The program will feature industry updates, and guest presentations from Josh Bone, Director of Industry Innovation (top photo) and Lonnie Cumpton, Director Construction Manufacturing of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) (bottom photo). 

 

Josh Bone will discuss: "Why it’s time to Embrace Tech in Construction."

 

Lonnie Cumpton will discuss: "Positioning your business for Off-Site Construction."

 

Please register, soon!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Effective Monday, May 18, 2020, the Construction Safety Council (CSC) is to open for in-person training classes at their Hillside location -- and for private programs at local employers. 

 

The safety and well-being of participants, trainers, and staff are assured in a COVID-19 Safety Plan that complies with national and local public health guidelines. It includes new practices and procedures related to social distancing, face coverings, hand-washing, classroom capacity, food and beverage operations, and student/instructor interaction. 

 

As a provider of services that are necessary to maintain the safety of the construction trades, the Council has been deemed an “essential business” by Executive Order of the Illinois Governor.

 

Although times have changed, the CSC remains Chicagoland’s premier source for construction safety training.

The ECA Research and Education Committee is pleased to present a Leadership Webinar Series. The first of three programs to be presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge on May 21, 2020 is called, "Resilience."

A “Challenge of Change” Assessment will need to be completed prior to the session. All attendees will receive a link to the assessment after registering for the program.

Resilience Course Overview:

In this workshop, filled with insights from CCL’s latest book, Work without Stress: Building a resilient mindset for lasting success, you’ll discover that while pressure is inevitable, stress is something we create. With stress, we can learn to let it go.

The ECA Research and Education Committee is pleased to present a Leadership Webinar Series. The second of three programs to be presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge on June 4, 2020 is called, "Change Matters."

Change Matters Course Overview:

No matter if you are the boss or just a foot soldier, change affects everyone. In dealing with change, people must address their own thoughts, feeling and behaviors first to be able to go through a change. There are loads of books and training programs addressing organizational change.

This training program focuses on what it actually feels like during a workplace change or a personal change. It provides you with a logical framework to assist you in gaining perspective on the change situation you are facing and its impact and helping you develop insight that will guide you through the transition.

The goal of this program is to help you take responsibility for how you react and respond to a change by giving you a set of tools and techniques of self-awareness and assessment to light up the curves and sometimes bumpy ride on your road to change.

The ECA Research and Education Committee is pleased to present a Leadership Webinar Series. The third of three programs to be presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge on June 18, 2020 is called, "Building High Performance Teams."

Building High Performance Teams Overview:

A highly engaging training program packed with a plethora of fun activities and games focusing on the key characteristics of high performing teams. The high energy training program will help you equip members of a team with the essential skill set and mind set to be a professional team player in a high performing team in which every individual takes responsibility to be productive, proactive and reliable.



The training program will help you create a more professional, dynamic, effective work team that enjoys the work environment and consistently achieves more.

This statement is published on IDOL’s website and offers additional guidance to this issue:

 

Pursuant to PA 100-1177 and 820 ILCS 130/5.1, the Illinois Department of Labor is charged with developing and maintaining an online portal for prevailing wage construction contractors to file their certified payrolls with the department. Currently, our portal will only accept manual submissions.    



If a contractor uses a software program to track, run, and file their certified payroll – we would encourage you to continue your normal practice and file with the public body in charge of the project until further notice from the Department of Labor. If a prevailing wage contractor does not use a software program to file their certified payroll - they must file in our portal. We are working on the ability to upload large amounts of data for payrolls, but it is not ready yet.   Please check back here for any updates.  https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/CONMED/Pages/prevailing-wage-act.aspx

 

The important piece of information that needs to be highlighted is the second sentence in the second paragraph – If a prevailing wage contractor does not use a software program to file their certified payroll – they must file the certified payrolls using the IDOL portal.  Questions regarding this new online portal can also be directed to the IDOL by calling 217-782-1710 or 312-793-1585.

The May 19, 2020 ERS-EAP webinar is “Accepting Aging: Yourself and Others.”  As we notice physical and mental changes in our parents or older loved ones, it can cause us to contemplate our own aging. Join us for this session as we look at “normal” age-related changes and also identify ways for you to come to terms with you own aging.

Please share this information widely throughout your organization and remember that your Employee/Member Assistance Program (EAP/MAP) is available any time, any day by phone or web and offers live assistance when you need it.  

Visit ERS online at: https://ers-eap.com/

Username: ECA

Password: Chicago

Governor Pritzker issued a modified “Stay-at-Home” order that becomes effective May 1st and is scheduled to continue through May 30th.

Read the update here

Questions: contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.

Governor Pritzker's Workplace Health and Safety Guidance for Employees and Staff of Businesses issued: more learn

The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) held an emergency meeting via conference call on April 27, 2020. T he Commission voted unanimously to withdraw the April 16 ^th emergency rule that created a right for injured workers to a rebuttable presumption if they contracted or were exposed to COVID-19. The IWCC Chairman stated the rule is withdrawn due to the unknown financial costs that would be associated with pending litigation.  While the withdrawal of this rule is an important step, IMSCA does not believe this is final action on this issue.  The Chairman further stated a committee/task force will be formed to advise the IWCC on their response to issues related to the COVID-19 public health crisis . In addition, it is possible legislation seeking to address this issue will be filed with the Illinois General Assembly.

Ensuring essential and front-line workers are protected against the COVID-19 virus is still a top priority of Governor Pritzker. IMSCA hopes that with this issue being placed back in to more traditional methods of creating public policy, the importance of not issuing a “one size fits all” approach for every industry can be highlighted.

IMSCA will offer updated information as it becomes available. If you have any specific questions, you can contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, the electrical training ALLIANCE, in partnership with the University of Michigan and Destination Ann Arbor, has announced the cancellation of NTI 2020 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The event was scheduled for July 25 – July 31, 2020. The electrical training ALLIANCE will be sending out refunds to all that have currently paid their registration fees. 

Please click the link below for information regarding the Chicago Construction Safety Council (CSC) upcoming live webinars.

https://buildsafe.org/Training

Pete Mastrorocco, Vice President, Education for the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) recently announced a new educational initiative within NECA — the Education Advancement Resource Network (EARN), a network of higher learning powered by NECA. The program seeks to connect all NECA Stakeholders with institutions of higher education for degree and certificate programs designed to improve our value proposition as service providers. NECA has kicked off this program with 17 certificate programs delivered through three institutions— Brandman University , Louisiana State University Online and Oakland City University . Most of these online, self-paced programs can be initiated at any point, allowing NECA members to get started right away while still managing a busy work schedule. Watch NECA this Week, NECA Video Update or visit  www.necaearn.org  for more information.

Employee and workplace safety should be the top concern for contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, every business has justifiable concerns with employer liability as it makes decisions for moving on with operations.

Any contractor can be sued for anything, by anyone, at any time. That statement was true before, is true during, and it will be true after the COVID-19 pandemic. But keep in mind that there must be some underlying fraud, negligence or wrongdoing to actually impose liability on a contractor. This alert details some best practices to avoid such liability.

You can find all ECA, NECA and Industry Event date changes or cancellations due to COVID-19 on ECA's website here.

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. 

Due to the cross-contamination challenges impacting our industry caused by COVID-19, Enespro has updated our Care and Maintenance Guidelines for Electrical PPE, incorporating important CDC guidelines and references to ASTM F496.

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. 

Recognizing the outstanding work, professionalism and ingenuity of NECA member contractors.

Applications are due by June 15, 2020. Submit your project today!

https://neca.secure-platform.com/a

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 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 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 Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee seminar called, "Managing Field Productivity" that was originally scheduled for March 25, 2020 has been re-scheduled for August 26, 2020. This session is for those that were registered for the original March 25, 2020 session. Their re-scheduled session is on August 26, 2020. Their session in FULL!

However, an additional program has been arranged for Thursday, August 27, 2020. This session is now open for registration. If you're interested in attending the "Managing Field Productivity" seminar on August 27, 2020, please register on-line at the ECA website at:  

www.ecachicago.com  (Event Calendar portion or in the Education & Training Section). Credit Card payment can be made on-line.

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee workshop called, "Advanced Estimating of Electrical Construction" has been re-scheduled from May 20 - 21, 2020 to September 16 & 17, 2020! Currently, 8 spots remain for this program. If you're interested in attending the "Advanced Estimating" workshop, please register on-line at the ECA website at:   www.ecachicago.com  (Event Calendar portion or in the Education & Training Section). Credit Card payment can be made on-line.

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee seminar called, "How to Design Your Company's Internal Processes for Maximizing Profitability"  has been re-scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2020! This program is for the registrants of the original April 15, 2020 program. This session is full; however,  i f you're interested in attending, you can contact the ECA office at: (708) 531-0022 to be wait listed.   

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 - NOW SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 4, 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.

Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, NECA has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Midwestern Region Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 13 - 17, 2020.



NECA is working closely with the Broadmoor and will be canceling all hotel reservations for all registrants. All registration fees will be refunded in full to all registered participants. There is nothing you need to do, however - if you booked your hotel accommodations outside the room block, or at a hotel other than the Broadmoor, you will need to contact them directly to ensure room cancellation. If you are still planning to visit Colorado Springs and would like to keep your hotel reservation at the Broadmoor, please let us know.

We look forward to the 2022 Midwestern Region Conference, which will be held June 2022 at the Broadmoor.