GRA Weekly

October 17, 2021

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LAST WEEK TO REGISTER!

Join us on October 25th at The Standard Club for the GRA Foundation Golf Tournament.

Have fun, network and perfect your chip shot as we take to the golf course to raise funds for the GRA Foundation, the only 501(c)3 non-profit foodservice foundation dedicated to investing in our youth and workforce in Georgia. Your participation will help support ProStart® and enrichment opportunities like mentorships, job-training, training for teachers, and scholarships. Learn More.

Monday, October 25, 2021 | The Standard Club

FEDERAL UPDATES

Update on Federal Vaccine/Testing Mandate for Large Employers, Letter to White House

On Wednesday, the National Restaurant Association submitted a letter to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) regarding OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for a vaccination/ testing mandate for employers with more than 100 employees. We expect the Biden administration will to try have this ETS finalized by the end of the week if at all possible. Once it is published in the Federal Register, the rule goes into effect immediately, but a ramp-up period of time will likely be included to allow employers to get into compliance. Legal challenges seeking to enjoin the rule will immediately follow.

Regardless, once it publishes, the GRA and National Restaurant Association will provide webinars, guidance, compliance assistance and other supporting materials to help our members navigate the rule. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Read more from CNN.

Association Launches Grassroots Campaign to Urge Congress to Oppose Tax Increases

Although the House did not vote on the Build Back Better Act or Infrastructure bill during its recent self-imposed deadline, tax increases contained in both bills, along with RRF replenishment, remain front and center for the Association as we continue to engage with Congress, members, and other industry supporters. Last week, the Association launched a grassroots activation campaign asking advocates to urge their members of Congress to oppose tax increases that would alter the Small Business Tax Deduction and increase the corporate tax rate, among others. In addition, Association director of Healthcare and Tax Policy Aaron Frazier recorded a video explaining how proposed tax policies would affect the restaurant industry.

GEORGIA POWER SCAM ALERT

Georgia Power warns of scam targeting customers.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - There is a scam that is targeting Georgia Power customers and we want to make sure you’re not duped. Georgia Power spokesman Craig Bell joined us on Tuesday evening on News Leader 9 to discuss the phone scam. If an account becomes past due, Georgia Power says it will contact the customer via a pre-recorded message to the primary account telephone number or by letter requesting the customer call to discuss the account. Bell advised customers to check their Georgia Power for the company’s phone number for payment information or to report scams. The company also advised its customers to delete all emails that demand immediate payment or personal information or that are from a company that is not Georgia Power. Learn more about fraud protection.

GHOST KITCHEN & VIRTUAL RESTAURANT SEMINAR

Don’t miss The Florida Ghost Kitchen & Virtual Restaurant Seminar, October 19th in Tampa, Fl.!

You’ve been reading and hearing about all the successes other restaurants and hotels have been having with virtual brands and ghost kitchens. It’s time to really hear from the experts and figure out which approach might be best for you. In two weeks, The Florida Ghost Kitchen & Virtual Restaurant Seminar will provide you everything you need to know to get started. This is an informational seminar, with an agenda full of experts and panels discussions, not sales pitches.

Check out some of their panel discussions and speakers here.

**Use promo code GRA for $100 OFF!

AVOIDING CHARGEBACKS

4 Ways to Avoid Chargebacks in Your Restaurant Successfully.

From fine dining to food trucks, at some point in the course of business every Georgia restaurant is likely to receive a chargeback. While no one likes to deal with them and some can be tied to criminal fraud, each chargeback must be addressed. Learning to navigate the most effective strategies for prevention and response to your next disputed charge will allow you to take immediate action ensuring your restaurant success and payment.

A chargeback is the payment amount returned to a debit or credit card. It takes place when a guest disputes a charge, and their financial institution reverses the payment. The issuing bank offers the restaurant the opportunity to dispute them, but you must have evidence, and the window of time you have to respond varies by processor. Read more.

ERC PAYROLL TAX REFUND WEBINAR

Maximizing the ERC Payroll Tax Refund Webinar

Please join us Thursday, October 28th at 10:00AM, for an overview of the Covid-19 Employee Retention Credit and how your restaurant can make the most out of this beneficial program. We’ll review the two tests for eligibility as well as what wages may qualify. If you think your restaurant may be eligible but don’t know where to start, this is your opportunity to get those questions answered.

Thursday, October 28th | 10:00AM

PROPOSED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

New DHS Guidance Shifts Immigration Enforcement Focus on Employers

Last week, the US Department of Homeland Secretary Mayorkas issued new Worksite Enforcement guidance related to undocumented workers on job sites. They have indicated that they will not be conducting large-scale worksite raids any more but will be working with undocumented workers to identify bad actor employers. They will also be working with the Department of Labor (DOL), possibly to coordinate using DHS enforcement, to help enforce labor laws on US worksites. DHS plans to provide protections for workers who cooperate in investigating alleged workplace violations and exploitation. DHS and DOL plan to target bad actor employers that allegedly exploit undocumented workers. The new worksite enforcement guidance will likely lay the foundation for cooperation between DHS and DOL. It is also supposed to address misuse of E-verify by the employer community. DHS is asking relevant divisions (USCIS, ICE, and CBP) to provide a review of their enforcement policies that might impact employment and labor standards. We expect further crafting of these policies by the administration. We will be closely following these changes and providing updates as they become available. Read more.

PFIZER BOOSTER SHOTS

Hospitality Workers Qualify for Pfizer Booster Shots

GRA, along with our federal partners, are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on clarification that many hospitality workers would fit the criteria based on the below information and their original guidance. The CDC recently published new information on workers who may get Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots. While hospitality workers are not specifically listed as an occupation of increased exposure, they do fit the criteria.

Additionally, a recent CDC presentation explained that higher-risk workers included people who interacted within 6 feet of other people. CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said people would self-identify as qualifying for a booster under the new guidelines. Hospitality workers are at high risk because their occupations involve:

Working in indoor spaces outside their homes
Close proximity (<6 feet) to other people
Unavoidable frequent interactions with potentially unvaccinated people

Therefore, we encourage all hospitality employees whose positions meet these criteria and currently qualify for these booster doses (are at least six months after completion of a Pfizer-BioNTech initial series) to seek a booster vaccine. Of course, it is always recommended that individuals consult with their doctor to ensure that individual medical situation and risk level are considered.