Common Mistakes Contractors Make on Davis-Bacon Projects: Part 1

Making mistakes is a part of any learning process. When you are a public works contractor, however… well, let’s just say they might not always be so forgiving. Which is why is can be so important to learn from others’ mistakes before you make them yourself. Most prevailing wage compliance violations can be avoided simply […]

The Socio-Economic Benefits of Prevailing Wage that Outweigh the Costs

Prevailing wages have been critical to the health of the public works construction industry since the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) was passed 1931. In the broader discussion surrounding the efficacy of regulations, no one really contends that they are not beneficial to workers. After all, who is going to argue that potentially being paid a higher […]

Myths & Facts About Prevailing Wage

Prevailing wages are the minimum wages set by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) for specific trades, and they vary from one location to another. The determination of prevailing wages is based on a number of factors, including the type of work being performed, the skill level of the workers, and the local market conditions. […]

Exploring the Impact of Prevailing Wages on Military Veterans

As new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill continues to be pumped into the country’s public works projects every day, it’s no secret that there is a dire need for the construction industry to expand its output right along with it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects construction employment to increase in the next […]

A Woman’s Experience Working in Construction: Q&A with Monique Cox

In honor of National Women in Construction Week, today we give a shout-out to our one and only, Monique Cox, for all that she has done (and continues to do) in the world of construction and labor compliance. Below is a quick Q&A with Monique highlighting her path in the industry and the things she […]

A Case Study: Do Project Labor Agreements Affect Project Costs and Contractor Bidding Behavior?

Project. Labor. Agreements. Three simple words that might elicit a different reaction depending on the kind of a stakeholder you are in the public works construction industry. It’s understandable; Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) can be a divisive topic. For some of us, the additional rules and regulations may feel as if you’re trekking through a […]

Filling Out the Statement of Compliance and Why It’s So Important

So, you’ve got yourself a prevailing wage job… Congrats! You grab a WH-347 form, enter all your project and employee information, check that the hours, wage rates, and deductions are correctly applied (or so you believe), and then you go to submit it… But wait! You remember: a Statement of Compliance (SOC) must be filled […]

What Wage Theft Looks Like in Public Works Construction

What is wage theft in the context of public works construction? It sounds bad, right? Like many would assume, wage theft occurs when money is “stolen” from an employee by means of paying them a wage rate less than what they are legally entitled to – whether intentional or not. And while this happens in […]

The Roads Leading to Investigations and How to Navigate Them

Raise your hand if you enjoy being audited. Someone?… Anyone?… Bueller?… While they might seem intrusive, audits are a necessary evil when it comes to prevailing wage compliance – and they aren’t going anywhere. Although there’s often nothing egregious to uncover, there will inevitably come a time when an auditor discovers something that requires a […]

The Fundamentals of Wages & Fringes on Public Works Projects

Let’s talk about the fundamental building blocks of Davis-Bacon: wages and fringes. First of all, what does the “prevailing” in prevailing wage even mean? And how are the rates determined? For many, the word “prevailing” here might seem synonymous with “minimum”. As in minimum wage. And although it’s not way off the mark – because […]