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. 

Please click on the link below for the Treasury Department's new version of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application. Please disregard the previously distributed form.

 

Please visit the ECA website at www.ecachicago.com (Latest News) and also the NECA website at: www.necanet.org under the COVID-19 Resource Center, for much more information. Please contact the ECA with any questions at: (708) 531-0022. 

In accordance with the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), employees may be eligible for up to 80 hours or 10 days of paid sick leave. Employees are required to request the sick leave from their employer. To help with this we have had the ECA counsel, Baker McKenzie, put together a template request form and letter that you may choose to use for this purpose. Please click on the link below for template letters.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

Please click on the link below for a number of NECA Safety updates, including information regarding:

 

·      Coronavirus Risk Assessment Checklist;

·      Coronavirus Construction Site

Guidelines;

·      Coronavirus Safety Talk - Social

Distancing;

·      Coronavirus Safety Talk - Worksite

Recommendations;

·      Coronavirus Safety Talk - Symptoms of

COVID-19;

·      Coronavirus Safety Talk COVID -19 and

Other Communicable Diseases;

·      NECA Infectious Control Policy; and

·      FFCRA Safety Poster.

Please click on the link below for a listing of State by State Survey of Executive Orders.

Please click on the link below for a recent article from Baker & McKenzie (ECA legal counsel) called, " SBA and Treasury Announce Mobilization for Paycheck Protection Act, Signaling Swift Steps Toward CARES Act Relief" regarding updates to the CARES Act.

During our FFCRA webinar held Monday, March 30, one of the issues addressed was when an individual qualified for the two weeks of emergency paid sick leave (EPSLA). At that time (Mon 3/30) the DOL had indicated that the “IL Stay-at-Home Order” did not meet the definition of a State or local quarantine or isolation order. The presenter noted this during the presentation.

 

Unfortunately, as of yesterday, Wednesday, April 1, the DOL issued Temporary regulations and in so doing changed the definition of a quarantine or isolation order to include “shelter-in-place, or stay-at-home orders issued by any Federal, State or local government authority”.

 

This now means that in theory the “IL Stay-at-Home order” could qualify an individual for paid sick leave (EPSLA). However, because the Illinois Stay at Home Executive Order excludes the construction industry, from the stay-at-home requirement because construction is considered as essential, employees who are essential workers do not qualify for the paid sick leave based on this criteria alone. 

 

Please note that (1) employees who are not essential are eligible for the two weeks of emergency sick leave unless their work site is closed for reasons unrelated to COVID-19; and (2) essential workers remain eligible for emergency leave under the remaining criteria.

 

The Government's response to COVID-19 is a very fluid and evolving situation. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.

Please review two new documents from NECA Safety: “Risk Assessment Process and Checklist for Work Impacted by COVID-19” and “NECA Example Exposure Control Plan (ECP).”

Links to these documents are below and can also be found on the ECA website at www.ecachicago.com and also on the NECA website at: www.necanet.org under the COVID-19 Resource Center, along with much more information.

CLICK HERE FOR COPY OF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS CHECKLIST

CLICK HERE FOR COPY OF EXAMPLE EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

Press release from NECA: SBA and Treasury Begin Effort to Distribute $349 Billion in Emergency Small Business Capital

On March 26, 2020, the Senate passed “Phase III” of the Coronavirus Response Package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in a 96-0 vote. The House is expected to pass the $2 trillion bill on Friday, March 27, 2020. A full summary of the CARES Act and the full CARE Act can be found by clicking on the links below. 

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has published the required posting pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Please click on link below. The notice must be posted in your workplace. For more guidance on this, the USDOL has provided some FAQs at the following link: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-poster-questions . 

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

The City of Chicago released a list of 182 “scopes of work” at various Public Building Commission site locations showing 158 still in progress (24 cancellations). Listed below is a brief summary of specific protocols that PBC has already directed for immediate implementation. These protocols will support its collective efforts to mitigate this challenge.  Read more

Pursuant to the Governor's "Stay at Home" Order initiated on March 21, 2020, construction is deemed an essential infrastructure exception. Construction projects may continue as long as management and workers comply with social distancing requirements, which include maintaining at least six-foot social distancing from other individuals, washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and not shaking hands. Many construction projects have implemented more stringent infection control measures, and if so, those should continue as well.

 

The Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) will continue to process permits and make itself available to answer questions and assist contractors in any way possible. As a reminder, the following protocol is available so you can manage your Department of Buildings needs via a call, email or online:



Portions of this article were excerpted from a DOB E-mail Update (3/21/20).

T he luncheon program that was to feature industry updates, and guest presentation from Don Finn, Business Manager / Financial Secretary, Local Union #134 IBEW has been postponed.  The event was to be held on April 8, 2020 at INTECH in Alsip, IL.

The Annual Rebuilding Chicago Event has postponed, and will take place later this year. More information will be distributed once arrangements are made.

"Electrical Management Essentials: Finance, Insurance & Legal" - On Hold -

This one-day class, designed specifically for NECA’s small and medium-sized contractors, will bring in three experts to discuss the essential elements of finance, insurance and risk, and legal issues that all contractors need to know. On the financial side, the experts will examine topics such as indirect costs, work in process, financial statements, and profit fade. They will cover key protections for managing your risk and the essential insurance policies you must have. And finally, they will discuss important changes to overtime laws, guidance for drafting and interpreting product and services contracts, and provide you with best practices for workplace investigations. 

This program was originally scheduled to be held on April 24, 2020 at the Westin Hotel in Itasca, Illinois. However, the program is now ON HOLD!

The dinner program will feature industry updates, and guest presentation from Josh Bone, Director of Industry Innovation - National Electrical Contractors Association. This event will be held at Ocean Prime Restaurant, Chicago, IL.

Please CLICK HERE to visit the ECA website to register for this program!

The NECA Safety Professionals Conference has been postponed!

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee workshop called, "Advanced Estimating of Electrical Construction" has been postponed!

Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier

This year's President's Party will feature an evening under the canopy and twinkling lights of Navy Pier's Crystal Gardens.

Ride the new Centennial Wheel, Dueling Piano's and more!

Learn more.......

The next Young Professionals event is scheduled for May 27, 2020 at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (INTECH) in Alsip, Illinois. The event is to include a facility tour of the school, as well as a discussion on renewable energy and energy storage.

Registration coming soon to www.ecachicago.com . 

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is pleased to present a special event in lieu of the ECA Annual Spring Conference. The event is the “ECA Golf Outing.” This is an opportunity for Chapter members to not only participate in a complimentary golf outing on June 1, 2020 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road in Kildeer, Illinois, which includes use of a driving range, lunch, food and beverages on the course, cocktails and dinner, networking and a raffle; but, an opportunity to contribute to the NECAPAC.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION.