GRA Weekly

July 27, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner OrionStar USA

ACTION ALERT!

Action Alert: Tell the US Senate to Vote on Credit Card Competition Act

This week, the Senate may have an opportunity to vote on the Credit Card Competition Act as it considers must-pass defense legislation. Securing this vote is an uphill battle and our partners at the National Restaurant Association need your help. Please take two minutes to tell your senators why this legislation to lower swipe fees is important to you. To add your voice, click here.

Act Now!

QSR EVOLUTION CONFERENCE + NEXTGEN RESTAURANT SUMMIT

QSR Evolution Conference + NextGen Restaurant Summit

The QSR Evolution Conference and the NextGen Restaurant Summit will explore emerging full-service and quick-service restaurant brands and address the needs of these restaurant operators.

Immerse yourself in the QSR and FSR world and find a carefully curated agenda filled with engaging sessions, insightful panels, and inspiring keynotes.

Keynote speakers are:

Andrew Cathy, CEO, Chick-fil-A
Christian Charnaux, Chief Growth Officer, Inspire Brands
Trevor Haynes, President - North America, Subway
Chris Tomasso, CEO, First Watch

GRA Restaurant Members will receive 10% off of their registration using the code: GRA10.

September 6-7 | Atlanta

ICYMI

The secret to building loyalty among the hourly workforce

Webinar description: Keeping your business staffed requires a mix of hiring the right people and retaining them for as long as possible. Learn how to build a loyal hourly workforce from job description to career promotion and everything in between.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

GRA Testifies at Senate Workforce Committee

On Tuesday, the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce met in Savannah to discuss labor practices within Georgia. Scott Bierman testified on behalf of the GRA, speaking on labor shortages and workforce development initiatives within the restaurant industry. Restaurateur Jamie Durrence of Daniel-Reed Hospitality voiced concerns within his own work and emphasized a focus on small businesses as the committee works toward final recommendations for the state senate. Other testimony included representatives from Gulfstream, Georgia Ports Authority, and the Savannah Chamber of Commerce. The next meeting of the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce will take place on August 22 in West Point. For more information about the study committee click here.

LUCKI GOT YOUR BACK

FEDERAL UPDATES

NEW I-9 Form Available August 1

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) + Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially announced that the long anticipated revised and streamlined I-9 Form will be available beginning August 1, 2023. According to DHS’s press release:

The revised Form I-9 (edition date 08/01/23) will be published on uscis.gov on Aug. 1, 2023. Employers can use the current Form I-9 (edition date 10/21/19) through Oct. 31, 2023. Starting Nov. 1, 2023, all employers must use the new Form I-9.

Employers who were participating in E-Verify and created a case for employees whose documents were examined during COVID-19 flexibilities (March 20, 2020 to July 31, 2023), may choose to use the new alternative procedure starting on August 1, 2023 to satisfy the physical document examination requirement by Aug. 30, 2023. Employers who were not enrolled in E-Verify during the COVID-19 flexibilities must complete an in-person physical examination by Aug. 30, 2023.

The revised Form I-9:

Reduces Sections 1 and 2 to a single-sided sheet;
Is designed to be a fillable form on tablets and mobile devices;
Moves the Section 1 Preparer/Translator Certification area to a separate, standalone supplement that employers can provide to employees when necessary;
Moves Section 3, Reverification and Rehire, to a standalone supplement that employers can print if or when rehire occurs or reverification is required;
Revises the Lists of Acceptable Documents page to include some acceptable receipts as well as guidance and links to information on automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation;
Reduces Form instructions from 15 pages to 8 pages; and
Includes a checkbox allowing employers to indicate they examined Form I-9 documentation remotely under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure rather than via physical examination.

EEOC | Updated Resource About ADA and Individuals with Visual Disabilities at Work Released

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officially released an updated technical assistance document for employers on how to comply with ADA visual disabilities accommodation and job applicants.

The guidance details:

when an employer may ask an applicant or employee questions about a vision impairment and how an employer should treat voluntary disclosures;
what types of reasonable accommodations applicants or employees with visual disabilities may need;
how an employer should handle safety concerns about applicants and employees with visual disabilities; and
how an employer can ensure that no employee is harassed because of a visual disability.

July 26, 2023 marked the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being signed into law. Learn more about the ADA.