Federal Labor Standards in Government Contracting (Update)

Labor is the biggest cost driver in most government contracts, and federal labor laws and executive orders have a significant impact on what those costs will be. Therefore, understanding or not understanding those legal requirements could mean the difference between making a profit or experiencing a loss. More importantly, perhaps, failure to comply with federal labor standards requirements can lead to a three-year debarment or exclusion from government contracting--a death sentence for some businesses.

President Obama's administration saw more new labor requirements imposed on contractors than any presidency since Lyndon B. Johnson--which was before much of today's workforce had even learned to read or taken their first steps. Most of those new requirements remain in effect under the Trump administration. And, enforcement of both new and existing labor standards has been unrelenting, with the U.S. Department of Labor collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in back pay from government contractors and commercial employers alike. This means that compliance remains as important as ever, starting with learning what an employer's obligations are.

This course, presented by Shlomo D. Katz, co-leader of Brown Rudnick's Wage & Hour practice and a member of the firm's Government Contracts practice, reviews government contractors' prevailing wage, fringe benefit and other labor requirements, addresses some of the current legislative and regulatory activity relating to those issues, and offers practical guidance to consider when bidding on or performing government contracts.

Learning Objectives:

1. Assess the basic requirements of the Service Contract Act, Davis-Bacon Act and significant executive orders impacting government contractors
2. Review how legal requirements can impact your proposals for contracts and how you may be able to use them to improve your competitive position
3. Discuss how ongoing debates in Congress, as well as the upcoming elections, will affect your obligations
4. Prepare for a DOL audit