Steps taken during project can help subs collect payment | Levelset rates contractors on payment speed | Contractors should talk to owners about 179D deductions
Subcontractors can take measures before a contract is signed and while a project is underway to streamline their ability to collect payment, according to attorneys. Among their suggestions are negotiating favorable contract terms, understanding how and when to use mechanic's liens, and taking action under the appropriate state laws if necessary.
Subcontractors can benefit from Levelset's software that rates how quickly contractors make payments. "It is the general contractor's job to administer payments to subcontractors on jobs, and it is not unfair to examine how good or bad they are at that job," said Levelset CEO Scott Wolfe Jr.
Taxpayers should discuss options available through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the 179D deduction with their accountants, as each offers the opportunity for "significant tax savings," writes David McGuire. It's important to consider how the 179D deduction work with components of the TCJA, as the deduction was extended through the end of 2020.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed changes to the state's prevailing wage, but contractors are worried the change will lead to prohibitive labor costs. The change would mandate union-rate wages and benefits for everyone involved in projects of more than $5 million that are funded with at least 30% public incentives.
Union and community volunteers in Oregon's Multnomah County have been participating in a pilot program in which they help ensure that public works contractors follow labor laws. The volunteers help county officials enforce rules regarding prevailing wages, overtime pay, worker misclassification and apprentice-to-journeyman ratios.
Mechanical contractors need no convincing of the advantages of building information modeling, but adoption in the sector lags due to a shortage of trained personnel, according to a study led by Dodge Data & Analytics. The study found at least 90% of mechanical and HVAC contractors using BIM are providing 3D models routinely for their projects.
Standard construction contracts should take design-build components into consideration, including whether insurance covers potential design defects and if contractor design reviews should "be held to a higher professional standard," writes Colm Nelson. Other considerations might include whether liability limitation or damage waivers in subcontracts affect a project owner's right to file design claims against the subcontractor, Nelson writes.
A new report from the National Safety Council says that although injuries in the workplace are trending down, fatalities are increasing, with 5,250 workers killed on the job in 2018 -- the highest number recorded since 2007. The report says employers need to use more of today's available technology to stop what the safety council termed "preventable deaths."
With changing workplace technology outpacing education, employers are turning to in-house training to provide workers with the required skills. "As the cost of post-secondary education skyrockets, employer programs that offset that cost in the form of co-op placements, apprenticeships, or education stipends can be more valuable than a raise," writes John Schwarz, founder and CEO of Visier.
A recent roundtable brought together construction leaders to reflect on the state of the industry in Utah, and a generally upbeat assessment of both the commercial and residential markets emerged. Contractors, however, are struggling with a labor shortage and scheduling constraints.
It happens to all of us: An RFP comes across your desk and someone says "Go!" You contact the owner and the design team to gain an understanding, then submit a proposal. Then you wait ... and wait ... until that "thanks but no thanks" letter arrives. The owner provides a debrief but the unspoken truth is that you don't know enough about that client, let alone the project. Winning takes more than visiting a project site after an RFP hits the streets and submitting a sound proposal. The best submittals come from years of relationship building and information gathering. Find out how in AGC's latest Business Development Best Practice, contributed by Brett Pitcairn, PJ Dick - Trumbull - Lindy Paving.
