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UPDATED: U.S. Department of Treasury Issues Additional Guidance Regarding PPP Program / NECA Phase IV Coronavirus Legislative Webinar
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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.
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CSC Offering FREE "Excavation Hazards in Construction" - Virtual Classroom Course - May 29, 2020
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The Construction Safety Council is now offering a FREE "Excavation Hazards in Construction" virtual training program on May 29, 2020.
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ECA Leadership Webinar Series #1 -- “Resilience”
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
May 21, 2020 at 2:00 pm
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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.
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ECA Leadership Webinar Series #2 -- “Change Matters"
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
June 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm
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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.
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ECA Leadership Webinar Series #3 -- “Building High Performance Teams"
Presented by Alex Willis, Leadership Surge
June 18, 2020 at 2:00 pm
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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.
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Please be advised that the Trustees of the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF) and the National Employees Benefit Board (NEBB) have agreed to a temporary amendment to the Trust Agreement. This temporary amendment will waive the requirement for the 3% NEBF contribution on federally mandated sick pay due to the COVID-19 virus. The waiver is for up to a maximum of 80 hours and it is effective for the period of April 16, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Please click on the link below for a copy of the summary.
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PPP SAFE HARBOR EXTENSION
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The Treasury Department just issued additional guidance
(#43 on FAQ
) on the Paycheck Protection Program. The Treasury department postponed the Safe Harbor repayment deadline to May 14, 2020, as
requested
by NECA. NECA is still waiting for final guidance, but the extension allows more time for PPP borrowers to review the required certification and determine if they would like to repay the loan in full. The additional guidance is detailed below:
43. Question:
FAQ #31 reminded borrowers to review carefully the required certification on the Borrower Application Form that “[c]urrent economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.” SBA guidance and regulations provide that any borrower who applied for a PPP loan prior to April 24, 2020 and repays the loan in full by May 7, 2020 will be deemed by SBA to have made the required certification in good faith. Is it possible for a borrower to obtain an extension of the May 7, 2020 repayment date?
Answer:
SBA is extending the repayment date for this safe harbor to May 14, 2020. Borrowers do not need to apply for this extension. This extension will be promptly implemented through a revision to the SBA’s interim final rule providing the safe harbor. SBA intends to provide additional guidance on how it will review the certification prior to May 14, 2020.
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NECA Legal Webinar Q & A Update - CARES Act PPP Forgiveness Guidance
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Please review an updated Q & A from a recent NECA Legal Webinar regarding PPP Forgiveness Guidance.
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NDERA Update / Recall Letter
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In accordance with the National Disease Emergency Response Agreement (
NDERA
), enacted by the national organizations of IBEW and NECA dated March 16, 2020, an employer who has a job halted/delayed due to the COVID-19 has the right to Lay-Off or Furlough his IBEW employees, and recall them back upon the restart of the project in which the member was laid off/furloughed from.
A number of contractors have exercised that right and are now starting to recall employees per the NDERA. When recalling employees and returning them to work it is critical that it is done properly. The contractor must notify the #134 referral office that employees are being recalled and returning to work, prior to the individual returning to work.
Please click the link below for a sample letter that could be used to inform the #134 referral office of the recall / return to work. This letter or a similar letter should be emailed to the #134 referral office at
Referral@local134.org
, prior to returning the recalled employees to work.
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Please click on the link below for a copy of a recent letter from the Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA)
sent to all signatory contractors
clarifying the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) regarding benefits.
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- IMSCA Update -
Illinois Sexual Harassment Training Guidelines
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As you are aware, Senate Bill 75, Public Act 101-0221 was signed into law by Governor Pritzker in August 2019. Under this Act, Illinois employers are required to train employees on sexual harassment prevention by December 31, 2020, and on an annual basis thereafter. This requirement applies to all employers with employees working in this State. Employers must either develop their own sexual harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds the minimum standards for sexual harassment prevention training outlined in Section 2-109(B) of the Illinois Human Rights Act, or they may use the model training provided by the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).
The IDHR has finally released the model sexual harassment prevention training that can be used by Illinois employers.
The model training program can be downloaded by clicking the link below. The training can be downloaded as a PowerPoint presentation or alternatively, it can be downloaded in a PDF format. Additional resources, guidance and Frequently Asked Questions can also be found by visiting the website.
If you have question or need additional information, you can contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.
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- IMSCA Update -
Illinois Workers Compensation Emergency Rule Withdrawn
(COVID-19 related)
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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.
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Illinois Department of Labor Certified Payroll Portal Update
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Pursuant to Public Act 100-1177, the Illinois Department of Labor is required to develop an online database for contractors to use to submit certified payrolls. The IDOL’s central reporting process was to be implemented by April 1, 2020. A few weeks ago, you received information regarding webinar training sessions offered by the Illinois Department of Labor to learn how to use IDOL’s new prevailing wage certified payroll portal. The training sessions hosted by IDOL resulted in more questions than answers. As a result, IDOL has conceded that the new system is not ready. IDOL has expressed that contractors can continue to follow the existing process and file director with owners, and use whatever reporting format is currently used. This new program is in flux, and contractors are encouraged to hold off on making any changes to your systems until the new processes are finalized.
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Stay up to date on the latest changes for our Industry including news releases, legislation and Government mandates, workplace safety and preparation guidelines, OSHA alerts, and more that affect electrical contractors in Chicago and Cook County.
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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.
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ECA OFFICE AVAILABILITY /
DUES REPORTING /
NEBF SUBMITTAL PROCESS
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We would like to remind everyone, that our staff is here to serve you, even while a portion of the staff may be working remotely. Our main switchboard may be forwarded to a staff member at any given time, so if you should have difficulty getting through on our main number 708-531-0022, please reach out to us via the following contact information.
Staff contact information is as follows:
Tim Taylor – Assistant Manager
Carrie Spaeth – Assistant Manager
NEBF PAYMENTS: Please reach out to Jessica Waterous if you do not currently report and pay your NEBF electronically and you would like to do so.
ECA DUES: If you would prefer an electronic dues reporting/payment option, please reach out to Gina Floro.
Meanwhile, staggered staff are still available to accept mail and packages at our office in Westchester.
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EVENT CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS
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You can find all ECA, NECA and Industry Event date changes or cancellations due to COVID-19 on
ECA's website here.
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Updates / IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CONTRACTORS WITH FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES
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Please click on the links below updates regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): The first link is for a copy of a letter to all signatory contractors regarding interim guidance as to how the paid leave requirements in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for employers with 500 or fewer employees will be handled. The second link is an updated NECA FFCRA FAQ. The third link is a link to an article concerning the Department of Labor's direction regarding how employers with fewer than 50 employees are handled in the FFCRA..
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Every three years, the National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated to reflect the newest installation practices utilized by the electrical industry, bringing about hundreds of revisions and new rules to the code. This training program provides attendees with a review of over 200 of the most significant changes in the 2020 NEC. Learn about new articles and revisions to existing requirements that directly impact the electrical construction business. This high-energy program promises to deliver authoritative overviews of many of the NEC changes that must be understood by contractors, installers, and inspectors alike. This program includes a textbook titled "Significant Changes to the 2020 NEC" authored by Michael Johnston (NECA) and Jim Dollard (Philadelphia Electrical JATC). The program is presented using PowerPoint slides that align with the information in the textbook.
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US Department of Labor issues Guidance on Respiratory Protection during shortage
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The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued interim enforcement guidance to help combat supply shortages of disposable N95 facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs). This marks the department's latest step to help ensure the availability of respirators. Read the full press release here
https://hubs.ly/H0ph7Nc0
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Additional resources on the CARES Act, Payroll Protection Provisions, Checklist from SBA
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2020 Project Excellence Awards
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO
JUNE 15, 2020
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NECA began accepting submissions for the 2020 Project Excellence Awards Program on January 1, 2020. These prestigious awards recognize NECA member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 12 different market sectors.
Submissions for projects completed in 2019 will be accepted until June 15, 2020.
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ECA Golf Outing -
August 4, 2020 (NEW DATE!)
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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 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.
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NECA 2020 Midwestern Region Conference - CANCELED!
June 14 - 17, 2020
The NECA 2020 Midwestern Region Conference that was scheduled for June 14 - 17, 2020 at the Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO. has been canceled.
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ECA Educational / Special Program Stipends for Remainder of 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee has extended a number of educational stipends for many special programs / conferences throughout 2020. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.
Listed below are the stipend opportunities:
NECA Safety Professionals Conference
(NEW DATES!)
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference - October 5 - 7, 2020 in Chicago.
NECA Convention
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Convention on October 3 - 6, 2020 in Chicago, IL.
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ECA SUMMER SOCIAL EVENT
August 14, 2020
Air and Water Show Rehearsal
Lakeside Theater
Chicago, IL
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