In This Issue:
  • DOL Posts New FAQS on Eligibility for Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as Schools Reopen
  • CTCNYS Fall 2020 Apprenticeship Classes Registration
  • DOL Publishes Guidance on Tracking Compensable Hours for Remote Work
  • DOL to Offer Online Prevailing Wage Seminars in September
  • SBA & Treasury Issue Additional PPP Guidance
  • CISC Releases Updated COVID-19 Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction
  • Empire Chapter Resources
U.S. Department of Labor Posts New FAQS on Eligibility for Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act as Schools Reopen
On Aug. 27, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division published three new frequently asked questions for workers and employers about qualifying for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act related to the reopening of schools.
 
The FAQs address whether employees qualify for paid leave when:
 
Additional FFCRA FAQs are available here.
Last Day to Register
is This Friday!
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT DUE THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 2020
Buffalo
Construction Training Center
2363 Broadway
Sloan, NY 14212

Carpentry 2A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Carpentry 4A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 2A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 3A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 4A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Electrical 5A Classes Start: 9/15/20
Rochester
Construction Training Center
2672 West Ridge Road
Greece, NY 14626
(Located behind the AT&T Store)

Electrical 2A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 3A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 4A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Electrical 5A Classes Start: 9/15/20
Albany
Construction Training Center
878 Old Albany Shaker Rd.,
Latham, NY 12110

Carpentry 4A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Insulating 1 Classes Start: 9/14/20

Plumbing/Pipefitting 2A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Plumbing/Pipefitting 4A Classes Start: 9/14/20
Long Island
Construction Training Center
1 Comac Loop, #4,
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Carpentry 4A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Dockbuilder 1 Classes Start: 9/14/20

Iron Worker 3A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Laborer 2A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Plumbing 1 Classes Start: 9/14/20

Roofer 3B Classes Start: 9/15/20

Sheet Metal 4A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 2A Classes Start: 9/15/20

Electrical 4A Classes Start: 9/14/20

Electrical 5A Classes Start: 9/15/20
DOL Publishes Guidance on Tracking Compensable Hours for Remote Work 
On Aug. 24, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2020-5, which clarifies employers’ obligations to track the hours of compensable work of employees who are teleworking. The guidance responds both to the needs created by new telework or remote work arrangements that arose in response to the coronavirus and to other telework or remote work arrangements.

According to a DOL news release, this guidance reaffirms that an employer is required to pay its employees for all hours worked, including work not requested but allowed and work performed at home. Additionally, if the employer knows or has reason to believe that an employee is performing work, the time must be counted as hours worked.

In addition to this guidance, WHD’s compliance assistance materials and resources on COVID-19 include a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers and a Questions and Answers resource about paid sick and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. 
U.S. Department of Labor to Offer Online Prevailing Wage Seminars in September
In a press release, DOL announced it is offering online seminars in September “to provide compliance assistance on the legal requirements to pay prevailing wages on federal and federally funded contracts for contracting agencies, contractors, unions, workers and other stakeholders. The events are part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness among and improve compliance by employers with federal and federally funded contracts.”
 
DOL’s Wage and Hour Division will offer the live portion of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts seminar on prevailing wage requirements on federal and federally funded construction contracts from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 15, 2020. Register here.
 
The live portion of the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act seminar on prevailing wage requirements for contractors performing services on federal contracts will be from
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 10 and 16, 2020. 
 
More information about the online seminars is available here.
SBA & Treasury Issue Additional PPP Guidance

The First Loan Forgiveness Rule, as revised by the Revisions to Loan Forgiveness and Loan Review Procedures Interim Final Rules, 85 FR 38304, 38307 (June 26, 2020), capped the amount of loan forgiveness for payroll compensation attributable to an owner-employee to either eight weeks' worth (8/52) of their 2019 compensation (up to $15,385) for an eight-week covered period or 2.5 months' worth (2.5/12) of their 2019 compensation (up to $20,833) for a 24-week covered period per owner in total across all businesses. There was no exception in the rule based on the owner-employee's percentage of ownership.

The new IFR provides that an owner-employee in a C- or S-corporation who has less than a 5 percent ownership stake will not be subject to the owner-employee compensation rule. The IFR describes the exemption as intending to cover owner-employees who have no meaningful ability to influence decisions over how loan proceeds are allocated. It should be noted that the IFR applies this exception only to corporate entities and does not provide an exception for partnerships or limited liability companies.

For more information and updates, visit SBA.gov/PaycheckProtection or Treasury.gov/CARES.  
CISC Releases Updated COVID-19 Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction
The Construction Industry Safety Coalition released an updated COVID-19 Prevention, Preparedness and Response Plan for Construction. ABC, a member of the CISC Steering Committee, encourages its members to review the plan, which includes the latest protective measures and guidance on keeping workers safe on jobsites.

The plan outlines the steps that construction employers and employees can take to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as protective measures to take on the jobsite, personal protective equipment and work practice controls to be used, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and what to do if a worker becomes sick.

Recent updates to the plan include:
  • Symptoms of COVID-19
  • Screening questions for jobsite visitors
  • Guidance on the use of face coverings
  • Guidance on Jobsite Exposure Situations
  • Information on when to Record a COVID-19 Case on the OSHA 300 Log
  • COVID-19 Checklist for Employers and Employees

The updated language is shown in red, and the resources are structured so any construction company can download and tailor them to their own work and jobsites.

For additional COVID-19 information, see ABC’s Emergency Preparedness and Safety Resources.
ABC Empire Chapter Resources