Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Contractual Guarantees

We have agreements with our executive officers and certain other key management personnel providing for severance benefits for such employees upon termination of their employment under certain circumstances.

In the ordinary course of business, we, at times, guarantee obligations of our subsidiaries under certain contracts. Generally, we are liable under such an arrangement only if our subsidiary fails to perform its obligations under the contract. Historically, we have not incurred any substantial liabilities as a consequence of these guarantees.

The terms of our construction contracts frequently require that we obtain from surety companies (“Surety Companies”) and provide to our customers payment and performance bonds (“Surety Bonds”) as a condition to the award of such contracts. Surety Bonds are issued in return for premiums, which vary depending on the size and type of the bond, and secure our payment and performance obligations under such contracts. We have agreed to indemnify the Surety Companies for amounts, if any, paid by them in respect of Surety Bonds issued on our behalf. Public sector contracts require Surety Bonds more frequently than private sector contracts and, accordingly, our bonding requirements typically increase as the amount of our public sector work increases. In addition, at the request of labor unions representing certain of our employees, Surety Bonds are sometimes provided to secure obligations for wages and benefits payable to or for such employees. As of December 31, 2019, based on the percentage-of-completion of our projects covered by Surety Bonds, our aggregate estimated exposure, assuming defaults on all our then existing contractual obligations, was approximately $1.2 billion. We are not aware of any losses in connection with Surety Bonds, which have been posted on our behalf, and we do not expect to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future.

We are subject to regulation with respect to the handling of certain materials used in construction, which are classified as hazardous or toxic by federal, state, and local agencies. Our practice is to avoid participation in projects principally involving the remediation or removal of such materials. However, when remediation is required as part of our contract performance, we believe

we comply with all applicable regulations governing the discharge of hazardous materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment.

At December 31, 2019, we employed approximately 36,000 people, approximately 59% of whom are represented by various unions pursuant to approximately 400 collective bargaining agreements between our individual subsidiaries and local unions. We believe that our employee relations are generally good. Only two of these collective bargaining agreements are national or regional in scope.

Restructuring expenses, primarily related to employee severance obligations, were $1.5 million, $2.3 million, and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, the balance of our restructuring related obligations yet to be paid was $1.6 million, $1.6 million, and $0.5 million, respectively. The majority of obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were paid during 2019 and 2018, respectively. The obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2019 will be paid pursuant to our contractual obligations throughout 2020 and 2021. No material expenses in connection with restructuring from continuing operations are expected to be incurred during 2020.

The changes in restructuring activity by reportable segment during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):



	United States electrical construction and facilities services segment			United States building services segment			Corporate administration			Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	452		$	40		$	—		$	492
Charges	—			882			1,424			2,306
Payments	(422		)	(746		)	—			(1,168		)
Balance at December 31, 2018	30			176			1,424			1,630
Charges	445			1,078			—			1,523
Payments	(30		)	(842		)	(723		)	(1,595		)
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	445		$	412		$	701		$	1,558

Government Contracts

As a government contractor, we are subject to U.S. government audits and investigations relating to our operations, fines, penalties and compensatory and treble damages, and possible suspension or debarment from doing business with the government. Based on currently available information, we believe the outcome of ongoing government disputes and investigations will not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Legal Matters

We are involved in several legal proceedings in which damages and claims have been asserted against us. We believe that we have a number of valid defenses to such proceedings and claims and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. Other potential claims may exist that have not yet been asserted against us. We do not believe that any such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of litigation is not predictable with assurance. It is possible that some litigation matters for which liabilities have not been recorded could be decided unfavorably to us, and that any such unfavorable decisions could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.