you or any other person, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any advice addressed herein. This e-mail contains PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION intended only for the use of the Individual(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error or no longer wish to receive future Industry Updates, please immediately notify us by telephone at (215)-498-5790 or notify us by e-mail at wegregory@gregorymcs.com