From Five Boroughs to Upstate: New York Public Works Compliance

In this episode of The Prevailing Wage Report, host Mark Van Auken sits down with Heather Torretta, owner of Prevailing Wage Consulting, to break down the highly complex world of New York public works construction. Governed by Article 8 of the state labor law, New York presents a unique compliance landscape filled with local trade union agreements, nuanced supplemental benefit packages, and county-by-county wage schedules.

Heather addresses the common pitfalls contractors encounter when transitioning from federal Davis-Bacon regulations to New York state projects. She explains the intricacies of worker classification across the five boroughs versus upstate regions, the extensive daily recordkeeping requirements enforced by the state, and how the New York Department of Labor actively monitors projects in real-time. Finally, Heather shares the single most critical question every contractor must answer before setting foot on a New York job site to keep their business audit-ready.

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Host: Mark Van Auken

Guest: Heather Torretta, Owner of Prevailing Wage Consulting

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Prove Daily Work
• 00:45 New York Public Works
• 01:42 Understanding Article 8
• 02:57 Compliant Bidding Strategies
• 04:26 Worker Classification Risks
• 05:48 Certified Payroll Requirements
• 06:47 DOL Scrutiny & Consequences
• 08:12 Would You Rather
• 10:42 Daily Classification Systems