老牛影视and 40 of its chapters joined the More Time for Full-Time Initiative in听urging the Senate听to co-sponsor the Forty Hours is Full Time Act of 2015 which would restore the traditional definition of full-time employment to 40 hours per week in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)which currently defines full-time as at least 30 hours per week.听

The U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 13听voted 250-175听in favor of the ABC-supported Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 185). Prior to the vote, ABC听sent a letter听urging Congress to support the legislation stating that it will ensure greater accountability from federal agencies and result in increased transparency in the federal rulemaking process.听

OSHA issued a听Letter of Interpretation听Jan. 15 clarifying the new reporting standard for severe injuries on the jobsite which went into effect Jan. 1. The interpretation letter provides a definition of an amputation and also how to distinguish between an amputation and an avulsion. In addition, the letter goes on to discuss whether the loss of an eye includes the loss of sight.听

老牛影视is reminding its contractor member firms that 2014 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A work-related injury and illness log summaries must be posted in a visible spot on all construction sites Feb. 1 through April 30.听

ABC听submitted comments听on Jan. 5 to the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) expressing their strong opposition to the proposed rule that would require government contractors to report summary data on employee compensation to the DOL. 老牛影视urges the OFCCP to withdraw their proposal.

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) filed a lawsuit Jan. 5 seeking to overturn the National Labor Relations Board鈥檚 (NLRB) controversial ambush election rule. The听changes are scheduled to take effect April 14 unless a court or Congress blocks听enforcement of the new rule.听The suit was filed in the D.C. Federal District Court and follows CDW鈥檚 successful 2012 lawsuit that overturned the NLRB鈥檚 previous ambush election rule.听

Beginning Jan. 1, contractors will face new deadlines and requirements for reporting severe injuries on the jobsite.听The rule听will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015, for all employers covered by the听Occupational Safety and Health Act听- even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records.

The DOL鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a听final rule听Dec. 9 implementing Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees and prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in federal employment.

On Dec. 12, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its long-awaited final rule that overhauls the procedures for union representation elections. Under this controversial rule, the amount of time between when a union files a representation petition and an election takes place likely will dramatically be reduced from the current average of 38 days. The changes are currently scheduled to take effect on April 14, 2015, unless a court or Congress blocks enforcement of the new rule.

In the most recent regulatory agenda released Nov. 21, expected action items from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are outlined and include the Clean Water Act, the Power Plant Rule and the Lead Paint Renovation Repair and Painting Program.听