GRA Weekly

December 12, 2021

This week's newsletter is brought to you by Seated.

INTUIT QUICKBOOKS RESTAURANT RELIEF | APPLY TODAY!

Restaurants Can Now Apply for the QuickBooks Restaurant Relief Grant

Georgia restaurants can apply for the QuickBooks Restaurant Relief Grant Click Here to apply!.

Launching December 8 thru January 7, restaurants with an annual net revenue of less than $250,000 can apply for a $5,000 grant to cover payroll and operating expenses to help employ and retain staff. The goal of the program is to help the small restaurants most impacted by COVID-19 hire employees and grow.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the program, qualifications/requirements and evaluation process, please click HERE for more information.

COVID UPDATE

“What’s going to happen next?”: Businesses Brace for Omicron

One of many open questions about the new omicron variant of the coronavirus is, will it slow customer traffic at restaurants? And, it’s not the only worry restaurants face today.

“Until Congress moves to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, every new variant that could impact how consumers use restaurants threatens to push thousands closer to closing permanently,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs at the National Restaurant Association. Read More.

CITY OF ATLANTA

City of Atlanta CPA Requirement Reminder

On Monday, November 29, City Councilmembers Dustin Hillis, Carla Smith, Michael Julian Bond, Amir Farokhi, Cleta Winslow, and Andrea Boone voted to hold legislation that would delay enforcement of requiring a CPA statement certifying sales when renewing alcohol licenses for certain alcohol licensees. As a reminder, the requirement ONLY applies to restaurants who are using the restaurant exemption from distance requirements. As you may know, alcohol establishments are generally required to meet distance requirements (churches, schools, etc.). During an initial alcohol license application, the applicant must generally submit an alcohol survey showing that it meets the distance requirements. Restaurants, however, who agree not to have live entertainment can use an exemption from distance requirements such that the restaurant would not have to submit a survey during the initial application process. The CPA statement requirement applies only to those restaurants that are using the exemption (or, in other words, those restaurants that did not submit an alcohol survey during the initial alcohol license application). Read more information about this HERE.

We recommend that you reach out to your trusted legal and financial advisors about what specific actions your business should take when renewing. We will continue to provide updates as soon as it is available. For any questions you can reach out to our Director of Advocacy, Daniel New.

City of Atlanta Extends Temporary On-street Dining Permit Program

On Monday, December 3, the Atlanta City Council passed 21-O-0891 that extends the temporary on-street dining permit program until December 31, 2022. All permits issued prior to December 31, 2021 are good for 12 months from date of being issued unless renewed. Any permits issued after December 31, 2021 are good until December 31, 2022.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Congress Reviews OSHA ETS on Employee Vaccinations

A Congressional Review Act bill introduced this week is attempting to overturn the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard that requires employers of 100+ employees mandate they be vaccinated or get tested weekly if they’re not vaccinated. The CRA passed the Senate Wednesday, and now heads to the House. A CRA allows Congress to review agency rulemaking activities; it also provides Congress with a special set of procedures under which to consider legislation to overturn those rules.

Build Back Better Update

Congress continues to move forward on several pieces of legislation that Democratic leaders hope to pass by the end of the year including a debt ceiling increase and the social spending bill known as the Build Back Better Act. We’re paying particularly close attention to the Build Back Better Act, to ensure harmful tax policies stay out and we can hopefully see helpful policies like child care and immigration stay in. It’s still not certain they’ll be able to pass this bill by the end of the year. But even if votes get delayed, we must stay engaged because it’s likely the Democrats writing the bill will eventually get it to the finish line.

DOL Final Rule on Limits for Tipped Employees takes effect December 28

The U.S. Department of Labor announced its final rule that places limits on the amount of time tipped employees can work in non-tipped activities when the employer receives a tip credit. Employers can take a tip credit only when a tipped employee is performing tip-producing work, or when the tipped employee performs work that directly supports tip-producing work under the condition that the tipped worker does not spend a substantial amount of time performing tip-supporting work. Under the rule, a “substantial amount of time” is defined as more than 20% of the hours worked during the employee’s workweek or a continuous period of time that exceeds 30 minutes. Therefore, an employer cannot take a tip credit for any of the time an employee performs tip-supporting work that exceeds 20% of the workweek or for any of the time that exceeds a 30-minute period. The rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register and becomes effective Dec. 28.

UPCOMING KITCHEN CABINET MEETINGS

Final Kitchen Cabinet Meetings for the 2021

The GRA is rounding out 2021 with meetings in Savannah, Augusta, and Macon. We look forward to hosting more of these meetings in other cities across the state in 2022.