Click HERE to find a new AGC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit that members can share with their staff, trade contractors, subcontractors, and partners. AGC has gathered information on COVID-19 vaccines, their safety and their effectiveness that members can use in their education efforts; created an industry-specific public service message urging the industry to get vaccinated; and provided resources to assist with employer vaccine policies. As we learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine-related policies, including mandates, AGC will update the web page. Click HERE for more information.

 

The Administration released general details of President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan and two Executive Orders that will require all federal employees and federal contractors and subcontractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Executive Order impacting federal contractors requires the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force provide further guidance and a draft contract clause by September 24th. The Federal Acquisition Regulation will be amended to include these requirements in a contract clause in federal solicitations and contracts. Direct federal contracts can expect this new contract clause to appear in all covered federal contracts, extensions, and renewals by October 15th. The E.O. requires all direct federal contractor and subcontractors to be vaccinated, without the option of submitting a weekly test.

 

Another key aspect of President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan is a requirement that OSHA publish a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement. In addition to the vaccine and/or testing mandate, the ETS will require employers with more than 100 employees to provide paid time off for the time it takes for workers to get vaccinated or to recover if they are under the weather post-vaccination. 

 

AGC of America has gathered resources to assist its members facing COVID-19 vaccine requirements; vaccine safety and the effectiveness that members can use in their educational efforts; and provided resources to assist with employer vaccine policies. Click HERE to find the AGC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit. There are a lot of questions that have yet to be answered. AGC will be reaching out to OSHA, FAR Council, and other federal agencies, and will update AGC members as we learn more. For more information, contact jordan.howard@agc.org or (703) 837-5368.

 

AGC of America is installing a new billboard in the Pittsburgh area to call out Congressman Conor Lamb for voting to keep his constituents stuck in highway traffic. The billboard, which is located along one of the most congested commuter corridors in the Congressman’s district, includes a link for commuters to learn more about the Congressman’s vote.

The prices contractors pay for construction materials continued to increase in August while many firms report struggles to get those materials delivered on time, according to an analysis by AGC of America of government data released recently. Association officials urged Washington officials to take steps to help address the challenges impacting the entire supply chain and driving the price escalations.

Construction firms are struggling to find enough qualified workers to hire even as they continue to be impacted by pandemic-induced project delays and supply chain disruptions, according to the results of a workforce survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and Autodesk. The survey results underscore how the coronavirus pandemic has created constraints on the demand for work even as it limits the number of workers available to hire.

Before 2020, construction was the second least digitized industry in the world, second only to agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the industry’s adoption of new technologies to maintain and improve jobsite efficiency. A key factor behind this shift? Mobility.
BY KYLE YENCER, VICE PRESIDENT OF SERVICES AND CONNECTED WORKFORCE, MICROAGE

Up to $1 billion in equipment, materials and appliances are stolen from construction sites every single year, and less than 25% is recovered, according to the National Equipment Register.
BY TOM WEBB, VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY/R&D, HCSS
A MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS

Technology investment for changing times

Last year, businesses across industries grappled with new challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seemingly overnight, construction companies were forced to adapt to an unpredictable reality, navigating state and local ordinances for stay-at-home orders and interpreting government classifications for what were considered essential businesses. These challenges pushed contractors to look for solutions outside of their normal toolbox, with many companies engaging in digital transformation.
BY NICK GRANDY, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SENIOR ANALYST
RSM US LLP, A MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS

 Bob Lanham, president of Williams Brothers Construction in Houston, Texas and AGC of America president, has been elected to the National Academy of Construction (NAC) as a member of its class of 2021. He will be formally inducted October 21 during the NAC annual meeting. 

Registration is open for AGC of America’s inaugural National Construction Industry Workforce Summit. The summit, which is taking place on October 13 in St. Louis, Missouri, is designed to bring together leaders in the construction and workforce development community to focus on establishing solutions to chronic worker shortages. During this day-long summit, construction and workforce development professionals will learn about successful programs that are helping recruit, develop and retain high-quality construction professionals. The goals of the summit are to identify a more consistent approach that industry should take to improve the workforce pipeline, leverage existing strategies proven successful, and make connections that provide support and resources to attendees to continue addressing workforce development issues long after the summit ends. Contact Brian Turmail at brian.turmail@agc.org or (703) 459-0238 for more information.

Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) connects the military community — service members, military spouses, and veterans — with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce. For details on any event, please visit the Hiring Our Heroes Calendar.