The Government Relations Committee hosted a PAC Fundraiser on October 6th to support the Builders Association PAC as well as honor three Illinois Legislators of the Year. The Builders Association Government Relations Committee would like to thank all of the generous sponsors of this fundraiser and commend fellow Association members for their commitment to political involvement.

The application deadline for the Corporate Citizenship Award is today. The Corporate Citizenship Award is conferred at BuildersConnect each year and serves as a great way to gain recognition for your company's philanthropic commitment to the Chicagoland area. Contact that Builders Association at (773) 444-0465 if you have any questions on the application or award.

Listen to the latest ConstructorCast for an in-depth look at a new OSHA rule that may have a significant impact on construction companies' drug and alcohol testing programs. For this episode, we sit down with Jimmy Christianson, AGC's Regulatory Counsel, for the full story on how OSHA's rule may prevent companies from using post-incident drug and alcohol testing, what contractors need to know about compliance, and what AGC is doing to stop the rule.

AGC and other leading business, labor, transportation and travel groups called on both major party presidential candidates to include long-term, sustainable funding measures as part of their infrastructure plans and are offering to help get those plans enacted in letters sent to both campaigns. The various groups said that finding ways to pay for future improvements to the nation's transportation infrastructure would help boost employment levels and economic growth.

"We believe that an infrastructure package needs to include, as a foundation, additional sustainable revenue to ensure the permanent solvency of the Highway Trust Fund," the groups said in their letter, which was sent to the Trump and Clinton campaigns. "The additional revenue sources must be long-term, reliable, dedicated and focused on the users and beneficiaries of our transportation network to support the increased investment provided under your infrastructure proposal."

Builders Association members receive 30% off work and corporate casual styles by Skechers through our partnership with National Purchasing Partners (NPP).

The new member benefit with Skechers offers:

• Over 375 styles to choose from
• Work boots including Steel Toe, Composite Toe, and Electrical Hazard Safe
• Work shoes including Slip Resistant, Memory Foam, and Waterproof
• Free shipping and free returns
• Access to quarterly Friends and Family Discount
  

Take advantage of this new savings program:

1. Visit www.mynpp.com, click on "Join Now."
   
2. Select "Company" then your industry.
   
3. Select "AGC - Participating Chapters" from the dropdown menu and complete enrollment.
   

Contact the Association at 773-444-0465 if you require any assistance.

Join the Builders Association Safety & Health Committee the morning of November 10 at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook for an illuminating seminar, "The Psychology of Safety." Presenter Joe Malato will discuss what factors contribute to a mindset that takes safe practices for granted at work, how that mindset affects the safe or unsafe manner in which work is done, and how best to transform that mindset in order to foster work environments that prioritize safety.

The Builders Education & Training Foundation is excited to host another round of the Project Management Series instructed by Brad Benhart of Purdue University. "Personal Success for Project Managers" and "Top 10 ‘Risky’ Items Every PM or Superintendent Should Know", back by popular demand, will be held at 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., First Floor Conference Center, Chicago, on November 11 and December 2, respectively. Both of these courses will begin at 8AM and end at 11AM.

The PM Series has received rave reviews over the years. One participant from the most recent series described the program as a "concise presentation that keyed in on very important concepts that make everyone more efficient." Another attendee reported that it "hit the important concepts with usable items to effectively implement immediately which will have the greatest impact on improving both professional and personal life."

This four-hour course provides non-financial managers and construction project leaders with the financial management essentials necessary to ensure the successful outcome of any construction project. Participants will learn critical skills including risk assessment, financial tracking, monitoring, communication and adjustments required to remain compliant throughout the project life cycle--all while carefully balancing the budget and forecasting financials.

Every October, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration releases a preliminary list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations for the fiscal year, compiled from nearly 32,000 inspections of workplaces by federal OSHA staff.

More than 4,500 workers are killed on the job every year, and approximately 3 million are injured, despite the fact that by law, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their workers. Identifying the most common OSHA citations is the first step in working towards preventing workplace injury and death.

AGC Economic Update: Thirty-five states added construction jobs between September 2015 and September 2016 while construction employment increased in only 21 states and the District of Columbia between August and September, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said contractors still report difficulty filling construction jobs, and they urged Congress to complete action on a bill that would help more students gain the skills to qualify for good-paying careers in construction.

Has anyone ever accepted your job offer, only to change their mind the night before the start date? The "two-timing" new hire is becoming more common, and increased competition for construction talent is partly to blame. Recent research shows 75% of active candidates are interviewing, simultaneously, with at least 3 companies.

As a result, top candidates are receiving multiple offers. And if yours happens to be a close second to the two-timer’s "dream job," they’ll accept, to hedge their bets, continue interviewing with their top choice employer, and dump you when they receive the offer they want!

Avoid the two-timer by using these strategies in your hiring process.

MCA will offer Everyday Negotiating Skills for Project Foreman on Thursday, November 3 from 12 to 4 PM, and Winning New Business Team on Thursday, November 10 from 8AM to 4PM. Both courses are free and will be hosted at MCA Construction Education Institute in Burr Ridge, IL. Contact Builders Association staff to register for either of this education opportunities.

If all stakeholders aren't on board with Lean, can it work? How do you use Lean principles on construction projects where the GC is not an advocate of Lean? You can still improve your project outcomes even if all the stakeholders aren't on board. In this webinar, learn how Ted Angelo, with Grunau has been effective using Lean by focusing his team on what they control.

BOS is a full-service office furniture dealership with a specialized focus on architectural demountable walls and raised floors. Since 1948, BOS’s experienced Designers, Project Managers and Certified Installers have created magnificent interiors, throughout Chicagoland and nationwide, allowing for flexibility within those interiors, year over year. BOS offers walls that are framed or frameless, glass, laminate, wood or fabric, while also providing tiled, wood, laminated or carpeted raised floors. BOS navigates the complete project process for our partners, servicing our clients’ needs throughout the life of the investment. Integrity. Inspiration. Commitment. That's the BOS promise.

Norvilla, LLC has moved its office to 2701 S. 13th Avenue, Broadview, IL 60155-4715.