ECA News & Events Update
Please click the photo for a brief video
introduction to the program.
Don't miss ECA's "FREE" Leadership Webinar Series starting this Thursday!

Session #1: Work without Stress: Building a resilient mindset for lasting success + How to facilitate for groups going through times of change and pressure
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 at 11:00a.m.

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.

IMSCA Legislative Update
Please click on the link below for the most recent IMSCA Legislative Update (5/15/2020). This update includes a synopsis of Governor Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan and information regarding this week’s scheduled legislative session.  For your convenience, this report has also been added to IMSCA’s website at: www.imsca.org.

If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director of the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.
U.S. Department of Treasury Issues Additional Guidance Regarding PPP Program / NECA Phase IV Coronavirus Legislative Webinar / PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Update
Here is additional information regarding PPP guidance, including extending Paycheck Protection Program repayment date for the safe harbor to May 18, 2020. Also, please review information regarding NECA's recent Phase IV Webinar and PPP Loan Forgiveness Application.
CSC to Open for In-Person Training on May 18, 2020
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.
NECA EDUCATION /
ELECTRI STUDY
None of us could have ever anticipated the extraordinary worldwide chaos caused by the COVID-19 virus. The direct impact on NECA contractors has been substantial as many segments of construction shut down completely. The coming impact on cost and schedule will also be significant. Yet, right now, there are very limited tools available in the market that you can use to quantify and substantiate management decisions and to develop a defensible approach to pricing the impacts. To assist our electrical contractors -- all sizes and scopes -- with your recovery, ELECTRI International commissioned a significant and comprehensive study that includes research that highlights productivity and hours lost due to new social distancing and PPE guidelines. The report also provides information to help you, our Chapter members, calculate the impacts on your own projects.
 
To make this important information as accessible as possible to our members, ELECTRI and NECA recently held a webinar to outline the report. During the webinar, NECA shared crucial information that will provide additional access to a user-friendly calculator that you can use to price change orders and quantify the impacts on jobsite productivity. This tool will serve as the starting point of negotiating, as well as defining any equitable adjustment of stimulus or other funding received through PPP and EIDL loan programs.

Please visit the ELECTRI International website ( https://electri.org/) to review the report (Research Reports Section), as well as view the webinar (Featured Videos Section). You can also click on the links below for a copy of the report and the video information.
NECA Education Advancement Resource Network (EARN)
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.
ECA Leadership Webinar Series #2 “Change Matters"
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
June 4, 2020 at 11:00AM
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.
ECA Leadership Webinar Series #3 “ Building High Performance Teams"
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
June 18, 2020 at 11:00AM
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.
Employee Assistance Program: May webinar
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

CSC Offering FREE "Excavation Hazards in Construction" - Virtual Classroom Course - May 29, 2020
The Construction Safety Council is now offering a FREE "Excavation Hazards in Construction" virtual training program on May 29, 2020. 
Capital Development Board Revised Bidding Process
As previously reported, the Capital Development Board (CDB) created a revised bidding process in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Bids will be accepted by mail/delivery service and by email, and in-person submittals will not be allowed during this time.  For those of you who participated in Monday’s (April 20) webinar with the CDB to learn about this revised bidding process – some revisions have been made to the process based on the questions and feedback received from the Industry session on Monday. Please click on the link below for a revised version of the April 20, 2020 webinar PowerPoint presentation. The revisions to the process are highlighted in the PowerPoint.
The biggest revisions to the process are:
  • The bid receipt deadline is Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. 
  • CDB will be using a State of Illinois File Transfer website for the sending of bid forms. This will provide confirmation that the file was uploaded and allows the monitoring of the files for download.
For those of you who were unable to participate in the webinar, please review the attached PowerPoint to learn about the revised process. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.
NECA Legal Alert: COVID-19 and Contractor Liability
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.
Event Changes and Cancellations
You can find all ECA, NECA and Industry Event date changes or cancellations due to COVID-19 on ECA's website here.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) temporary regulations - Stay-at-Home Order(s) and FFCRA impact.
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. 
Slow the Spread of COVID-19 with Proper Cleaning of Electrical PPE
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.
U.S. Treasury Updated Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) Application Form (CARES Act)
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. 
NECA Project Excellence Awards Deadline Approaching
Recognizing the outstanding work, professionalism and ingenuity of NECA member contractors.

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


Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Sick Leave Templates
(Developed for ECA by Baker McKenzie)
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.
NECA Safety Updates -
COVID-19 Related
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.

EJAB NDERA Referral Follow-up
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!

Construction Impact letter, Contract Rights, and FFCRA FAQ
Please see this template letter from NECA that you may find useful in dealing with your customers concerning construction impacts resulting from COVID-19.




"Managing Field Productivity" - RE-SCHEDULED from March 25, 2020 to August 26, 2020 (This session is full!)

Additional Session Arranged For August 27, 2020 (Registration is now Open!)
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.
"Advanced Estimating of Electrical Construction" - RE-SCHEDULED!
September 16 & 17, 2020
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.
"How to Design Your Company's Internal Processes for Maximizing Profitability" - RE-SCHEDULED!
November 12, 2020
PROGRAM IS FULL!
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.   
ECA Golf Outing - RESCHEDULED August 4, 2020
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.

Save the Dates

ECA SUMMER SOCIAL EVENT
August 14, 2020
Air and Water Show Rehearsal
Lakeside Theater
Chicago, IL


WELCOME TO CHICAGO PARTY!
NECA CONVENTION: Welcome event hosted by ECA Chicago
October 2, 2020
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL