As is happening in Texas and other states, lawmakers in North Carolina are now finally taking a look at what they should do to crack down on the epidemic levels of worker misclassification in the construction industry. Time Warner Cable News in Raleigh reports:It comes on the heels of an...
This Week's Second Look
Social Responsibility
Sophisticated project owners and developers pick premier contractors who are principled, are socially responsible and develop their workforce. They know that contractors who build lasting, high quality employee relationships and career paths for their craftspeople consistently deliver the best value and results. Their practices produce tax revenue and stability to communities while also lowering social service burdens.
Knowledgeable owners and developers avoid using contractors who are are unprincipled and who use misclassified or undocumented workers who are often paid in cash and lack the skills, long-term commitment and support necessary for producing top quality work. They know these second-rate practices not only lead to poor results and hidden costs but also have social consequences in their communities including uncollected taxes, increased social services costs and lower incomes.
What do socially responsible contractors get in return for being responsible?
Do "socially indifferent" or "socially irresponsible" owners, developers and contractors in your community face consequences to their reputation and business?
One of the smartest people I know is a Master Plumber who owns a small plumbing company, Two Twigs Enterprises, here in Atlanta. Cary Mandeville is his name. He did some apprenticeship training for our organization early on, and he warned me. He said, “This labor issue is a big...
Workforce shortages have been predicted for decades. I recall a sociology professor talking about the “snake eating a pig” theory of demographics and how that would be a problem in the workforce in the early 21st century. That talk took place 50 years ago and today those predictions are...
Last month the Greater Houston Partnership held a Workforce Development Summit as part of their UpSkill Houston initiative at which Joseph Fuller of the Harvard Business School was the luncheon keynote speaker. The Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) launched UpSkill Houston earlier this year...
There is growing anger across the nation about the about the cancer of worker misclassification in the construction industry. Why are more and more political leaders, thought leaders, and others calling it a “scam” and saying that something needs to be done quickly to deal with these cheaters...
Some employers mistakenly believe that wage and salary information can be kept confidential. In my law practice, I occasionally see policies stating that employees may not discuss compensation with their co-workers. Such policies are illegal.The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)...
The following article was originally published in the Houston Chronicle. Reprinted with permission.Trade is at the very heart of economic success in Texas. Every year, Texas companies export hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services to foreign markets. In fact, Texas...
The state of the construction workforce and a possible solution Editor’s note: The following article by Jim Stevenson was written for the McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. newsletter. Reprinted with permission.In December 2009, a small group at the Houston Associated General Contractors held...
After successfully pushing for them in Austin, the Workers Defense Project is asking the City of Dallas to adopt an ordinance that would require contractors to give water breaks to construction workers. It sounds like something that everyone should simply agree with but, as is often the case...
