Landscape Management, November 2018

news how tos Check out a few of the places where the LM team made its rounds last month 1 LM Publisher Bill Roddy right and incoming Editor in Chief Seth Jones second from left took a peek behind the curtain at Grunder Landscaping Co for its Fall Field Trip in Miamisburg Ohio Here they are with new LM columnist Marty Grunder second from right and Vince Torchia vice president of The Grow Group Grunders consulting firm 2 Clara Richter incoming managing editor of LM popped in to Environmental LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET NOVEMBER 2018 Issue Brief NALP DOL TO COLLABORATE ON H 2B COMPLIANCE I n September the U S Department of Labor DOL announced a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance in the landscape industry with the labor provisions of the H 2B temporary visa program It was almost identical to a release issued the previous week targeting the hospitality industry The compliance will focus on Confirming an insufficient number of U S employees are qualified and available to work Confirming the employment of H 2B workers will not adversely affect the wages of U S workers DOL indicated that specific requirements must be met to protect American workers and investigations will be forthcoming The release also highlighted DOLs desire to provide compliance assistance tools and information to employers and stakeholders In response to the administrations actions NALP met with DOL officials to determine how NALP can collaborate with DOL to ensure landscape professionals have the correct information and resources to comply NALP and DOL have agreed to work together to create tools for the landscape industry and educational opportunities with national and local DOL staff NALP also has heard U S Citizenship Immigration Services is increasing compliance and enforcement efforts by conducting random audits and visits to companies that participate in the H 2B visa program NALP encourages all H 2B participants to review H 2B policies and maintain comprehensive records on file Questions Please contact me at andrew@ landscapeprofessionals org LM GALLERY PHOTOS LM STAFF BY ANDREW BRAY The author is vp of government relations National Association of Landscape Professionals NALP 1 2 3 Management in Plain City Ohio for its annual employee appreciation day which included team building events food trucks prize drawings and more She captured this shot of the companys Organizational Development Manager Joe Lewis center having fun with Ohio Landscape Association Executive Director Sandy Munley left and Roni Petersen membership and certification manager of the Ohio Nursery Landscape Association 3 Richter is going from gas to grass when she officially joins the LM staff next month Here she and LM Western Regional Sales Manager Jake Goodman are catching up with propane buddies Jeremy Wishart of the Propane Education Research Council and its PR rep Jeff Salem of Swanson Russell at GIE EXPO in Louisville Ky 12