GRA Weekly

November 16, 2023

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

ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE 2023 GRACE AWARDS

Only 2 Weeks Left - Secure Your Spot at The 2023 GRACE Awards!

The 15th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards Gala is almost here - and we are almost sold out! Join us as we raise a toast to the stars of Georgia's restaurant industry, mingle with industry peers, enjoy a dinner prepared by world-renowned Wolfgang Puck Catering, choose from a curated drink menu, and celebrate excellence in hospitality against the stunning backdrop of the Georgia Aquarium.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Cocktail Reception | 6:00PM

Dinner + Awards | 7:15PM

Georgia Aquarium

255 Baker Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30313

The best part? You will have the opportunity to network with the most influential figures in hospitality - from rising stars to industry veterans. Winners in all categories, including the peer-nominated "Georgia on My Mind" People's Choice Award recipients and 2023 Hall of Fame honorees, will be revealed live on November 30 at the GRACE Awards Gala. Help us end another year in style by celebrating Georgia's exceptional restaurant industry - tickets are available at https://www.garestaurants.org/grace. We can’t wait to see you there!

Interested in sponsoring the event? Please contact Sarah Thorson.

GET TICKETS

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

Save the Date! Atlanta Kitchen Cabinet

On Thursday, December 7, the GRA advocacy team is hosting a Kitchen Cabinet Roundtable with Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan. If your restaurant is local to Atlanta, we would love to have you attend to discuss your concerns with an elected official one-on-one. To RSVP, please contact Dedan McFadden or call us directly at (404) 467-9000. We look forward to seeing you there!

When: December 7, 2023 | 2:00PM - 4:00PM

Where: Ecco Midtown | 40 7th St NE Atlanta, GA 30308

Atlanta Proposal to Extend Alcohol Service Hours

On Monday in Atlanta, the City Council Public Safety Committee heard a proposal to extend the hours establishments may serve alcohol on weekdays from 2:30AM - 4:00AM. This ordinance (23-O-1600), introduced by Councilmember Keisha Sean Waites, was met with mixed reviews during the public comment period and subsequently filed. The proposal now goes back to the drawing board, as Councilmember Waites opens discussion amongst stakeholders concerned with the extended hours and the potential for increased fees on licenses and permits for establishments serving alcohol.

Savannah Alcohol Update

The Savannah Department of Revenue has provided updates on the license renewal process, dates for Sunday sales, and the Server Training Program. Alcoholic Beverage License (ABL) renewal packages have a submission deadline of December 31, 2023, with a grace period extending the final application date to January 28, 2024. Additionally, two dates were announced on which ABL holders may sell alcoholic beverages, regardless of a Sunday Sales license – 2023 New Year’s Eve and 2024 St. Patrick’s Day. Finally, the new Server Training program is up and running, with the deadline for Server Cards on January 1, 2024. The program provides a simple training program at no charge and is good for 5 years. For more information regarding the Server Training Permit Card, click here.

Senate Workforce Committee Update

On Tuesday, The Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce gathered at the state capitol for their final meeting. At this meeting, Chairman John Albers (R-Roswell) presented the committee’s finding and recommendations moving forward. Recommendations included a state platform for employers to market employment opportunities for job seekers, cleaning up the CTAE pathways, more support for the Technical College System of Georgia, and increased accessibility for students to obtain degrees. Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones also joined the committee to discuss his upcoming legislative initiatives on licensure reform and “cutting red tape” for Georgia businesses. Click here to read the final report.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Georgia for small businesses with economic losses due to the hurricane that occurred on August 30, 2023. If your business suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster, you may be eligible for loans in the amount of up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 2.375% for private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. For more information about loans and eligibility click here.

2023 GRACE AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

2023 GRACE Awards Finalists Announced

We are delighted to announce the finalists for the highly anticipated 2023 GRACE Awards Gala! Thank you to all who submitted nominations– the caliber of talent and excellence in our restaurant industry is consistently reaching new heights and many deserving hospitality professionals and businesses were submitted for consideration. Every finalist represents a story of perseverance, creativity, and culinary excellence. View the full list of finalists here.

To celebrate their contributions to Georgia’s restaurant industry, join us at the 2023 Grace Awards Gala on November 30 at the Georgia Aquarium. Tickets are available at

https://www.garestaurants.org/grace. We can’t wait to see you there!

GRA FOUNDATION UPDATE

Volunteers Needed: Help Our Industry Grow

The Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation (GRAF) is currently recruiting industry leaders to mentor ProStart Students and serve as judges at the 2024 Georgia ProStart Invitational - which will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 from 8:00AM - 4:00PM at Gas South Arena. The GRAF is seeking volunteers with experience in the Hospitality industry and a passion for service. Read the full flyer here.

To register as a mentor or judge, Please contact Katie Ashley, GRAF Programs Manager, for more information.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN FILING AN INSURANCE CLAIM

Filing an Insurance Claim? Here's What to Expect

Owning and operating a restaurant or bar can be a rewarding endeavor, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of those challenges is dealing with unexpected events that can disrupt your business, such as accidents, natural disasters or unforeseen emergencies. In such cases, having the right insurance coverage is critical; however, filing an insurance claim can be a daunting process if you're not familiar with it. For a step-by-step guide to filing an insurance claim (and what to expect throughout the process), click here.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Restaurant Law Center and Texas Restaurant Association Sue to Stop New Joint Employer Final Rule

Last week, the Restaurant Law Center and the Texas Restaurant Association joined a coalition of business groups, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to sue the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over its new Joint Employer Standard. The lawsuit seeks to have the standard rescinded because the NLRB violated the National Labor Relations Act.

Dive deeper: The new Joint Employer Standard, released two weeks ago, drastically expands the scope of how joint employer status is determined, and increases the liability risks in the franchisor-franchisee relationship, as well as those of service providers and third-party companies. As a result, a restaurant operator could be held jointly liable for labor violations committed by an entity with which they have a business relationship. This new standard also creates unnecessary hurdles for restaurant operators who are trying to understand what qualifies as joint employer status.

What we're saying: “The NLRB issued this new joint employer standard arbitrarily and capriciously just three years after codifying the 2020 standard,” said Angelo I. Amador, executive director of the Restaurant Law Center. “The new Joint Employer Standard is already raising a plethora of legal questions across the restaurant industry. While the National Restaurant Association attempts to educate operators on the vague, confusing, and sometimes contradictory new standards, the Restaurant Law Center will fight to restore the workable joint employer standard that has existed for nearly 30 years based on the direct and immediate control of employees.”

Read the full complaint here.

FSA Contribution Amount Increases in 2024

The IRS recently announced that that employees who participate in a Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) may contribute an additional $150.00 in 2024. The contribution cap for 2024 will now be $3,200 (compared to $3,050 in 2023). For employers whose plans allow carryover amounts, employees will be able to carry over a max of $640 (up from $610 in 2023). For more information, visit the IRS website.

401(k) annual contribution limit increase in 2024

Employees who participate in a 401(k) plan will be able to contribute an extra $500 in 2024 (total of $23,000), up from 2023's $22,500. For employees ages 50 or over, the 2024 catch-up contribution amount of $7,500 will remain the same (maximum amount $30,500). Visit the IRS website for more information.

New Senate bill tackles food waste

Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Grassley (R-IA) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent and reduce food waste.

Dive deeper: The Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act, S. 3146, would establish a “Food Loss and Waste Reduction Certification,” and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create:

Criteria, which businesses and organizations would have to meet to receive the certification;
A verification process, to confirm that businesses and organizations have achieved the criteria; and
A label, which certified businesses and organizations would be authorized to use on their products, buildings, and websites.

What we’re saying: “Food waste reduction efforts that increase the amount of food sent to those in need are a focus for restaurants big and small. The food waste certification program and label created by the Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act will allow restaurants with reduction programs already in place to highlight for consumers their efforts to tackle food loss and waste prevention in their community and will encourage restaurant operators that do not yet have a program to take the first steps toward certification. We appreciate Sens. Durbin and Grassley’s leadership and support their efforts to promote businesses, like restaurants, working to reduce food loss and waste,” said Sean Kennedy, Association EVP for Public Affairs.

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK

National Apprenticeship Week

Every year, the National Restaurant Association's Educational Foundation (NRAEF) celebrates National Apprenticeship Week, and this year it's November 13 - 19. Since 2008, through bipartisan efforts and expansion grants, our government has expanded registered apprenticeships in this country. In 2020 alone, the Department of Labor administered approximately $250 million in active grants; the NRAEF is one of its recipients.

To date, more than 1,800 committed apprentices and 300-plus employer apprentice commitments are attached to the NRAEF programs. Some were among the 150 workforce development partners and program participants who gathered in Washington, D.C., in August for the NRAEF’s inaugural Hospitality Pathways Conference, an event designed to explore ways of strengthening and expanding restaurant and hospitality career opportunities. Read about the NRAEF's apprenticeship success stories here.

LOCAL RESTAURANTS RAISE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Local Hospitality Group Raises Over $88K for Special Olympics Georgia

Marlow’s Tavern, the Woodall and Sterling Culinary Management executive chef, CEO and co-founder John C. Metz is pleased to announce that its 25th Annual Golf Classic has raised $88,500 for Special Olympics Georgia.

"Our annual Golf Classic benefitting Special Olympics Georgia is the highlight of our fundraising efforts, and we are honored to see how these contributions benefit and empower athletes and their families,” says Metz. “We are extremely grateful to our supporters and participants who join forces each year to raise money for this amazing organization.”

This year’s golf tournament took place on Oct. 12 at Heritage Golf Links in Tucker, Georgia, featuring live music and a silent auction where all money raised will directly benefit Special Olympics Georgia athletes. Since the inception of its partnership with SOGA in 1999, the restaurant group has raised more than $1.7 million to help fund athletic competitions and provide life-changing experiences to the more than 17,429 athletes, their families and the community.

Congratulations to the teams at Marlow’s Tavern, the Woodall and Sterling Culinary Management for this wonderful achievement and their continued fundraising efforts!

AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Prioritizing Industry Wellbeing with GRA's Affordable Mental Health Solution

After enduring years of unprecedented challenges, the hospitality industry faces significant concerns about the wellbeing of its workforce. With over 70% of restaurant workers reporting high stress levels, and nearly one-third experiencing symptoms of depression, the need for comprehensive support is undeniable. In response, the GRA is proud to highlight HealthiestYou by Teladoc, a revolutionary solution designed to address these issues.

This partnership provides members with unlimited virtual medical and mental healthcare visits for employees and their households at an astonishingly low rate of $9 per month, with no additional costs like copays, deductibles, or coinsurance—far below the normal $49 monthly rate. Importantly, this offering is accessible to all foodservice businesses with two or more enrollees, extending to both full- and part-time employees.

By enrolling in this industry-specific initiative, you take an active step to ensure affordable mental and physical healthcare for your entire team. With a staggering 27 million untreated adults experiencing mental illness and an average wait time of 6 weeks for traditional appointments, HealthiestYou offers timely and convenient access to board-certified mental health professionals via phone or video, enabling members to seek help from the comfort of their chosen environment. Together, GRA and Teladoc aim to safeguard the wellbeing of every individual within the industry. To learn more, determine eligibility, and enroll, click here.