SPECIAL EDITION
FOCUSING ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 WITH TIPS TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC DAMAGE
#7 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
A GUIDE TO THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

STRAIGHT FROM CONGRESSMAN McGOVERN
On Tuesday evening, th e U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published its first round of implementation guidance pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The guidance addresses questions including:
  • How does an employer count its number of employees to determine coverage?
  • How can small businesses obtain an exemption?
  • How does an employer count hours for part-time employees?
  • How does an employer calculate wages employees are entitled to under the FFCRA?

Below, broken down by category, are the guides published by the WHD to answer the above questions:
If you're business is offering a COVID-19-related promotion, submit it to HOT DEALS
Members, please add your promotion by logging onto your ChamberMaster account and navigating to Hot Deals. The Chamber will promote this page over the coming weeks.
Local Newspaper Provides Two Opportunities to Aid Business Community
FREE advertising available to businesses impacted by COVID-19

The Telegram & Gazette, a Gannett Media company, is offering free print and digital advertising packages to local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit NECustomerAssistance.com for more information.
Support local businesses by purchasing gift cards!


The cash will help companies meet their immediate needs and allow you to enjoy their services again at a later date. The Telegram & Gazette put together a list of Worcester County businesses for which this opportunity is available.
WEBINAR
Running Your Business in Quarantine:
A Survival Guide | InThink Webinar Series  

Join CEO, Kham Inthirath, as he discusses how your business can strategically position itself in the wake of COVID-19. Session 2 is this  Friday, March 27 from 2 - 3 pm.

Webinar Agenda
  • Crisis Messaging (Internal + External) 
  • Loom & Zoom + How to Leverage Them for Your Business
  • Rapid Response Business Plan + Why You Need One
  • Q&A
For those of you who joined last week, this will be a deeper dive into some of the strategies and resources we previously shared. For those of you who are new, we’ll share examples and actionable takeaways to help your business during this uncertain time. 

Get in touch with your inner creative, or help your kids learn about wildlife while they're home from school, with activity sheets designed by the EcoTarium.

Download this coloring page, a word search, and a kite activity page on the museum's At Home Resources webpage.
NOTE | To keep our members up-to-date on available resources and the Chamber response to COVID-19, for the foreseeable future the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce will issue daily emails at noon. These emails contain a variety of information from local, state, and federal loans to the offerings of local businesses and best practices during this uncertain time.

As always, we are here to help. Due to the Governor’s stay-at-home advisory for non-essential employees, the Chamber office will be closed through April 7. Staff members will be checking email and voicemail and will respond accordingly. We will continue to monitor the most up-to-date information to best serve our business community. If you need assistance at the office, please email the Chamber . If you need assistance with Certificate of Origin processing, please email Brenda Elmes , office manager.
We wish you all continued health and please reach out if the Chamber can be of assistance.