How is you labor going to be affected in 2016 Cancel The title field is required!

1. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   12/22/2015 10:12 AM

   I guess I'm throwing this out there as a brain picker based on some conversations I've had over the past few weeks. I was re-reading a past thread on this forum about new overtime rules and how it affects our labor budgets for assistants, EM's, OURSELVES if it applies, and it got me to think.
   
   How many of you are using H2B or J1 migratory workers, and how has the local prevailing wage thing left you all?
   
   I'm in the understanding that in 2016, the local prevailing wage will apply to not only the migratory worker, but the domestics in that same position will be automatically paid the same wage if a migratory worker at prevailing wage is on staff. I probably worded that improperly, but for our region, prevailing wage might be $12.50/hr in 2016. So if we were to hire 4 H2B workers, they would be at $12.50, and so would the rest of our staff. If we didn't hire any H2B's, then we can pay whatever we want.
   
   I guess I'm sort of ranting here, but the question I'm asking still applies:
   
   [b]"How many of you are going to forgo the H2B program if it is going to ultimately affect your labor budget in a negative way?"[b]

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Strange

   

   0 posts
   
   12/22/2015 6:12 PM

   Kyle,
   
   Sticking with H2B this year, even with the slow down in oil 12.50 is a gift in Minot, I was 13.71 last year. Private wage surveys are back on the table if you have time to wait, I was 9.01 in 2014 With the passing of the new omnibus budget Many of the issues you are mentioning are not applicable anymore. Here's the bullet point I received from by agent.
   
   What does this mean?
   It exempts H-2B workers who worked for you last year from the annual 66,000 cap! Only new workers will be counted against the cap,
   It address the use of private wage surveys, which were severely limited under the 2015 regulations. While it is probably too late to use them this year, we will certainly look at using the wage surveys for the 2017 season,
   It redefines seasonal as 10 months again instead of 9 months in the 2015 regulations,
   It prevents DOL from implementing the provision of the US corresponding employment. This means, that legally you are not obligated to pay the US worker the same wage as the H-2B worker, unless, they were hired during the recruitment period,
   It prevents DOL from implementing the 3/4 guarantee. This means you are only bound by the hours that you have advertised in the job offer,
   It prevents DOL from implementing the burdensome DOL enforcement scheme in the 2015 regulations related to audits,
   It prevents DOL from implementing the Certifying Officer (CO) assisted recruitment.
   
   So we live to fight another year on H2B.
   
   Full Snow Cover, and my guys are coming back May 1, Christmas has come early
   
   Chris Strange
   Minot Country Club

   
   
   
   
3. Peter Grass

   

   0 posts
   
   12/24/2015 10:12 AM

   Hi Neighbors,
   
   Chris did a great job of touching on the major H2B changes that were thankfully part of the budget passed last Friday. Thankfully the President signed it, we had heard maybe not, but because of the strong bipartisan support (they actually can play well together) it was not going to work anyway. Several things including the H2B changes were not supported by the White House but Congress included them anyway.
   
   I will say that reversing the previous H2B program changes that hurt our and other hospitality industries, especially in our more rural and seasonal area, were one of GCSAA's 5 Priority Issues. I and others representing our members and the golf industry spoke to legislators in Washington DC on National Golf Day this year and our Government Affairs staff have worked almost daily on this and our other 4 Priority Issues. IT WORKED, just when I had maybe lost some faith in our "system" they actually listened to the almost 2 million citizens that make their living in golf.
   
   Still working on the WOTUS issues but one win at a time is OK by me. Hopefully members and even non members see the value in GCSAA working on their and their employers behalf on things like this that can turn things positive to their facilities bottom lines. Dues cost vs the savings through these revised H2B "rules" hopefully seem like a great value to you and your facilities.
   
   Merry Christmas to you all and to the golf facilities either currently or now able to start using the H2B program.
   
   Peter Grass, CGCS
   Hilands Golf Club
   Billings, MT