Please save the date for our next annual conference, scheduled for August 2-4, 2023, at the Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio.

 

We are already working on a great program and promise to make it an event you won’t want to miss. Keep an eye out for more details and registration to go live early in the new year. 

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners has been working diligently to improve processes and communicate updates that impact plumbing licensees in Texas. With so much new information coming down the pike, we've compiled these updates online for you! 

Mark Your Calendar: TSBPE Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 5th 

New PHCC Texas members (first-year introductory or past members who have not been active for 5+ years) can lock in 2022 pricing by joining in October. Membership will be activated immediately, including all of 2023 and three bonus months of 2022 membership.

 

Interested in joining? Contact membership@phcc-tx.org!

The Sept. issue of PHCC Pros has a dynamic interview with the soon-to-be 2022-2023 PHCC National President Dave Frame. Learn his plans once he takes the helm and about his growing business, Bob Frame Plumbing Services, in Indiana!

 

You asked, we listened! Using our new PHCC Texas Training landing page, you can search training offerings by class type, format or even location! 

 

PHCC Texas is proud to provide Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners approved plumbing continuing education, in addition to test prep training. We also offer training in Medical Gas, Residential and Commercial Code, OSHA, and Backflow Prevention Testing. 

The PHCC Educational Foundation is pleased to announce that Jessica Bridges, CAE, IOM has enthusiastically agreed to become the new PHCC Educational Foundation COO effective September 14, 2022. 

  

Additionally, Angela Collins has accepted the new role of Chief Learning Officer (CLO) within the PHCC Educational Foundation. Angela will continue to bring her passion for education and workforce development to this new role and will report to Jessica. The PHCC Educational Foundation is excited about the team and our opportunity ahead.

Scott Hicks, Jr. with TD Industries is the 2022 PHCC Texas Apprenticeship Contest finalist that will represent Texas at the PHCC National Conference in October 5-7, in Charlotte, North Carolina. This event showcases the skills, knowledge, and accuracy of the state's most talented industry newcomers, and we can't wait to cheer Scott on in person and in spirit! 

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the federal law governing employee compensation in U.S. workplaces. Some states also apply their own, more rigorous wage and hour laws. The FLSA requires employers to pay employees a minimum wage for all hours worked and a time and a half overtime rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. However, the FLSA provides certain exemptions from the minimum wage and overtime requirements. The so-called “white collar” exemptions to the minimum wage and overtime requirements refer to the executive, administrative, professional, computer, and outside sales exemptions. To qualify for one of these exemptions, employees must receive a predetermined salary not subject to reduction based on the number of hours worked or the quality of work and the salary must meet the minimum “threshold” prescribed under the FLSA, currently $684 per week or $35,568 annually. In addition, employees must satisfy duties tests set out by the FLSA to fit into one of the exemptions.

PHCC National Board President Joel Long appeared on the Mechanical Hub Media podcast, Appetite for Construction, where he talks about the importance of teamwork and gives his persepcitve on the short-term economy. If you like baseball and the trades, this one's for you!

Ironically, the more we drive the less aware of our driving habits we often become. Occasional poor driving behaviors may gradually grow more frequent; we become accustom to our driving style; we lose awareness of our driving tendencies; and we develop dangerous driving habits. This is true of you and the employees who drive your company vehicles. Ask yourself, “In the past month, how often have my employees been driving and had a near-miss collision because they...”

Question of the Month: We have a problem with employees who clock in and start working before their shifts are scheduled to begin. They also continue working and clock out after their shifts are scheduled to end. As a result, these employees work over 40 hours a week and are entitled to overtime pay. We have a policy that specifically states that employees must receive prior approval before working any overtime. Can we refuse to pay these employees for the unauthorized overtime that they worked, since they violated our policy and did not receive prior approval? If not, what other recourse do we have?

As you may know, the Federated® tagline is: It’s Our Business to Protect Yours®. Part of that commitment is to make sure that our clients know the options available to protect not only their business, but also their family, in the event of an unexpected loss. A simple way to do this is with life insurance. September is National Life Insurance Awareness Month, which provides a great reminder about this important tool, and the impact that life insurance can have on a family or business after the death of a loved one, key person, or owner.

Even if you already have life insurance, it’s a good idea to take a look at your current coverage periodically to see if any adjustments might need to be made for a variety of reasons:  

In a rush? Our digital correspondence option is the quickest way to complete your CE. Students will receive a digital copy of our book and an open-book 150-question exam that you can take at your own pace. There are two options when choosing the most recent correspondence courses: Digital Only and Standard.

 

When choosing the Digital Only option, you will receive a link to download the course and can get started right away! When choosing the Standard option, we also ship you a packet (USPS Priority) with a physical copy of the book and all course materials.

  

Please note: correspondence testing is not an option for students looking to rank up to a Tradesman or Journeyman license, but is a viable option for renewals. 

We work hard to ensure your PHCC membership provides great value, and we want to know if there are areas where we can expand our support to you. After all, it is because of your membership that we are able to be your resource for education, advocacy, networking, and more! Please take a few moments to complete the 2022 Membership Survey to help us better serve you!

It’s time to build on real relationships with your plumbing, heating and cooling family… partnerships that helped contractors survive market fluctuations, industry changes, even a pandemic. It’s time to tap into reimagined best practices, the latest industry data, cutting-edge technology, and proven leadership perspectives. It’s time to discover new ways to work, learn and lead.

Fourth Annual Clay Shoot at Elm Fork. Breakfast, lunch, beverages and gun raffle for Contractors included. 

Save the Date for the Spooktacular Golf Tournament, October 31, 2022, at Blackhorse Golf Course. Sponsorships are available and those interested in serving on the committee are encouraged to reach out. 

November 3-4, 2022 | Lampasas, Texas

Register to attend this two-day, in-person leadership training experience for Service Managers and Owners and leave feeling confident and equipped to tackle time management, training and team accountability. 

How to Detect & Avoid IRS Exams Before They Begin

Nearly all IRS audits and reviews are avoidable and can be detected before they even get out of the starting blocks. We will explore some of the inner workings of the IRS audit and review processes to reveal audit risks and the steps the IRS takes before, during and after a taxpayer is selected for an audit or review. This understanding of the audit and review process serves as the foundation for our approach towards eradicating the anxiety of an IRS audit from the minds of our clients.

“Best People and Best Practices” deserve the best technology. With over 300 Texas PHCC members, reliable technology should be available to streamline processes and simplify the nature of the business.

As a member of the PHCC community, you plug into a powerful network of valuable resources and contractors at the local, state and national level — plus our own PHCC Educational Foundation — offering the knowledge, tools, programs and services you need to succeed.

Streamline your hiring process using our career center. Connect with top professionals and get your jobs filled more quickly with industry talent.