GRA Weekly

October 20, 2022

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Gas South.

ICYMI

Webinar Recap - Don't Garnish Your Reputation: The Do's and Don'ts of Wage Garnishment

You just received a garnishment court order for one of your employees, now what? Georgia is among the top four states with most personal bankruptcy filings – and wage garnishment is often the leading cause. As an employer, it is crucial to understand the judicial process behind garnishment, exemptions, and to properly calculate the garnishment amount. Look no further than this webinar from our partners at Bennett Thrasher, presented by DiAndria “Dee” Green, Esq. and Will Baker, Esq. from the State & Local Tax Division. Continue reading.

LET'S TALK WOMXN BRUNCH

RESTAURANT LEGAL SUMMIT

Registration is open for the 6th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit, Wed., Oct. 26–Fri., Oct. 28, at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Keynote addresses touch on recent developments, decisions, and enforcement priorities at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Session topics cover artificial intelligence, food safety laws, employee relations, wage/hour regulations, labor policies, and ethics.

6th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit

Restaurant Law Center

October 26 - 28 | Westin Buckhead Atlanta

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

Thank You Augusta Mayor-elect Garnett Johnson

The Georgia Restaurant Association wants to thank all the attendees who came and celebrated Augusta Mayor-elect Garnett Johnson as he prepares to take office on January 1, 2023. We appreciate his time and look forward to working with him to help Augusta-Richmond County restaurants and the community.

A special thanks to James Stiff and the Goodwill of Middle Georgia and Helms College team for hosting us and for providing great food and hospitality.

If you would like to do something similar in your community, contact our Direct of Local Advocacy Daniel New.

[Pictured from left to right: James Stiff, President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia & the CSRA; Karen Bremer, President + CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association; Augusta Mayor-elect Garnett Johnson]

Update: City of Savannah Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance Revisions

The Georgia Restaurant Association has reviewed the proposed Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance Revisions from the City of Savannah with our representative in south Georgia Mike Vaquer and Savannah restaurateurs. The GRA sent a letter detailing both areas of support and concern.

We look forward to continued discussions on this important issue. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Promising regulation on debit card processing

The Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule on debit card transaction processing that requires card issuers to enable at least 2 unaffiliated (and theoretically competitive) networks to process debit card transactions—including “card not present” or online payments. It lets merchants route transactions to the lowest-cost option. Learn more.

IRS Advisory: Employers warned to beware of third parties promoting improper ERTC claims

The IRS is warning small businesses about “improper” claims for the employee retention tax credit (ERTC). As you know, restaurants were uniquely qualified for the Covid-related ERTC due to partial closure orders and/or revenue declines in 2020 and three calendar quarters of 2021. However, the IRS is reporting that some third-party companies are offering bad advice to small businesses regarding eligibility or the estimated value of the ERTC.

We urge members to closely review the below information, our FAQ, and a recent webinar from an industry partner. Moving forward, the IRS will have more resources to examine tax returns and refunds. A properly filed ERTC refund can be a terrific benefit for a restaurant, but an improperly filed ERTC refund could result in significant problems. Please let us know if we can provide any further assistance.

National Restaurant Association to comment on proposed rule to change “healthy” labeling

The National Restaurant Association is drafting comments in response to a Food and Drug Administration proposed rule that would revise the definition of “healthy.” Following last month’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the proposal would limit use of the word “healthy” on packaged food labels and anywhere labeling is used—including websites and possibly meals/ individual foods. Comments are due Dec. 28.

What this means for restaurants: Depending on restrictive language in the rule, restaurants may no longer be able to use words such as “lite,” “skinny,” or similar words to describe menu options and could incur significant costs to update labeling and packaging materials.

Coming soon: FDA final rule on food traceability

In advance of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) release next month of its final food traceability rule titled, “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods,” the National Restaurant Association expressed concerns to the SBA-OA about the regulation’s onerous recordkeeping framework and will meet with the Office of Management and Budget this week. The Association is seeking a full restaurant exemption and will provide restaurants with additional guidance soon.

What this means for restaurants: Restaurants must comply with the final rule once it’s released. Should the rule not provide a complete exemption for restaurants, the Association hopes it will at least increase record-keeping and processing flexibility, extend the implementation period, and grant a broad exemption for small restaurants.

DEI AND ITS IMPACT ON CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS

DEI And Its Impact On Corporate Environments

An Interview With Gas South’s DEI Manager Aisha DeBerry

Q: A focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has created a significant buzzword over the last few years—what role does DEI play in the corporate world?

A: It’s been proven that engaging strategically and intentionally with DEI provides a return on investment (ROI) for companies. Studies show that if employees feel like they are important to the company, that they can speak freely and be themselves, then people will stay in the job longer and engage in activities that create a better workplace. Apart from generating ROI, a focus on DEI also creates a positive social impact and is just a good thing to do. Continue reading.

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.

Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

The Tory Burch Foundation is looking for women entrepreneurs, from any industry, for the 2023 Fellows program. Applications are now open through November 3. Fifty women entrepreneurs will receive yearlong digital education, access to an incredible community of founders and advisors, a $5,000 education grant, and access to no-interest loans. Apply today.