Indemnification – Big word, big risk

Almost all businesses enter into numerous contractual agreements each year. These agreements are often given the same cursory review as an iTunes Agreement. Failure to closely scrutinize the details of these agreements can adversely impact the business’s total cost of risk in the event of a problem. The provision within the contract that impacts the business’ cost of risk more so than any other, especially in construction, is the Indemnification Agreement. 

Contractual risk transfer is a critical component of effective risk management, but whether one is transferring the risk or assuming it, the exposure needs to be understood as not all indemnification clauses are covered under your insurance contract.  Read the rest of entry »

How small and disadvantaged contractors can be part of the Foxconn project

A number of public and private groups in Wisconsin are looking to assist small and disadvantaged businesses become involved in the development of Foxconn. This comes on the heels of a recent survey that indicated small and disadvantaged contractors were not bidding on Foxconn projects. 

“We need you all at the table and we need you all working on this project,” said Chris Hagerup, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development ... Read the rest of entry »

ABC of WI goes 4-4 in last week's primaries

Last week Tuesday’s primary elections included some surprises (including two long-time incumbent Milwaukee-area state representatives losing). ABC of Wisconsin and its members were pleasantly surprised when all four of its primary preferences prevailed and will be on the ballot in November. All four of these pro-merit, pro-free enterprise candidates need your help to be elected in November. Read the rest of entry »

Emerging Leader – Working on the business

A common theme in the ABC of Wisconsin Construction U Emerging Leader program is the transition from employee to decision maker. Several of our participants describe it as moving from working in the business to working on the business. The difference between the words in and on is significant. Read the rest of entry »

Construction contractors should consider Fast Forward Grants for skills gap

Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) training grants have provided training for more than 20,000 Wisconsin workers since 2013. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) would like more construction contractors to take advantage of the program ... Read the rest of entry »

‘I should just do it myself’

Most ABC of Wisconsin contractors are turning to apprenticeship to fill the skills gap at the entry-level, but what is available at the supervisory level? Employers have been promoting their best journeymen to supervisory-level positions. Often, this is a good solution because it recognizes loyal employees and allows them to move up. There can be a problem with this approach, however. A talented skilled trades person does not necessarily make a good supervisor. Enter ABC of Wisconsin’s Construction U Management Education programs. Over the past three years, your association has been developing high-quality, proven programs to address the educational needs of construction supervisory and management teams.  Read the rest of entry »

Developing your talent pipeline through youth apprenticeship

Labor shortage stories seem to cover the front page of newspapers daily. Employers across diverse industries, including construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and transportation report increasing difficulty attracting and retaining enough skilled workers to meet the demand for their products and services. For example, Wisconsin's short-term projections for construction laborers indicate that nearly 2,200 openings will occur annually through 2019, including new openings and replacements. Long-term projections show a similar picture with 540 construction laborer openings created annually through 2024.

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has been working with many public and private sector partners to devise and deploy strategies to help employers meet their needs for skilled workers. The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program is one of the rapidly growing strategies that is gaining popularity among ABC members. Read the rest of entry »

Making music in construction contract management

A few weeks back, my daughter treated me to tickets for an Anderson East concert at the Majestic Theatre in Madison (By the way, he puts on a great show.) During the second set, he covered one of my favorite old tunes by Sam & Dave, “Hold On, I’m Coming.” He then immediately transitioned into his hit “All On My Mind.” OK, you’re thinking, "What in the world does this have to do with construction contract management?" Well, it has to do with the transition of time and the evolution of risk transfer. Read the rest of entry »

The EEOC anticipates an increase in sexual harassment claims – Are you prepared?

The #MeToo movement continues to gain momentum, empowering many individuals to speak up against workplace harassment. In anticipation of a resulting uptick in sexual harassment and discrimination claims, Congress added $16 million to this year’s EEOC budget. This is a substantial development. The #MeToo movement has also caused many employers to question what their obligations are when it comes to preventing and remedying workplace harassment. Read the rest of entry »

Millennials in construction: What you should know about the new generation of workers

When Homer Auge talks about millennials on the job site, he’s speaking about his peers. The 34-year-old roofing project manager at Corporate Contractors Inc. (CCI) of Beloit is counted among the early members of the millennial generation, who now make up the largest generation in the workforce. Read the rest of entry »