Construction Blog

HB2838, which would have made primary contractors jointly liable for the wages & benefits of their subcontractor’s employees, even if the primary contractor had paid the subcontractor in full, has been held from consideration in the Illinois State Senate in the final days of spring session. Senate Bill Sponsor, Laura Fine (D-Glenview) sent word on May 30th to all stakeholders of HB2838 that an amendment would be filed that would remove some of the controversial issues supported by the Carpenters Unions and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO),

Check out this article by attorney Ross Boden published in The Contractor’s Compass titled, “LEGALLY SPEAKING: OSHA Compliance Tips on Multi-Employer Work Sites and Joint-Employer Relationships.” It summarizes the responsibilities you need to know to help you escape your next OSHA inspection without a dreaded citation. Subcontractors must remain cognizant of OSHA’s continued enforcement focus on multi-employer job sites and joint-employer relationships. At current penalty rates of $12,934 per violation or $129,336 for willful violations, citations carry significant consequences. This article summarizes the responsibilities you need to know with examples and practice tips to help you escape your next OSHA inspection without a dreaded citation.

Executive Order 13706 established paid sick leave requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors and went into effect on January 1, 2017. Non-complying contractors are subject to monetary damages, attorneys’ fees, equitable relief, and/or debarment from future contracts. How Many Hours Of Paid Sick Leave Are Required? Fifty-six (56) hours annually. Unless employers elect to give employees all the hours upfront, employees accrue one (1) hour of paid sick leave for every thirty (30) hours of work.

While the implied warranty of habitability has been a concern to homebuilders, since it was first recognized by the courts, subcontractors need to be concerned with the effect of the warranty, as well. In a recent case brought by the Sienna Court Condominium Association in Evanston, Illinois, the 1st District Appellate Court addressed the holdings that allow a property owner to bring a claim to correct a latent construction defect directly against one or more subcontractors.

Beginning with the Little Leagues, everyone knows about “home field advantage”, where friendly fans abound, the field is familiar, and grueling travel is absent. While certainly no guarantee of victory, these are intangible factors leading to the best opportunity to win.