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Construction Blog

Our blog is your one-stop-shop for the latest insights, information and legal developments affecting the construction industry.

Construction Blog
January 3, 2020

CONSTRUCTION ALERT: OSHA update - Say No to Earbuds

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new guidance letter that indicates it may be legal, but not generally advisable, for workers to use headphones to listen to music on a construction sites. OSHA acknowledged that there is there is no specific OSHA regulation that prohibits the use of headphones on a construction site.

Construction Blog
January 3, 2020

CONTRACTOR ALERT—President Trump Extends “Ban the Box” to Federal Contractors

On December 20, 2020, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that included the federal Fair Chance Act (“the Act”).  The Act prohibits, with certain exceptions, federal contractors that have openings for positions within the scope of federal contracts from inquiring about or seeking criminal history information from an applicant until after a conditional job offer has been extended.  The Act is intended to give ex-offenders released from prison and those with past criminal convictions a better opportunity at obtaining employment by eliminating or at least deferring any pre-employment inquiry into an applicant’s criminal history.  After the conditional job offer has been extended employers should continue to be mindful of complying with local, state, and federal discrimination and privacy laws. 

Construction Blog
November 10, 2017

President Trump Nominates Scott Mugno of FedEx to Head OSHA

On Monday, October 27, 2017, President Trump nominated Scott Mugno, currently the vice-president for safety at FedEx Ground, to be the new head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Mugno is well known in Washington among members of business-oriented organizations. So, what does this mean for employers? Well, Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of OSHA during the Obama administration, thinks Mugno will primarily change the agency's focus from enforcement to helping employers comply with the rules and law.

Construction Blog
February 7, 2017

Right to Work Questions of the Day

When does the new law go into effect? August 28, 2017 Does the Act prohibit union dues check off provisions? No, a union check off provision (withholding union dues) is a matter of federal law and not subject to state regulation. The Right to Work Act is very limited and only addresses union security clauses. Does the Right to Work Act impact a union’s ability to picket, handbill, etc. ? No, the lawfulness of economic weapons is a matter of federal law and is only subject to state action in limited situations.