Ric Suzio, vice president at Suzio-York Hill, testified on behalf of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) during a House Committee on Small Business hearing.
According to NSSGA, the committee is exploring burdensome Department of Labor regulations.
“Small businesses thrive on predictability,” Suzio says. “Frequent, automatic changes hinder their ability to strategically plan, potentially jeopardizing both their stability and the well-being of their employees.”
In addition to inflationary costs, NSSGA says small businesses like Suzio-York Hill are tackling compliance with regulations that have convoluted standards and excessive “red tape.” It is crucial to recognize the disproportionate regulatory burdens placed on small businesses when overarching rules fail to account for their unique challenges, NSSGA says.
Suzio says the issues currently plaguing small businesses are plentiful and include the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s rule on tracking workplace injuries and illnesses, the change regarding workplace inspections, the Mine Safety & Health Administration’s crystalline silica rule, the independent contractor rule, the overtime rule, the Davis-Bacon Act and the joint employer definition.
“The financial strain such regulations place on us is substantial, with many of us absorbing these costs,” Suzio says. “Over time, this financial burden risks driving consolidation within the industry, overshadowing the essential role of small businesses.”
Suzio-York Hill, which is based in Meriden, Connecticut, is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2023.
