GRA Weekly

November 3, 2022

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Healthy Hospitality.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Healthy Hospitality | Open Enrollment

Get the coverage you need, without all the hassle. Visit https://www.hospitality-health.com/GRA or call (844) 759-0642 to get the best rates and enroll over the phone.

Open enrollment: Help employees get health care coverage

Be prepared to help your staff members get health care insurance, not just those who qualify for the program you offer. Open enrollment for 2023 ACA plans on the health insurance exchanges runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, 2023.

You've heard it time and time again—offering health care insurance to your employees makes them less likely to consider employment elsewhere. And during open enrollment season, you're busy trying to get all those employees who qualify—those working 130 hours or more in a calendar month—to sign up or re-enroll.

You may also have had employees say, "I've heard a lot about open enrollment. How do I sign up?" only to have to tell them you're sorry but they don't qualify for your health care insurance program because they only work part time.

But if they're asking, they're probably interested in getting coverage, and if you can help steer them to the right resources, you may have earned their loyalty. And it won't cost you a dime.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

What You Missed: Georgia Senate Meeting on Food Delivery Apps – Third Meeting

On November 1, 2022, the Georgia Senate Study Committee on Third-Party Delivery Apps convened for their third and final meeting. After conducting extensive research and receiving testimony from public interest groups, the committee passed a report with a series of recommendations for legislative action and further discussion. Read the full recap here. A full recording of all meetings can be found here.

Milton Alcohol Ordinance Update

Milton City Council passed updates to their alcohol ordinance with a 4-3 vote. The following changes are in effect:

Moratorium on new alcohol licenses removed
Production cap of 5,000 barrels for brewpubs
Production cap of 3,000 barrels for microbreweries & microdistilleries
No new applications for limited food service and limited tap licenses will be accepted
Existing licenses as of January 1, 2022, may be renewed annually

You can view all changes here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Restaurants reminded to display EEOC poster

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its “Know Your Rights” poster and is reminding covered businesses to display it in the workplace. Restaurants with at least 15 employees must place the poster in a conspicuous location. The EEOC is also advising employers with remote workers to post it electronically.

What this means for restaurants: The “Know Your Rights” poster summarizes federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. Businesses that do not comply with the display requirement face fines.

Congress, Association to SBA: Release remaining RRF money now

In a letter to Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) expressed outrage that the agency still has not released $180M in unobligated money from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The Association echoed their sentiments in a congressional press release.

What this means for restaurants: After pressing the SBA in July to immediately release the remaining funds that were identified in a Government Accountability Office report, the Association continues to work with members of Congress to provide relief to restaurants still struggling to survive.

Association supports training/development bill

The Association is supporting the Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act. Sponsored by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), and Tim Scott (R-SC), the bipartisan legislation modernizes and expands the use of educational program assistance that employers provide to workers.

What this means for restaurants: If the legislation passes both the Senate and House, businesses and employees will have more accurate tax incentives to cover education and retraining opportunities, which result in greater retention rates.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

EEOC Releases Updated “Know Your Rights” Poster

Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released a new “Know Your Rights” poster (dated October 20, 2022), which replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster. This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about the “Know Your Rights” poster.

When do employers need to post by?

The laws that require covered employers to post the “Know Your Rights” poster don’t provide a specific deadline for replacing the “EEO is the Law” poster with the updated “Know Your Rights” poster. Employers should remove the old poster and display the new one within a reasonable amount of time.

Does this version replace the prior poster and the supplement?

Yes.

I printed the updated poster on October 19, 2022. Do I need to print it again?

Yes. The new version of the “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster has replaced and supersedes a version uploaded on 10/19. Please use the version marked “(Revised 10/20/2022)” going forward.

Can I request a printed copy from the EEOC?

No. The EEOC does not provide printed copies of the poster. Employers should download and print the two-page PDF.

Are federal agencies required to display the poster?

Yes, federal agencies are subject to the laws requiring that the poster be displayed and have additional responsibilities to communicate equal employment opportunity policies and procedures to all employees.

How do I make the poster available and accessible for individuals who are blind or visually impaired?

The poster is available as a PDF that has been optimized for screen readers.

Is the poster available in languages other than English?

The poster is available in English and Spanish and will be available in additional languages at a later date.

Where should I place the poster?

Posters should be placed in a conspicuous location in the workplace where notices to applicants and employees are customarily posted.

Read full press release.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHN C. METZ, JR.

CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA ELECTS JOHN C. METZ JR. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Hyde Park, NY – Thirty-year restaurant and hospitality industry veteran and Culinary Institute of America (CIA) alumnus, John C. Metz Jr. has been elected the 22nd chairman of the CIA’s board of trustees. He succeeds restaurateur Ralph Brennan in this role.

“John Metz embodies the best of all worlds—a solid culinary and business foundation, combined with a warm and gracious personality,” said CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “He gives 110 percent to everything he does and as an alum, brings keen insight into the student experience. I look forward to continuing to work with him to help lead the Institute—and the industry—into the future.”

Metz currently serves as CEO, executive chef and co-founder of the newly opened the Woodall, in Atlanta, as well as Marlow’s Tavern, and the upscale contract foodservice company Sterling Culinary Management. Through Sterling, he reimagined corporate dining through chef-driven, upscale restaurant concepts including Bistro del sol, The Grove, Market Street Café, Bistro 191, Social Kitchen, and Central Provisions as well as 55+ luxury communities. In addition, in 2018, he and his partner opened The Spinning Room in Dalton, GA, an upscale wine and beer bar, offering small plates and live music.

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

IFundWomen and Johnnie Walker First Strides Grant Program

IFundWomen and Johnnie Walker have come together to provide support to “trailblazing” women-owned businesses that continue to push boundaries and grow, helping their businesses succeed. Ten recipients of the First Strides Grant will receive a $10,000 grant and one year of coaching services through IFundWomen. Submit your application by December 31.

Apply today.