Claire AyerDirector, Partners Healthcare System

Parker EmersonAssociate Director, Yale OISS

Liz GossPartner/ Attorney Tocci, Goss & Lee

The Prevailing Winds of i-CERTainty

Agenda

i-CERT Year One: review3 ways to get a H-1B Prevailing WagePros and ConsReview of self-select OFLC / OES wagePublic Access file: what changed, best practicesCase Studies: Participants Share Practices

Resources: NAFSA Cluster

SOC Codes

FLS Database

FLC Database

i-CERT web

O Net

i-CERT Year One:

SWA – to National i-CERTTiming to request and be issued a PWDTiming to get an LCAErrors, System Quirks ( ***This employer is…***)Hours per-weekConsultation with University Council

H-1b employers re-evaluate

Choice of Method in Obtaining the Prevailing WageEstablishing Protocols to Minimize Risk / Maximize Safe Harbor Public Access File and Record Keeping

3-Ways to get PWD for LCA

Self-Identify: Research using DOL worksheet and OES / OFLC Online Data CenterSubmit a request for a certified Prevailing Wage Determination using i-CERTUse an independent survey that meets DOL standards

OES Self-Wage Pros

Don’t have to wait for DOL to give you a wageDon’t have DOL issue you the wrong wage, or question your wage

OES Self-Wage Cons

Little to no “safe harbor” if you are later auditedNeed to learn/understand DOL concepts about the prevailing wage (e.g. level for postdoc, identify Special Skills, etc…)Must develop in-house protocols 100% consistent , accurate and incompliance

i-CERT Pros

“Safe harbor” possible (but not 100%) if audited if i-CERTOnce approved, can use, or in i-CERT “reuse” the wage for other similar jobsDon’t have to do as much research in OESCan be definitive in odd-ball cases

i-CERT log-in

I-CERT – use as your database

PDFs and “Reuse” function

LCA Portal

i-CERT Cons

Time frame is out of your controlDOL can make a RFIRequired data odd: hours per week, training/experience, travel, etc..DOL can issue an inappropriate or wage, back to ZERO

Self-Identified Wage:

BEST PRACTICES

OES Work Sheet

Tools

In-house data collection form (Actual Wage verification – Options)DOL worksheetOES / DOL resources

http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/Policy_Nonag_Progs.pdf (2005)

http://www.nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/default.aspx?id=18953 (2009)

SVP LevelsLevel DOL Experience Level Designations

2 Beyond short demonstration 1 month

3 Over 1 month 3 months

4 Over 3 months 6 months

5 Over 6 months 1 year

6 Over 1 year 2 years

7 Over 2 years 4 years

8 Over 4 years 10 years

9 Over 10 years

SVP Education EquivalentsDegree Requirement

Year Equivalents Maximum SVP

General Assoc. Degree 0 years 1

Specific Assoc. Degree 2 years 6

Bachelor’s Degree 2 years 6

Bachelor’s Degree + 2 years experience

4 years 7

Master’s Degree 4 years 7

Master’s Degree + 2 years experience

6 years 8

Doctorate 7 years 8

H-1B Public Access File:

BEST PRACTICES

Public Access File- available within 1 working day of filing LCA:

Copy of the original certified, signed, and dated LCA (Form ETA-9035E)+ 9035CP (LCA cover pages) containing the full text of the attestations agreed to on the LCA Documentation showing the wage rate to be paid A full, clear explanation of the system that the employer used to determine the 'actual wage' set forth on the LCA A copy of the documentation the employer used to establish the 'prevailing wage'. A copy of the document(s) used to satisfy the union/employee notification requirements Copies of benefits plan summaries indicating eligibility criteria H-1B dependency determination

PAF can be maintained either at:

Principal place of business

or

Place of employment

Best practice:Keep separate from employee files

DOL file- available on request:Contents of DOL inspection files

All of the documentation required for public examination plus:

Payroll records of the H-1B worker and all other individuals who are employed as is the H-1B alien, for the specific employment in question (these same records are required to be kept under the Fair Labor Standards Act) For a part-time H-1B, payroll records that indicate hours worked per day and per week, even if position is salaried Specific data used to establish the actual wage rate set forth on the LCA All documentation supporting the prevailing wage determination; when a non-NPWHC wage source was used, the underlying data or statistical approach must be made available, to show that the survey conforms to DOL standardsEvidence that a copy of the LCA was given to the H-1B nonimmigrant

…if a complaint is filed

Burden of proof is on the employer to show that the working conditions of similarly employed workers were not adversely affected by the employment of the H-1B nonimmigrant

Burden of proof is on the employer to show that there was no strike or lockout at the time of filing or during the validity of the LCA

Retention of PAF

Retain PAF for 1 year beyond:

date H-1B is employed under the LCA

or

1 year beyond expiration or withdrawal

Best Practice:

Conduct periodic audits of LCA public access files

Best Practice:

File LCA’s so files can be purged

or

Develop a tickler system

Develop log to index LCAs

LCA Log:

ID # LCA # Exp. Date Hospital Job title LCA W/D

335 I-09062-4715729 03/20/11 MGH Research Fellow

342 I-200-09187-038892 09/15/12 BWH Research Fellow

347 I-09146-4985427 6/30/2011 MGH Clinical/Research Fellow

357 I-09055-4697349 02/28/12 MGH Research Fellow

373 I 09152 4994435 6/30/2011 BWH Clincial Fellow Surgery

373 I 09152 4994443 6/30/2011 BWH Moonlighter Surgery

405 I-09075-4771711 03/31/12 MGH Research Fellow

LCA Public Access File Check list

Case ID #:_______LCA#:_______________________Hospital:______________ Department:________Employee: Last name_____________ first name_____________Position offered:____________________Postings sent to:____________________ on:_______

Contact name datePhone:___________ e-mail:________________Filed in DOL Disclosure file: _________Posting Notices (2 from each location)________Originally signed LCA Form_______Prevailing wage determination_______Actual Wage Form (White out employee’s name)______Job Description______Advisor initials______Comments:_______________________________________

CASE STUDIES

Case Study 1Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Boston, MA

Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials having special characteristics. Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones. Prepare reports of materials study findings for the use of other scientists and requestors. Devise testing methods to evaluate the effects of various conditions on particular materials. Ph.D. or ABD in Chemistry or closely related field

Online Wage Library

Post-Doc Research Associate

Material Scientist

19-2032

PhD or ABD

Job Zone 5 Appendix DCode 5 (BA)

0 4 yrs + 0

PhD or

ABD

PhD/ABD

not BA 0 (not 2)

0 0 0

0 0 0

1 (not 3)

Per DOL Guidance

entry level

11/11/20100

Liz Goss

A Post-Doc “level”• DOL Guidance: “the process…should not be implemented in an

automated fashion. The NPWHC must exercise judgment… wage levels should be commensurate w/ the complexity of tasks, independent judgment required & amount of close supervision received as described in the employer’s job opportunity.” (pg.13)

• If Ph.D. is normal for entry level, don’t add 2– DOL Guidance says Level 1 should be considered for a “research

fellow, a worker in training or an internship.” (pg.7)

• Consider disparity between a Post-Doc and a faculty hire if a Post-Doc comes back as a level 3 …

Post-Doc vs. Prof?

Case Study 2Data Analyst for University Psychiatric Research Center in Arlington County, Virginia

Perform statistical analysis on project data, using well-established statistical methods and techniquesProvide statistical analysis, format statistical data, prepare tables, charts, graphs and slides. Create data dictionaries and codebooks.Perform statistical procedures including basic descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses; analyze multi-level data for hierarchical linear modeling for cross-sectional and longitudinal data and for continuous and discrete outcomes.MA in Social or Behavioral Sciences +4 yrs exp. in a social science or medical science research setting.

Online Wage Library

Data Analyst

Statisticians15-2041

MA+

4 yrs exp.

Job Zone 5

Code 3

4 yearsOver 4 years 0

Masters 0

Statistical Analysis in medical research setting

Considered a special skill? If

yes then 11

0

2

Masters

Claire Ayer

11/11/2010

0 0

Case Study 3Research and Development Engineer for University in Los Angeles County, California

Develop, verify & validate newly developed or existing mathematical models. Liaise w/ software programmers throughout the full software development lifecycle including designing, developing, testing and debugging newly developed code.Collaborate w/ engineering & marketing personnel to develop & market chemical risk management software for use in chemical plantsUse Fortran or C to develop viable mathematical models.Ph.D. in Chemical or Environmental Engineering w/ knowledge of chemical engineering science & mathematical modeling. 5 yrs. exp. in Fortran programming applied to major engineering models.

Online Wage Library-Option 1

Online Wage Library-Option 2

What do you do when no level is set?

Online Wage Library-Option 3

What do you do when no level is set?

Research and Development Engineer

Chemical Engineers

17-2041

Ph.D.+

5 yrs expJob

Zone 4Code 5

5 yrs exp

2 to 4 years 3

Ph.D. BA 2

5 yrs exp w/ mathematical

modeling

Special Skill 1

No -- 0

4

Parker11/11/2010

Outside range, add 3

Can’t go higher than 4!

Completing ETA 9141 in i-CERT

iCert- ETA 9141

iCert- ETA 9141 Practice Tip: Employer’s job title for the position

ACWIA/ Special Skills/ Travel, etc…

Practice Tip: If job schedule varies explain in the job duties section.

iCert- ETA 9141

Practice Tip: Consider if job duties require travel vs. attending conferences

Practice Tip: ACWIA should be listed with the job description—make sure to use ACWIA “magic language”

iCert- ETA 9141Practice Tip: PW Request should only list the primary job requirement. This section should match the ETA-9089

iCert- ETA 9141

Practice Tip: To prevent erroneous denials make sure to complete all sections of the ETA-9141. Where no answer applies indicate N/A or none.

iCert- ETA 9141

Practice Tip: Don’t forget to list ALL worksites