GRA Weekly

June 8, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner Society Insurance

CONGRATULATIONS TERRY KOVAL

James Beard Award Winner: Decatur Chef Named Best In Southeast

The James Beard Award winners were announced Monday during a live ceremony in Chicago.

Congratulations to Terry Koval, The Deer and the Dove (Decatur) for winning Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)!

Read the full list.

NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH

June is National Safety Month

Did you know that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) cited falls as the top code violation in 2022? In observance of 2023's National Safety Month, the GRA encourages restaurants to conduct an annual compliance audit of their safety training programs and policies.

Remember, OSHA’s General Duty Clause requires employers to provide employees with a place of employment that is “free from recognizable hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious harm to employees.”

For more resources:

FLSA + FMLA POSTER UPDATES

ICYMI: FLSA + FMLA Poster Updates

Source: US DOL Wage and Hour Division

Effective May 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division published updated Fair Labor Standards Act and Family and Medical Leave Act posters. FREE copies may be downloaded directly from US DOL WHD + EEOC for posting in your establishment.

Updates include:

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) poster – To reflect the amendment of the PUMP Act to the FLSA, the required FLSA poster has been updated to include Pump At Work information for employee awareness.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) poster – 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the FMLA as law! This updated FMLA poster revises language to provide FMLA information in a way that puts workers’ questions and experiences first.

Keep in Mind: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is in the process of updating its “Know Your Rights” poster to address the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which goes into effect on June 27, 2023. For covered employers that purchase an all-in-one poster from third party vendors, you may wish to defer purchasing a new vendor-created poster until after the EEOC releases its updated poster in June 2023 and, in the interim, print and post the free versions of the FLSA and FMLA posters from the WHD website.

Relevant links:

EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

Five Ways To Kick-Start Employee Mental Health Programs

May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and the well-being of employees is vital to the success of any organization. Mentally healthy employees are more productive, more engaged and more likely to stay with a company for the long term. Unfortunately, many companies neglect the mental health of their employees, leading to burnout, stress and a decrease in job satisfaction. To address this issue, here are five ways to kick-start employee mental health programs....continue reading.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

Georgia Department of Revenue | Sales & Use Tax Rates Effective July 1, 2023

The Georgia Department of Revenue has posted the upcoming quarterly sales and use tax rate changes.

Counties affected include: Taylor, Ware

Please visit the Department’s website to view current, historical, and upcoming sales and use tax rate charts.

Health Inspectors

Instances of individuals posing as health inspectors are on the rise. In many cases, individuals will contact a restaurant and demand payment for the inspection fee. Please be aware that inspection fees are only charged when a restaurant requests an additional inspection or a re-inspection. Also, the Health Department will bill the restaurant and will not ask for payment at the time of the inspection. If you ever have any doubts or want to verify that the health inspector is legitimate, you can reach out to your local health department or contact the State Health Department. If you need assistance contacting your local health department, you can contact us and we will get you the proper information.

Reminder: Questions to know when Health Inspector Arrives

Georgia Food Code mandates that every location have one Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM). However, if the CFSM is not there when a health inspector arrives, then the person in charge must be able to answer certain questions. See Georgia Food Code 511-6-1-.03(c) Correct Answers to Food Safety Questions to make sure all people in charge are prepared. Learn more.

HURRICANE SEASON

National Hurricane Preparedness | Hurricane Season Begins June 1

Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 through November 30. The Georgia Restaurant Association strongly encourages restaurant owners and operators to stay informed and be prepared as seasons are increasingly uncertain. Learn more.

Additional resources:

GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE

The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund sponsors women seeking leadership positions in the wine and spirits industry and related fields. Grantees will receive scholarships to leadership programs and membership to 510 media’s Hope Academy. Apply by June 15.

The PepsiCo Foundation’s Impacto Hispanic Business Accelerator program aims to support Hispanic-owned food and beverage businesses with a $10,000 grant and coaching opportunities. Submit your application before June 16.

The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC)’s Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative is a grant and mentorship program created to provide Black entrepreneurs with the necessary tools for success. Three winners will be chosen from a pitch contest, each receiving $50,000. Applications are due June 25.