GRA Weekly

May 18, 2023

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

BREAKING NEWS!

Governor Kemp Signs 3rd Party Delivery Legislation

Earlier this month, Governor Brian Kemp signed HB 528, legislation that will protect restaurants' intellectual property by requiring a written agreement between third-party delivery services and restaurants before the service can list a restaurant on their online platforms. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2024.

NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

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:

YOU'RE INVITED!

Spring Grower Buyer Mixer

Join local farmers, producers, and food industry professionals for the first Grower + Buyer Mixer Event hosted by the AgLanta Eats urban agriculture program. This event and panel discussion is a great opportunity to receive product marketing, branding and distribution training, discuss best practices, facilitate relationships with Atlanta’s most influential agriculture and food industry professionals, and shop for locally-grown produce. The Grower + Buyer Mixer is scheduled for Monday, May 22nd, at CreateATL, located in West Atlanta. Purchase your tickets here.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

GRA Member Exclusive: Volunteering Opportunities

Help the Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation educate and train the youth of today to become the service industry professionals of tomorrow! We have a plethora of new options for current GRA members to volunteer with ProStart and our high school outreach programs. We have created a survey for members to indicate which area(s) they would like to participate. We are currently working on developing programming for the 2023-2024 school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to Katie Ashley, Foundation Programs Manager. Sign up here.

FEDERAL UPDATES

EEOC Releases New Resource on Artificial Intelligence and Title VII

Outlines Considerations for Incorporating Automated Systems into Employment Decisions

Source: U.S. EEOC press release

Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a technical assistance document, “Assessing Adverse Impact in Software, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence Used in Employment Selection Procedures Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” which is focused on preventing discrimination against job seekers and workers. The document explains the application of key established aspects of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) to an employer’s use of automated systems, including those that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI). The EEOC is the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing Title VII, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).

Employers increasingly use automated systems, including those with AI, to help them with a wide range of employment matters, such as selecting new employees, monitoring performance, and determining pay or promotions. Without proper safeguards, their use may run the risk of violating existing civil rights laws. Learn more on how to comply.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

In our continued efforts to raise awareness on the importance of mental health in our workforce, it is well known that restaurant industry employees have been especially impacted in the past few years by COVID-19, workforce shortages and economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, not all employees may have ready access to resources. A recent proclamation from the White House states that “[i]t takes an average of 11 years to get treatment after the onset of symptoms, and less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness ever receive the care they need.” Employers are keenly aware that employees are their greatest asset and continue to take steps to better address how to support them whether through expanding health benefits or offering employee assistance programs.

Throughout the month, we will feature resources and selected articles to further educate our readers on the importance of mental health. The Georgia Restaurant Association also has a webpage dedicated to free mental health resources to assist employers and employees.

ATTACK IS BACK!

Return of The Killer Tomato Festival

Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival (#AKTF) returns to Westside Provisions District on Sunday, July 30 from 1-4 PM for an annual celebration of the juiciest fruit in Georgia: tomatoes.

Passes include tastings and beverages featuring tomatoes in all the ways from Georgia restaurants, bars, and other tomato-serving establishments.

This event is hosted by Georgia Organics and celebrates the delicious Farmer Champion partnership between Georgia's organic farmers and the culinary teams who make local ingredients shine. Learn more and register.

TIPS + TRICKS FOR RUNNING PAYROLL

Tips and Tricks for Running Payroll at Restaurants and Bars

Payroll management can be a daunting task, particularly for small business owners. Restaurants and bars can encounter unique challenges when it comes to running payroll. With so many employees and varying roles, it's important to have a solid system in place to ensure timely and accurate payments. Restaurant and bar owners can consider the following tips and tricks when running payroll... Continue reading.

FOOD PROTECTION SPRING SEMINAR

On Wednesday, May 10th, the GRA sponsored the Georgia Association for Food Protection’s (GAFP) Spring Seminar hosted at the idyllic Flinchum’s Phoenix in Athens, GA. The event featured presentations from students and faculty representing the University of Georgia’s Food Science and Technology Program and the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Presentations included the newest sanitation techniques using LED light, the effect of antibiotics in seafood, how to safely consume edible bugs, the newest robotic prototypes in food processing, and more. To learn more about the GAFP or to attend the International Association for Food Protection’s (IAFP) annual conference in Toronto, Canada, click here.

COVID INCENTIVES

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference

It’s your last chance to secure a spot in our hotel block for the Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC, June 19-21. This is a can’t-miss opportunity to advocate for our industry with federal lawmakers, plus we have a lot of fun and learn a lot networking with the industry’s leaders from across the country. Our discounted GRA room block ends May 19. Be sure to contact Katie Jones to get registered for the conference and book your hotel room.
Our federal partners have also been busy advocating for credit card fee fairness. Last week, the National Restaurant Association partnered with the National Retail Federation to host a Small Business Appreciation event for Capitol Hill lawmakers and staffers to learn about our Credit Card Competition Act. We expect this bill to be re-introduced for this Congressional session in the coming weeks.
Slow negotiations continue to the debt limit between White House and Congressional leaders. The pressure is building as we draw closer to the default date, but the good news is the leaders are at least communicating finally. More to come as this develops.

For more information and to register.

MEDICAID REDETERMINATION

Medicaid Redetermination

Some of your team members may lose Medicaid coverage over the next 12 months. Make sure they stay covered by sharing our free service with them. Your team can enroll in health insurance plans easily over the phone, and will get access to their maximum federal subsidies and most reasonably priced plans.

Email hospitalityhealth@uhg.com for more information and free promotional materials. No employer contribution; simply post our free flyers.