Tips for protecting yourself in the cold

With the current extreme cold temperatures, it is important to avoid the extreme cold. If you must be outside, it is critical to protect yourself, especially for those who are working outside in construction! As we are experiencing some historic low temperatures and snowfall across the country, workers may be exposed to unprecedented harsh weather conditions, so OSHA and ABC of WI Safety would like to share ...  Read the rest of entry »

Ten social media tips you should be utilizing today

Josh Klemons of Reverbal Communications provided ABC members with ten tips that our organizations should be using in social media today during a recent educational session. Josh Helps brands figure out how to navigate social media.Here is a quick recap of that presentation from Josh ... Read the rest of entry »

OSHA still operational during federal government shutdown

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is operating as normal during the partial federal government shutdown, according to the agency’s local director. Chad Greenwood, OSHA’s Madison office area director, shared the news during ABC of Wisconsin’s Safety Committee meeting on Jan. 16 at the Stevens Construction Yard Training Office in Cottage Grove. Read the rest of entry »

8 must-have types of insurance for construction companies

The construction industry has inherent risks and job sites are often bustling with activity. Workers, contractors, large machinery and more are needed to get the job done, which open up the possibilities of injuries, third-party damages and potential litigation. Advancing technology and machinery is alleviating some of the risks of doing business on the one hand, though can ultimately add more risks on the other. However, there are ways to mitigate risks by ensuring you have the right insurance coverage.  Read the rest of entry »

ABC’s most read blog posts of 2018

Posts on the Wisconsin Contractor Blog were read more than 48,500 times in 2018, according to a review of website statistics by ABC of Wisconsin. Throughout the year, ABC of Wisconsin uses the blog to present feature stories, analysis, advice and general information of interest to the construction industry.. Here’s a recap of our 10 most popular blogs in 2018. Read the rest of entry »

Developing your playbook

Employee handbooks are a must-have for every company. They set the tone of the organization, communicate expectations, policies and procedures, explain benefits and affirm compliance with state and federal law. Above all, a good handbook protects your company, especially in the case of a lawsuit, according to attorney Josh Levy of Husch Blackwell.

Levy and attorney Robert Sanders outlined the essentials of a solid employee handbook during a session at ABC of Wisconsin’s 2018 Human Resources Conference. Read the rest of entry »

Budget priority sessions offer opportunity for ABC members

ABC members may want to use the Governor-elect's budget priority sessions this month to share issues important to them, specifically, how 1:1 apprenticeship ratios, the elimination of prevailing wage and PLA neutrality have expanded training and/or opened up more work to more contractors in the state ...   Read the rest of entry »

Navigating Wisconsin voting leave and employer politicking restrictions

With the highly advertised midterm elections quickly approaching, it is a great time to review Wisconsin’s “Election Restrictions on Employers” and “Time off for Voting” statutes. Wisconsin Statute § 12.07 indicates that Wisconsin employers may not refuse time off for an employee who wishes to use that time to vote. Wisconsin Statute § 6.76 allows for an employee to miss up to three successive hours from work to vote, provided that the employee notifies the employer of their intended absence prior to election day. Read the rest of entry »

Drones, marketing and construction

Drones are becoming an increasingly popular way for construction companies to capture aerial footage of job sites for marketing and planning purposes, but what does it take to get started? Natalie (Braun) Gregerson, a marketing associate with Kraemer Brothers in Plain and a licensed drone pilot, discussed her experiences using drones for her company during a Marketing & Sales Shared Interest Group meeting on Oct. 11 at Friede & Associates in Reedsburg. Read the rest of entry »

2019 inflation adjustments announced for HDHPs and HSAs

The Internal Revenue Service announced the 2019 inflation adjustments for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). These adjustments include maximum HSA contributions, minimum deductible amounts and maximum out-of-pocket limits. Read the rest of entry »