FREE Contractor Webinars

How to Complete the 2015 National Safety Excellence Award Application Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:00 p.m. (CT) To register click here   Lien Waivers: the Hidden Risks You Can’t Ignore Wednesday, September 16, 2015 10:00 a.m. (CT) To register click here Managing Growth - Why  Some Contractors Succeed and Others Fail Thursday, September 17, 2015 1:00 p.m. (CT) To register click here Everything You Should Know about E-Verify and FAR E-Verify Tuesday, September 22, 2015 1:00 p.m. (CT) To register click here   The Assault on Independent Contractors Thursday, September 24, 2015 12:00 noon (CT) To register click here   Construction Technology Forecast: Harnessing Integration, Mobile, Sensors and Augmented Reality Tuesday, October 6, 2015 10:00 a.m. (CT) To register click here   Banking and Financing for Contractors Thursday, October 15, 2015 1:00 p.m. (CT) To register click here   For a complete list of webinars ... Read the rest of entry »

Five Ways to Mitigate Job Injuries in the Midst of Labor Shortages and Aging Workers

The labor shortage crisis is continuing to create major challenges in key industries such as manufacturing, trucking and construction. Given this dynamic, some companies need older workers to stay on the job longer because the pool of new workers interested in these positions is shrinking. In fact, a majority of construction firms are having trouble finding qualified workers. This means companies are now faced with more jobs than workers who can actually fill the positions. Interestingly, some experts say that the shortage of laborers is being partially driven by the fact that workers who lost their jobs during the 2008 housing crisis went on to other career fields and are no longer interested in construction jobs. Others speculate that millennials, who now make up the largest generation in the American workforce, desire jobs that inspire, entertain or are technology-driven instead of labor-intensive. Making matters even more challenging is the fact that the population is continuing to age, with ... Read the rest of entry »

Independent Contractor UPDATE by Jerry Pigsley

On February 10, the Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed a Dawson County District Court jury verdict that the plaintiff was not an employee, but an independent contractor, of a construction company.  Mejia v. Chapman, Case No. A-13-1015 (Neb. Ct. App. Feb. 10, 2015).  Mejia filed a complaint in District Court alleging he was owed over $150,000 in wages under the Nebraska Wage Payment and Collection Act plus interest, costs and attorney fees.  Chapman denied the allegations in Mejia’s complaint and alleged Mejia was an independent contractor and not an employee.  The Court of Appeals found Chapman set the rate of pay, Mejia was paid by the hour, Mejia arranged the timing and form of the payments he received, Chapman did not pay any federal or state withholding taxes for Mejia, Chapman sent 1099 forms out to subcontractors, including Mejia, and Chapman’s accountant testified that Chapman uses subcontractors and that Chapman told him he was paying Mejia cash as a subcontractor.  ... Read the rest of entry »

2015 National Safety Excellence Award Application WEBINAR

Each year, ABC National presents the annual National Safety Excellence Award to companies who are adjudged by their peers to have achieved world-class safety programs and performance. This competition, among the toughest in the construction industry, measures a company’s safety performance versus the structure of their safety program, emphasizing leadership commitment and safety culture as the foundations of world-class. Many companies enter, but no more than 21 may call themselves “Safety Excellence” winners. How do these companies achieve such lofty status? What goes into a winning application package? This webinar presents the opportunity for prospective NSEA applicants to learn from previous award winners on what it takes to successfully enter the NSEA competition and the rigorous—yet rewarding—process that each applicant undergoes, from initial judging to the CEO interview. Discover how your company can compete—and win—an ABC National Safety Excellence Award f ... Read the rest of entry »

I Built This

NCCER and Build Your Future have teamed up to create the I BUILT THIS video contest to give aspiring craft professionals and their instructors an opportunity to showcase outstanding construction projects and designs. The contest is open to students and instructors in high school and postsecondary career and technical education. Video entries must be submitted by 8 p.m. EDT on Oct. 18, 2015. Contest winners will be announced at the end of October in celebration of Careers in Construction Month!    Prizes will be awarded to the top two contestants in each category. One first place winner from each of the two categories will receive a GoPro HERO camera, and one second place winner from each category will receive a Google Chromecast streaming device. Contest Rules:  Entries must showcase projects that are relevant to the construction or maintenance industries and contain a 1-3 minute video overview of the entire project. Videos must be uploaded to Vimeo.com and be less than 500MB. Videos mus ... Read the rest of entry »

Stop DOL from Implementing Radical Overtime Regulations

ABC National needs your help to tell the Department of Labor (DOL) that the proposed changes to the overtime regulations will harm the construction industry and other small businesses.  Tell DOL that an increase of over 100% to the minimum salary threshold coupled with a modification of the duties test will increase labor costs and devastate the economy.

 Go to STOP DOL from Implementing Radical Overtime Regulations to voice your concerns!

Excellence In Construction - Coming Soon!

Although it remains months away, it is never too early to begin thinking about the 2016 Excellence In Construction celebration, which will highlight the best projects of 2015.  The awards celebrate ABC members’ achievements in construction, including the quality of work and the size of projects.  EIC allows members to showcase their finest work completed within the past year.  Eagles and medallions are presented to the winning projects’ owners, superintendents and managers and the award winners are eligible for ABC’s national awards program.
 
Watch your mail for this years’ Excellence In Construction entry form and begin making plans to attend the celebration in February.

You Asked for it, We Listened

Demand for construction math classes has been heard, and ABC is proud to now offer Introduction to Construction Math and Applied Construction Math courses.    Introduction to Construction Math reviews basic math skills, related to construction trades and demonstrates to whom they apply within the trades.  The curriculum covers multiple systems of measurement, decimals, fractions and basic geometry.  This is an eight-week class that meets on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. and begins October 15 at both the Lincoln and Omaha Training Centers.   Applied Construction Math features a story that students can relate to math skills they never thought they could grant.  Its innovative style motivates students to follow the lessons by associating math with events they may encounter in their real lives.  More than 10 chapters teach basic math skills including division, decimals an percentages, reading measurements, calculating area and volume, pressure, slopes and square inches, f ... Read the rest of entry »

Sporting Clays

Ready, aim, fire!
 
Cornhusker Chapter members will get their chance to test their shooting skills October 1 at ABC 2015 Sporting Clay Shoot at Oak Creek Sporting Club near Brainard, NE.  The event features 15 shooting stations scattered throughout the sporting club grounds, providing various shooting scenarios designed to simulate the types of shots experienced in hunting situations. 
 
Participants will also enjoy dinner after the day’s competition where prizes will be awarded based on top scores and other considerations. 
 
We are also offering the European Pheasant Shoot (also known as Bird Murder in some circles) on Thursday, October 1 from 9:00-11:00 for $175 per shooter.  Lunch will be provided.  Contact Deb at 402-477-4451 and reserve your spot!
 
To register for the Sporting Clays click here.

ABC Apprentice and Craft Training Classes Begin Week of September 7

Apprentice and craft training classes will begin the week of September 7 in both Lincoln and Omaha.  Be sure to get your apprentices signed up for classes by August 7 so books can be ordered.  For more information for Omaha classes please contact Theresa at 402-344-4258.  For more information for Lincoln classes please contact Deb at 402-477-4451.