You might love watching crime dramas where investigators solve mysteries with flair. But if you’re a contractor on a publicly-funded construction project, the idea of an investigation is far less glamorous. In fact, it’s the kind of “excitement” nobody wants. Even if you follow every rule to the letter, audits and investigations can happen. The […]
Author Archives: Gavin Green
The Truth About Davis-Bacon | Ignite 2025
Ignite 2025’s keynote featured a powerful message from Mark Douglas, CEO of LCPtracker, who shared his perspective on the deeper purpose behind Davis-Bacon. In this short video, he walks through a real-world comparison using $200 billion in actual project data—one set with prevailing wages and one without. The findings challenge assumptions about cost and shine […]
News Room: New Illinois Law Reshapes Apprentice Fringe Benefit Rules for Union Contractors
Effective June 30, 2025, Illinois has amended its Prevailing Wage Act (IPWA) via HB2488, requiring all contractors, including union signatories, to pay full journeyworker fringe benefits to apprentices, regardless of what their union contracts or U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship programs previously allowed. Historically, contractors could pay apprentices reduced fringe benefits based on union agreements and federal apprenticeship guidelines. While discounted hourly […]
Ask The Expert: September 2025
Question Hi Aliecia, We have added a new scope of work and I am not sure how we identify the trade classification for prevailing wage compliance. I have contacted the Research OD team at the DIR, but was told it would be on a case by case basis and determined by the Awarding Body on […]
Ask The Expert: August 2025
Question If it’s necessary to return onsite for warranty work after a job has been closed, is certified payroll reporting still required? If so, can it be submitted as a #1? And what if the work isn’t being billed because it’s a warranty issue? Answer: Yes, certified payroll must still be reported for warranty work […]
News Room: USDOL Relaunches Payroll Audit Independent Determination Program
The Department of Labor has introduced a suite of voluntary self-audit programs to help employers, unions, and pension plans proactively assess and improve compliance with federal labor laws. These initiatives aim to strengthen worker protections while reducing the risk of formal investigations or litigation. The programs offer practical tools for identifying and correcting potential violations […]
The Real Cost of Worker Misclassification
What’s In a Job Title? In the world of construction compliance, it turns out… quite a lot. Especially when a job title doesn’t reflect the actual work being done on a public works site. And that’s where the topic of worker misclassification enters the picture, which is one of the most common, costly, and surprisingly […]
Best Practices for Building a Skilled Construction Workforce
The construction industry continues to grow and evolve, with new projects breaking ground every day. For contractors, public agencies, and other stakeholders, success hinges not only on procuring materials and sticking to timelines, but on people. This raises an important question: Do we have workforce strategies in place to deliver on this opportunity – both […]
News Room: Grants Awarded to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Labor announced nearly $84 million in grants awarded to all 50 states and territories to strengthen and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs. This investment supports the national goal of reaching 1 million active apprentices by increasing program capacity, encouraging innovation, and lowering barriers for employers and participants in both traditional fields—like construction […]
News Room: US Department of Labor to end seeking liquidated damages in Wage and Hour investigations
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced it will no longer seek or collect liquidated damages during administrative investigations under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This change, clarified in Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2025-3, reaffirms that liquidated damages are reserved for judicial proceedings and can only be determined by a court of […]
