Do the requirements and benefits provided for in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) apply to you? This tool will quickly walk you through a handful of options to determine your eligibility as an employee for paid sick leave or paid expanded family and medical leave, or your obligations as an employer to provide paid sick leave or paid expanded family and medical leave.

Please click on the link below for various updates from NECA regarding the National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Electrical Industry Standards (NEIS) publications, among other areas.

Topic sections include the following:

JOIN THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF ECA FOR A SUMMER TRIVIA NIGHT!

JULY 30TH - 7:00-8:00p.m.

 

Join MEP+ emerging leaders for our very first virtual trivia night! Log on solo or with the whole family as our MC asks the questions live from Zoom. Don’t miss your chance to engage with an exciting group of emerging industry leaders and network with your peers across the MEP+ trades.

NECA Legal Alert

As the country and our NECA contractors get back to work in stops and starts (or continue along as essential), there are a number of novel issues that need to be addressed by employers. A few areas of concern are the sick leave and testing issues associated with the pandemic.

Across the country there will be a lot of variation on the availability of in-person training in the weeks and months ahead, and to combat this NECA is bringing some of their most popular in-person classes, that they hold with NECA Chapters across the country, online! In July, there are several classes NECA members can take advantage of. Please click on the link below for information regarding registration for these sessions.

Please contact  [email protected]  with any questions.

The City of Chicago is conducting a disparity study to examine whether minorities and women have equal access to City construction contracting opportunities. If your firm currently works with or has tried to bid on construction contracts for the City of Chicago as a prime contractor, subcontractor or supplier, Colette Holt & Associates (“CHA”) would like to hear from you.

 

Small group business owner interviews are planned for August 2020. These focus groups will gather information to understand your experiences with the City’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise construction contracting program and operations, including perceived race or gender-based discrimination when seeking City construction contracts or in the overall Chicago area construction industry.

 

Your participation in these sessions is important to the disparity study . CHA is partnering with Sandi Llano & Associates Inc., a recognized and respected leader in the Chicago area on supplier diversity programs. For more information about the study and opportunities to participate, please visit the study website: Chicago.disparity-study.com . Questions? Email [email protected]

You can view the events each Sunday at 1pm, by searching @NECANET on Facebook or LinkedIn.

If you miss them, you can find the link's to the videos on Linkedin here on our website.

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19, the Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) has canceled the “ECA Golf Outing” that was to be held on August 4, 2020 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club.

Check out the new look to the Electric Association website : http://eachicago.org/

 

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee seminar called, "Managing Field Productivity" has been scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2020 to be held at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel.

If you're interested in attending the "Managing Field Productivity" seminar, please click the link below.

Please join us for our September evening Membership Meeting! The program will feature industry updates, and guest presentation / keynote address from Kelly Richmond Pope, Ph.D., CPA on "White Collar" Crime, Fraud & Internal Control Issues .

The event is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Mastro's Steakhouse

520 N. Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60654

5:30 pm - Registration / Networking

6:00 pm - Dinner

7:00 pm - Business Session / Keynote Address

8:30 pm - Event Concludes

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee workshop called, "Advanced Estimating of Electrical Construction" has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 & Thursday, September 17, 2020. The program is to be held at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel.

If you're interested in attending the "Advanced Estimating" workshop, please click the link below.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) / Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA and the Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA are proud to present the next  Safety Forum featuring the seminar, "Excavation Hazards in Construction."

 

"Excavation Hazards in Construction" is a FREE 4-hour safety training program designed to educate workers about the risks and liabilities associated with trench-related work. Participants will learn to identify potential hazards and avoid unsafe conditions when operating in and near an excavation site. The session is to be conducted by Construction Safety Council instructor(s).

 

Training topics include:

·      OSHA trenching and excavation safety standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P)

·      Definition and responsibilities of a Competent Person

·      Material and equipment inspections

·      Installation and removal of shoring systems

·      Soil testing in the field

 

The program is scheduled as follows:

 

DATE:

Thursday, September 24, 2020

 

TIME:

7:30 am - 11:30 am

 

LOCATION:

IBEW Local 701 Hall

Main Auditorium

28600 Bella Vista Parkway - Suite 1000

Warrenville, IL 60555

 

COST:

The program is complimentary for Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA members and Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA members. 

To register, you need to use the Comp Code: NECA MEMBER  (NECA MEMBER is all uppercase).

 

We do hope that you will be able to attend the Safety Forum!

 

You can register on-line at the ECA website at: www.ecachicago.com .

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) announced the 2020 Convention and Trade Show will take place entirely online October 5–7, featuring brand-new virtual experiences. McCormick Place in Chicago, the planned site for the 2020 Convention, informed NECA that it does not have approval at this time to hold the event, and the association is adjusting accordingly.

 

This virtual event will maintain its traditional dynamic speakers and educational opportunities, but has been adjusted to meet the evolving requirements demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“The NECA Convention and Trade Show is the industry’s hallmark event. It is important we continue to provide the best education, the latest offerings in innovation, and continue cultivating the sense of community within the industry that our organization has always provided,” said NECA CEO David Long. “For that reason, NECA 2020 Live will utilize the latest technology to bring the convention and show to contractors across America.”

 

NECA 2020 Live will feature inspiring keynote addresses from NECA 2020 host and emcee David Meade and Paralympic gold medalist Victoria Arlen, as well as a fireside chat with industry leaders and dozens of educational sessions. NECA is excited about working with their industry-leading exhibitors to bring the latest electrical and telecommunications products to the industry. All events will be streamed online for attendees. The inaugural NECA Apprentice Challenge is postponed while the NECA Safety Professionals Conference will now be hosted as a virtual event later in 2020.

 

Please note, the NECA Board of Governors Meeting will also be delivered on a virtual platform. More details will follow.  

Registration for the NECA 2020 Live opens early July, 2020. 

Visit  www.necaconvention.org  or www.necanet.org to stay in the know on all NECA 2020 Live updates!  

Please join us for our October luncheon Membership Meeting! The program will feature industry updates, and guest presentation from Shannon Andrews, City of Chicago Chief Procurement Officer.

The event is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Maggiano's Banquets

240 Oakbrook Center

Oak Brook, IL 60523

(630) 368-0300

12:00 pm - Registration / Networking

12:30 pm - Lunch

1:15 pm - Business Session / Guest Presentation

2:00 pm - Event Concludes

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee workshop called, "Succession Planning" has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2020. The program is to be held at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel.

If you're interested in attending the "Succession Planning" workshop,  please click the link below.

Please join us for our November luncheon Membership Meeting!   The program will feature industry updates, and guest presentation from Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA).

The event is scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Gibsons Steakhouse

2105 Spring Road

Oak Brook, IL 60523

(630) 954-0000

12:00 pm - Registration / Networking

12:30 pm - Lunch

1:15 pm - Business Session / Guest Presentation

2:00 pm - Event Concludes

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee workshop called, "Top Habits of High Performing Foremen" has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2020. The program is to be held at the Drake Oak Brook Hotel.

If you're interested in attending the "Top Habits of High Performing Foremen" workshop, please  click the link below.

Please click on the link below for a copy of the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association's (IMSCA’s) End of Session report. This report includes a synopsis of last week’s special legislative session and an overview of the state’s FY21 spending plan.

Issues addressed during the session include:

This report has also been added to IMSCA’s website, www.imsca.org.

IMSCA is excited to announce the IMSCA-PAC 2020 fundraiser has resumed!  The winning tickets will now be drawn at IMSCA’s Board and Membership meeting on September 11, 2020. Please click on the link below for a copy of the Raffle Ticket Order Form. SEVEN RAFFLE WINNERS will be drawn this year! Tickets are $50 each. Each ticket purchased buys you a chance to win the prize of your choice. The winners do not need to be present to win. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.

Please click on the link below for a copy of the Baker McKenzie report, "The Reopening Playbook" focusing o n Reopening safely - Guidelines for relying on EPA and state polices providing relief from environmental compliance during COVID-19.

Here is additional information regarding PPP guidance. Also, please review information regarding NECA's recent Phase IV Webinar and PPP Loan Forgiveness Application.

Please click on the link below for the DOL's temporary regulations applicable to the Family First Coronavirus Response Act clarifying how local, state, or federal “shelter in place”/“stay at home” orders affect entitlements to FFCRA leave. 

In regard to compliance with the NDERA, the Electrical Joint Arbitration Board (EJAB) has submitted a clarification regarding the Recall scenario concerning lay-off of employee(s).  Please click on the link below for the EJAB notice.

Also, please click on the link below for a copy of the “National Disease Emergency Response Agreement (NDERA),” as well as the jointly created NDERA Question and Answers. Please review the Q & A sheet. This will assist firms in complying with the agreement!

Please see this template letter from NECA that you may find useful in dealing with your customers concerning construction impacts resulting from COVID-19.

NECA -  Understanding Contract Rights Related to Construction Impacts from the COVID-19 Pandemic

NECA FACT SHEET:  Families First Coronavirus Response Act FAQ