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President's Message — Helping Member
Firms Tackle Human Resource Issues
Health care and employees' military
obligations are two big issues facing contractors today
By AGC President Sam Hunter
A good business person knows that keeping
employees safe, happy and healthy will greatly improve workplace
morale and productivity. AGC provides a variety of services
to its members pertaining to labor and employment law, labor
relations and human resources. This issue of Constructor will
delve deeper into these important topics in two articles:
how contractors are addressing the health care issue and how
they are working with employees on military leave.
When it comes to health care, AGC is working hard for its
members. AGC has held workshops on health care cost containment
at recent conventions, midyear meetings and other conferences,
and is working with labor groups to study health care coalitions
as a cost-containment measure for collectively bargained multi-employer
plans.
The association also supports pending legislation, the Small
Business Health Act of 2003 (H.R. 660/S. 545), that would
exempt multi-employer health plans from state regulation even
if they were not collectively bargained.
The Association Healthcare Coalition, of which AGC is a member,
argues that the legislation would give small employers-acting
through their trade associations-the same advantages that
large employers and collectively bargained plans already enjoy.
In this issue, an article titled "Health Care Crisis
Plagues Industry" gives a glimpse of how contractors
around the country are tackling the growing issue of supplying
health care to employees. You'll read examples of how your
peers are finding practical answers to one of the most urgent
issues of today.
AGC also is working to ensure that contractors understand
their obligations as employers when it comes to employees
on military leave. A piece called "Helping Employees
Away on Military Duty" gives contractors advice about
how to manage employee military leave and comply with the
related legal and human resources requirements.
AGC offers resources on a variety of other human resources
issues as well-and many of these resources are available to
you 24/7 on the new-and-improved Labor & HR section of
the AGC Web site at www.agc.org/labor. In fact, the online
Labor & HR Topical Resources page contains links to substantive
guidance on more than 60 labor and HR topics, including affirmative
action, Davis-Bacon, employee discipline, family and medical
leave, job descriptions, overtime, picketing and project labor
agreements.
In addition, AGC's electronic Human Resource & Labor
News keeps members up-to-date on news and legal developments
that affect contractors as employers. All of these resources
are exclusive to AGC members and available for free with your
membership dues. Make sure that your HR staff is taking advantage
of them. Remember, AGC remains dedicated to helping you become
the best employer possible.
AGC's Recruitment Center
AGC offers a recruitment tool to all AGC members to help
in their search for new employees. The AGC Recruitment Center,
in partnership with Construction Jobs.com, offers a 15% discount
off standard rates for job posting and resume-searching packages.
Make sure to take advantage of this useful tool at www.agc.org/recruitment.
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