Traveling to Work in the Time of - COVID
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Volume 47, Issue 1 Spring 2021
President’s Message
Traveling to Work in the Time of
COVID
By WIA President Mike DiGilio, C.P.
Hello, everyone, the pandemic is on the verge As any installer knows, you work up an
of being brought under control. While normal appetite while on the job. Almost all restaurants
times may still be a long time away from us, offer take-out. Some restaurants still allow
many contractors have started to travel for work. indoor seating. You can always pack a few
Are you one of them? Some members travel lunches in a cooler to keep from starving if
and have traveled for work as a regular course you really need to. Most fast-food places have
of business. What kind of precautions does a drive-through service. That’s probably not the
wallcovering installer take when going out of healthiest of choices, but at least you can fill
town? your stomach.
Some members travel all over the country to In the beginning of the pandemic, paint
work. Airline travel is down significantly, but if stores were closed for indoor shopping. Some
you want fly to a job—and want to fly safely— still are. If your supplier is still closed for indoor
then masks must be worn at all times while shopping, all you need to do is call in your
on the plane. Airlines have strict policies and order, pay over the phone with a credit or
enforcement is constant. debit card, and pick it up. It’s the best in luxury
Do you prefer to drive to your out-of-town customer service.
job site? It’s pretty much business as usual. At the job for an out-of-town customer?
Again, masks and sanitizers are available. Make them feel better about having you do
Some patrons use gloves as they pump gas, their job by wearing booties, wearing a mask,
and some do not. It’s a personal choice. and even wearing gloves while moving about
All hotels/motels try very hard to keep you the house. They want you there—it’s why they
safe. They require masks be worn whenever hired you—so, respect their wishes while on the
you are in their public spaces. Hand sanitizers job. You’ll benefit, too, by staying healthy and
and masks are freely available from hotels. All demonstrating your need to keep yourself and
one has to do is ask for them. They go to great your customer safe and healthy. n
lengths to sanitize rooms. Need your room
cleaned while you’re there like you used to do, INSIDE THIS ISSUE
pre-COVID? You’ll have to wait. Some hotels
won’t allow housekeeping staff into your room Start an Apprenticeship Program................................................ 2
until after you check out. A Biden Presidency & Expected Changes to the Gig Economy.... 4
Would you rather stay at an Airbnb? I look at
Staying Fit For Older Adults......................................................6
that situation and believe that most go above
and beyond to keep their places clean and Wallcovering University Offers 2020 TeleSummit Replay...........8
germ-free. It only takes one customer with New Members.........................................................................9
COVID to kill a business.
March 2021 - Page 1
Start an Apprenticeship Program
There is no formal program for apprenticeship student every aspect of the trade. This goes
in wallcovering installation, nor is there a beyond just teaching how to do the job to
college degree program in the USA for this include client acquisition, customer relationship
skill. However, the trades remain an important, management, and bookkeeping.
lucrative, and viable career path, despite The terms of apprenticeship are not only
societal emphasis on college degrees. The regulated by many industry labor agreements,
Mike Rowe Works Foundation, established by but also by law, specifically the 1937 federal
Dirty Jobs celebrity Mike Rowe, supports and law modeled on a 1911 Wisconsin law
encourages vocational training in the skilled naming 200 occupations benefiting from
trades. Apprenticeships are a vital part of that apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship was
effort. further broadened by passage of the Manpower
Development and Training Act of 1962. State
Apprenticeship Requirements laws also affect the definition and obligations
The US Department of Labor defines five of master craftsmen and apprenticeships. In all
components for a typical apprenticeship definitions, apprenticeship programs combine
program: on-the-job instruction with classroom training.
1. Business involvement Federal law also requires that apprenticeship
programs and individual apprentices enrolled in
2. Structured on-the-job-training
those programs be registered with the Office of
3. Related instruction Apprenticeship.
4. Rewards for skills gains
5. Nationally recognized credentials. Benefits of Apprenticeship Programs
Apprenticeships often last years. They benefit With the return on investment of college
apprentices by combining education with real- degrees hitting an all-time low, seeing university
world work that involves teaching the working graduates coming to the workforce tens – if
not hundreds –
of thousands of
dollars in debt
with education
in subjects
employers don’t
value, the allure of
trades increases.
Celebrities such as
Mike Rowe and the
core team of This
Old House promote
skilled trades as
viable, well-paid,
valuable career
Photo by jp26jp on Pixabay.
paths necessary for
the continuation of
civilization.
Let’s face it, that
degree in anything
ending with
March 2021 - Page 2
“studies” isn’t going anywhere, but the world ● Paid Jobs: Apprentices are paid employees
will always need skilled people who can build, with all the rights and obligations of
repair, and improve things. employees. They typically begin at about 50
Another beauty of apprenticeship programs percent of a journeyman’s wage and earn
is financial: the student graduates from the increases in salary as their skills improve.
program with a marketable and valuable skill ● On-the-Job Training: The key component
and no debt from tuition. In fact, the apprentice, of an apprenticeship is the student learning
as a full-time or near-full-time employee, on the job under the direct supervision and
begins earning a wage from the first day with tutelage of his or her employer.
an average starting salary of $15 per hour. ● Classroom Learning: Here’s one benefit
With wage increases as the apprentice’s skill— of the COVID-19 crisis--we proved that online
and value to his employer—increases, many learning works. “Classroom” learning does
apprentices complete their hands-on programs include online learning, so courses available
earning $50,000 per year. through Wallcovering University can be an
important part of your apprentice’s education.
Competency-Based Occupational The courses can be combined with courses
Frameworks offered by local community colleges.
The American Institute for Innovative ● Mentorship: This requires a skilled
Apprenticeship (AIIA) states that “the US professional designated to provide one-on-
Department of Labor contracted the Urban one support to the apprentice.
Institute to develop voluntary, consensus-based ● Credentials: Registered apprentice
competency-based occupational frameworks programs require that apprentices receive
(CBOFs) to help employers and sponsors portable, nationally recognized credentials
develop, and apprenticeship officials evaluate, upon successful completion of the program.
new apprenticeship programs.” Efforts involve Certified public accountants and business
the cooperation of many parties, including trade consulting firm Tyler, Simms & St. Sauveur,
associations like WIA, to ensure that these new PC, offers a list of four tips to creating an
apprenticeship programs meet industry needs apprenticeship program. Thomas Network,
and support industry acceptance. a source for product sourcing and supplier
The AIIA notes, “Employers or sponsors who selection, also offers guidance for creating a
want to register a new apprenticeship program viable apprenticeship program. Their advice
can use the CBOFs as a starting point.” For overlaps with both recognizing that developing
employers needing assistance in establishing a recognized apprenticeship program isn’t for
an apprenticeship program, the AIIA offers the fainthearted: it takes planning, collaboration,
a list of intermediaries in the USA who work and a lot of work.
with employers and apprentices to design And if you decide
apprenticeship programs. creating a registered
apprenticeship
Create an Apprenticeship program isn’t
Program feasible, then
Apprenticeship.gov, an Mike Rowe Works
official website of the Foundation offers a
US government, offers job listing service
succinct advice on specifically
how to create an for the skilled
apprenticeship trades at jobs.
program. These mikeroweworks.
components org. n
include: Photo by LJ- on Pixabay.
March 2021 - Page 3
A Biden Presidency & Expected Changes
to the Gig Economy
It’s official. On January 6, Lyft for their income and
the US Congress certified whose work practices are
the winner of the 2020 governed by those corporate
presidential election as entities, this rule designates
Joseph Biden. The nation’s them as employees entitled
government swung from to federally mandated
Republican domination protections and benefits.
to Democrat. The core 2. Does the worker control his
differences between the or her opportunities for profit
two parties may lead to and loss based on his or her
substantial and substantive initiative and/or investment?
differences in rights for This question is less clear-
employees, independent cut than the former. A worker
contractors, and gig workers. can invest everything he or
she has in the business and
Worker Classification still fail due to circumstances
Wallcovering installers beyond his or her control.
generally consider Former Vice President of the United States
Joseph Biden speaking with attendees
themselves self-employed at the 2019 Iowa Federation of Labor
The final rule also
independent contractors: they Convention hosted by the AFL-CIO at the “identifies three other factors
work for themselves. They Prairie Meadows Hotel in Altoona, Iowa. that may serve as additional
enjoy this independence, Photo by Gage Skidmore on Wikipedia. guideposts in the analysis,
with many benefitting from particularly when the two core
clarification of their non-employee status by factors do not point to the same classification,”
the Department of Labor under the Trump says the Department of Labor’s website:
administration. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/2021-
On September 22, 2020, the Department independent-contractor.
of Labor issued a proposed rule to clarify the
classification of workers as either employees What a Biden Administration May Mean
or independent contractors, the latter of which for Independent Workers
receive no FLSA protections or benefits such Human resources experts expect President
as overtime or guaranteed minimum wage. It Biden, supported by a Congress led by a
passed. The Department of Labor announced its Democratic majority, to either reverse the
final rule on January 6, 2021. The final rule takes Department of Labor’s final rule or enact
effect on March 8, 2021. legislation expanding the definition of
To summarize 29 CFR Parts 780, 788, and “employee.” According to an article in SHRM,
795, the Department of Labor reaffirmed an the new president “supports the Protecting
“economic reality” test to determine whether the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which,
a worker is in business for himself (or herself) among other changes, would make it harder
or whether he or she is an employee. This test to classify workers as independent contractors
poses two main questions: by adopting an “ABC” test.” This may occur
by the implementation of additional qualifying
1. What is the degree and nature of the worker’s factors to determine whether someone is an
control over the work? For many gig workers employee or independent contractor. President
like drivers who rely primarily on Uber or Biden refers to California’s stricter standards
March 2021 - Page 4
for worker classification as a model for a new consultants
federal standard. According to MarketWatch, providing
Photo courtesy of Rictor Norton & David Allen via Wikimedia.
Susan Cuffaro, one of the founders of Gig professional
Workers Collective, expects President Biden “to services. The
appoint [a] Labor Secretary who is sympathetic backlash took
to exploited workers in America.” liberal policy
While most wallcovering installers will makers by surprise.
find themselves falling squarely within the They amended
classification of independent contractor, those the law, adding
who receive all or the majority of their work more exempt
through construction contractors, interior categories (65
designers, or other referring professionals may total) of workers;
find themselves in the same murky, gray area as however, that “left
rideshare drivers. in despair hundreds
The future of freelancing is a huge issue. of industries where
CNBC reports that, according to a recent freelancers predominate.”
Upwork survey, 59 million Americans were The additional exemptions don’t clarify
engaged in freelance work in 2019, an increase the law, many complain, but add confusion,
of 2 million from 2018. SCORE reports that particularly with regard to which professional
the US workforce has 57.3 million full-time services are exempt and which are not: “A
freelancers who contribute $1.4 trillion to the perfect example is that licensed psychologists
country’s economy. The COVID-19 pandemic are exempted as professionals, but other
has made those numbers swell even more. licensed professionals who provide mental
Writing for CNBC, Elaine Profeldt states, “With health therapy—such as licensed marriage
many people losing jobs or forced to find more and family therapists, social workers,
flexible work arrangements by the demands of professional clinical counselors, and educational
the pandemic, the issue of worker classification psychologists—were not included.”
is likely to increase in importance in the next few
years.” Are You an Employee or Not?
While many applaud efforts to more With Obama-era veterans appointed to President
accurately categorize independent contractors Biden’s transition team, experts anticipate the
from employees, some point out the return to Obama-era worker protections. This
inconsistencies within Biden’s published plan, will encompass increased monitoring and
“The Biden Plan for Strengthening Worker enforcement of workplace safety regulations
Organizing, Collective Bargaining and Unions,” by OSHA, increased minimum hourly wage
which speaks to strengthening enforcement mandates, and increased risk for employers
of existing laws prohibiting employers from categorizing their workers as independent
intentionally misclassifying workers and an contractors, paid leave benefits, and challenges
endorsement of and intention to model federal to mandatory arbitration agreements. The
policy upon recently enacted California’s AB-5 Biden platform “commits to encouraging
law. and incentivizing unionization and collective
When California AB-5 took effect, “most bargaining. He’s promised to create a cabinet-
freelancers in that state—those who were not level working group that includes representatives
exempted, including those that have nothing from labor. In the first 100 days of the
to do with the gig economy—soon received Administration, the working group will deliver
termination notices from large and small a plan to increase union density and address
companies and households that had used their economic inequality.”
services in the past, essentially putting them We’ll see what happens in these next months.
out of business.” Those freelancers included n
March 2021 - Page 5
Staying Fit For Older Adults
We’re all getting older and most WIA members
can boast gray hair. With wallcovering
installation being a largely physical profession,
maintaining physical fitness becomes even
Photo by ArtCoreStudios on Pixabay.
more important as advancing years lead to
deterioration in muscle, reduced endurance, and
increased weight gain.
Official Advice: Exercise
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is
the nation’s arbiter of all things related to
health. This government agency addresses Balance ball, resistance band, and yoga mat.
the importance of physical activity to healthy
aging. Physical activity “can prevent many of you don’t have to choose between them. Best
the health problems that seem to come with Life offers a list of best exercises for older folks
age. It also helps your muscles grow stronger with a focus on strength, flexibility, and balance.
so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities Most use the resistance of gravity with some
without becoming dependent on others.” Another adding weights for additional effort.
popular and authoritative source for health-
related information, WebMD, also emphasizes Balls, Bands, and Bars
exercise as the main component for healthy We’re talking Pilates, not parties. This low-
aging. Exercise confers many benefits, including: impact, muscle strengthening exercise discipline
was developed early in the 20th century. Like
● Rebuilding muscle yoga, Pilates also helps improve balance and
● Increasing metabolism (burn more calories) core strength. Pilates also incorporates the use
● Preventing, delaying, or improving heart of resistance bands, balance balls, and barbells
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, to increase the difficulty or intensity of the
stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and workout.
osteoporosis
Float Like a Butterfly
● Maintaining mental acuity.
Because of the natural deterioration of our
Harvard Health Publishing echoes this bodies as we age, reducing stress on joints
advice, but notes that physical changes as we and muscles eases the pain of working out.
age can make those intense exercise routines Especially for those suffering from aching bones
of our youth risky. Simply put, we’re not as and joints—arthritis, anyone?—swimming
young as we used to be and our bodies can’t exercises are perfect. If swimming laps isn’t
handle the strain. Especially for those whose your preference, consider water aerobics. You’ll
adult lifestyle has become sedentary, a wiser boost your heart rate and burn calories in an
workout includes warming up muscles before environment that goes easy on your joints.
exercising.
Slow and Steady Does It
Best Exercises for the Over-50 Crowd Originating more than three millennia ago,
Exercise should help older adults lose weight, the term yoga combines mental, physical,
build muscle, increase flexibility, and improve and spiritual discipline. For this article, we’re
stamina. Most exercise routines tend to focus on focusing on the physical aspect. Yoga focuses
strength or weight loss (burning calories), but on muscle strength, aerobic fitness, balance,
March 2021 - Page 6
and flexibility, all of
which age degrades. Walking in
This low-impact a natural
exercise is deceptive: environment
“it’s still weight-bearing, confers health
meaning that you have benefits beyond
to support your body’s mere exertion.
weight in every posture.”
Another ancient
exercise discipline that
focuses on balance
and flexibility is tai chi.
“With a multitude of
health benefits, there’s
Photo on PXhere.
research that suggests
this exercise can prevent
high blood pressure,
heart disease, and
alleviate aches and confers the additional benefits of fresh air and a
pains. Plus, it’s a stress-buster too, making it connection with nature. Physicians recommend
a great way to unwind after a tough day,” says a minimum of 10,000 steps per day.
Gransnet.
Or Ride a Bike
Take a Hike If walking isn’t feasible—too hard on the old
Walking remains a strongly recommended and joints, perhaps?—then consider bicycling.
popular exercise to burn calories, lose weight, Although low-impact and a great way to get
and improve stamina. Even better, it doesn’t outdoors and get the heart pumping, it does
require expensive equipment or a personal require good balance. Those who live where
trainer: all you need is a pair of good walking the inclement weather deters biking can take
shoes and maybe a walking stick. Walking advantage of this exercise by using a stationary
outside among natural surroundings also bike which can be used indoors and which
doesn’t require you to wear a helmet
INSTALLER
in case you fall.
The The Upshot
Volume 47, Issue 1 • Spring 2021 It’s important to recognize that
exertion is not the same as exercise.
The Installer is published bi-monthly by President: Michael DiGilio, C.P.
Vice President: Steven Kaye, C.P. Effective exercise maintains an
the Wallcovering Installers Association.
Treasurer: Shelly Wilkins elevated heart rate for a minimum
Contact the WIA: Secretary: Gary Lucas, C.P.
(800) 254-6477 of 20 minutes. That, in turn, lends
Past President: Vincent LaRusso, C.P.
info@wallcoveringinstallers.org to increased metabolic activity
www.wallcoveringinstallers.org NATIONAL ASSOCIATE CO-CHAIRS throughout the entire day, enabling
Greg Laux, MDC Wallcoverings
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Joanne Berwager, York Wallcovering
your body to burn off calories at a
Nancy Terry higher rate even while you sleep.
REGION DIRECTORS You’re not a kid anymore, but that
THE INSTALLER EDITOR Central: Kevin O'Donnel
Jennifer Curtis, C.P. West: Dennis George, C.P. doesn’t mean you can’t look and
Northeast: Richard Manougian feel better by improving your health
Mid-Atlantic: Bob Banker through regular, age-appropriate
South: Michael King
exercise. n
OFFICERS March 2021 - Page 7Wallcovering University Offers
2020 TeleSummit Replay
Did you miss WIA’s first TeleSummit which, due to COVID-19 protocols, replaced the association’s
annual convention? If so, don’t fret. WIA’s got you covered. That’s the beauty of virtual events: they
can be easily recorded for future viewing and education.
The TeleSummit, held online on September 26, offered live and pre-recorded sessions on topics
near and dear to wallcovering installers. For the affordable price of $198, WIA members can replay
the entire event. The online course covers six classes:
● Session 1: Using Lining Materials with Scenic Wallpapers; Vendor Vignettes for Mutoh America
and York Wallcovering; and Intro to Muslin
● Session 2: Being Service-Oriented & Safe in Today’s New Environment; Owning Your Worth as
a Paperhanger; Hanging Liner & Paper Over Muslin; and Online Estimating Tool for Commercial
Jobs
● Session 3: Mutoh’s Lunch Session
● Session 4: Roman Products’ Lunch Session
● Session 5: How to Measure Wallpaper; Vendor Vignette for Cavalier Papers; and Reverse Match
Commercial Vinyl
● Session 6: Profiling; The Ins & Outs of Trimming to Complex Moldings; Time Is Money; Vendor
Vignette; Tools Every Paperhanger Needs; How to Remove Muslin
The Wallcovering Installers Association developed Wallcovering University to provide wallcovering
installers with professional online training in the techniques and art of wallcoverings. Class
completion contributes to WIA certification credentials which inform current and potential clients of
an installer’s competence and dedication to continued learning and improvement in the trade. n
Photo by geralt on Pixabay.
March 2021 - Page 8NATIONAL ASSOCIATE
MEMBERS
When you have a choice of vendors,
remember to use WIA Associate
Members first.
New Members Advance Equipment
Manufacturing Company
December 2020 – March 2021
Anstey Wallpaper Company
Installers: Texas Best Wallpaper
Renovart Ltd Blake McCray, Houston, TX Bradbury & Bradbury Art
Wallpapers, Inc.
Dorian Burcus-Coman,
Middlesex, UK Muse Wallcovering Cavalier Wall Liner
Devin Borland, Los Ange- Designtex Group (The)
Better Than Paint les, CA
Experience49
Rebeca Trujillo, Wilmington,
NC Victor Cali Wallcovering Fidelity Wallcovering, Inc.
Victor Cali, Medford, MA Gardner-Gibson, Inc.
GerGroupInc
Len-Tex Wallcoverings
Stanislav Gershman, Del- Painters District Council 14
ray Beach, FL Helen Chung, Brookfield, IL Maya Romanoff Corporation
MDC Wallcoverings
Pete’s Paperhanging & Re- James Frye Wallcovering
MISH, Inc
moval LLC
Peter Herrish, Canoga James Frye, Orlando, FL Mutoh
Park, CA Painters & Allied Trades LMCI
Ultra Painting
Phillip Jeffries Ltd.
Stuck Up Wallpaper Charles Lella, Hauppauge,
Robin Jerome, Daily City, NY R37 Inc.
CA Real Wood Veneer Wallcovering
Paul N Inc
Titans NW Paul Narvaez, Shirley, NY Roman Decorating Products LLC
Arlo Murphy, Gresham, OR Roos International, Ltd.
Wallcovering
Wallcoverings by Theresa Associate Members: Steve's Blinds & Wallpaper, LLC
Theresa Sabus, Benning-
Studio Zen Wallcoverings
ton, NE Innovations in Wallcover-
ings The Paint Store Online
Walls to Floors, Inc. Jennifer Dombkowski, New Thibaut Wallcovering
Gene Sanson, Woodland York, NY
Vahallan Papers
Park, NJ
The Paint Store Online Versa Design Surfaces
Wallcoverings By Don Dye Wallpaper Direct
Donald Dye, Sugar Land, Verne Manson, West Hills,
CA Wallpaper Warehouse
TX
Williamson College of the Trades
LH Wallpapering Wolf-Gordon, Inc.
Laura Hatala, Aldie, VA
York Wallcoverings, Inc.
March 2021 - Page 9You can also read
