WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation’s capital is entering a new era of renewal as roads, federal buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure receive long-awaited upgrades. With revitalization efforts underway, construction companies are tasked not only with rebuilding Washington D.C.’s physical landscape but also with adhering to strict federal payroll compliance regulations under the Davis-Bacon Act.
Passed in 1931, the Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors working on federally funded projects over $2,000 to pay employees “prevailing wages.” Non-compliance can result in heavy fines, loss of federal contracts, and even jail time. Every payroll check must pass through more than 30 compliance regulations, making accuracy critical.
For many contractors, this poses a significant challenge—especially as some firms still prepare payroll manually using pen and paper. Errors are frequent and can have severe consequences.
That’s where eMars and its Compliant Client system step in. The company’s web-based certified payroll solution has been adopted by more than 55,000 contractors nationwide and has maintained “0” errors since its launch 15 years ago.
“Privacy and security are two of the most important issues at eMars,” said Woody Chamberlain, co-founder of eMars. “Based on a study of 100,000 payrolls, at least 20% of construction company payrolls will contain one or more errors when audits rely on human review.”
Unlike manual payroll systems, Compliant Client provides:
- Total Davis-Bacon Act compliance
- 80% time and cost savings
- 24-hour customer service
- Real-time visibility for contractors and agencies
- Automated error detection with instant corrections
- Advanced encryption for sensitive payroll data
The system has been praised by the U.S. Department of Labor, with the agency’s Chief of Compliance noting that:
“…your system already has completed the first level of an audit.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also mandated electronic certified payrolls for most of its districts, underscoring the importance of error-free compliance.
Errors in payroll can trigger not just regulatory consequences, but also real-world fallout: angry employees, financial losses, and in some cases, companies being forced out of business. Chamberlain stressed, “Compliance difficulties don’t go away with ‘I’m sorry.’”
Currently processing between 2,000 and 3,000 payrolls daily, Compliant Client handles everything from small-scale firms with one worker to massive weekly payrolls of up to 6,800 workers. Every payroll submission is automatically audited against wage determinations and compliance rules, with immediate alerts and solutions provided to contractors.
The system, built on Microsoft SQL 2019, integrates seamlessly with existing software and requires minimal training. According to eMars, most contractors can be fully operational within a day.
By providing instant compliance checks and eliminating manual errors, Compliant Client has effectively shielded its clients from Department of Labor audits for three years running.
As Washington D.C. undergoes its multi-billion-dollar revitalization, eMars positions itself as a crucial partner in ensuring construction payrolls are accurate, compliant, and secure.
“We are grateful for the confidence that over 55,000+ contractors have put in our system,” Chamberlain added. “Our mission is to make certified payroll worry-free, time-saving, and completely compliant.”
Originally reported by EIN Press Wire.