GRA Weekly

February 16, 2023

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

ICYMI

Webinar Recap | Tips on Tipping: Part I

Would you like to be on the hook for three years' worth of employees for potentially hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in back wages? No? Then this webinar series is a must for you. Les Stine and Les Schneider of Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider, & Stine P.C. will guide you on avoiding legal pitfalls associated with this commonly used, yet often misunderstood and misapplied feature of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Read more about tip credit rules, wage requirements and more in our recap and access the full recording here.

TASTE OF GEORGIA

14th Annual Taste Of Georgia Legislative Reception

This annual event is an opportunity for GRA members to showcase their food to elected officials and for our legislators to network with our state’s second largest employer. The honorees of the 2023 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program will also be recognized.

Attendance is complimentary for lobbyists, dignitaries, legislators, and staff, however registration is required. Discounted registration is available for GRA Restaurant Members.

GRA EXCLUSIVE WEBINARS

STATE OF THE PLATE

What's happening at the state capitol so far? Hear from the President + CEO, Karen Bremer to learn more. Watch now.

QUESTIONS WHEN SEEKING AN INSURANCE AGENT

Seven Essential Questions To Ask When Seeking An Insurance Agent

The restaurant industry has unique risks and challenges. When it comes to insurance, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. When looking to protect their businesses, restaurant owners should look for an agent with specialized knowledge of the food service industry and consider asking the following questions to ensure they are covered before the inevitable happens. Read more.

FEDERAL UPDATES

FDA’s food traceability rule: Everything you need to know

The FDA issued a final rule on food traceability designed to facilitate faster ID of potentially contaminated food. Restaurants will be required to maintain specific records for foods on the Food Traceability List. Join us for a webinar on Thurs., March 16, 2 p.m. ET, to hear from FDA and the Association on the details of the rule, various exceptions, and strategies to comply. Register.

FDA updates Food Code

The FDA’s recently released 2022 FDA Food Code offers updated guidance on how restaurants, foodservice operators and retailers can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Updates you’ll want to note include:

Sesame to be listed and treated as an official allergen, allergy awareness guidelines, and labelling requirements
Water temperature for handwashing
Recommendations for pets on patios
“Intact meat” definition and handling guidelines
Changes to ambient food holding
New food donation provisions

Read about the changes.

IRS introduces new service industry tip reporting program

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2023-13, which contains a proposed revenue procedure that would establish the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement (SITCA) program, a voluntary tip reporting program between the IRS and employers in various service industries. The IRS is issuing this guidance in proposed form to provide an opportunity for public comment.

The proposed SITCA program is designed to take advantage of advancements in point-of-sale, time and attendance systems, and electronic payment settlement methods to improve tip reporting compliance. The proposed program would also decrease taxpayer and IRS administrative burdens and provide more transparency and certainty to taxpayers. The proposed program includes several features... Learn more.

STATE OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY

2023 State of the Restaurant Industry webinar

A new and positive normal is starting to take hold at restaurants across the country. Nearly 3 in 4 restaurant operators say they are getting comfortable with their day-to-day operations and are focused on sustaining growth in 2023. Hear more about the findings from the 2023 State of the Restaurant Industry report when Hudson Riehle presents, Thurs., March 2, 2:00PM. Register.

EXPANDING DINING OUTSIDE

NRAEF Scholarship Applications

Individuals pursuing a post-secondary degree in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry can now apply for more than $1 million in scholarships from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

NRAEF scholarships help reduce the financial burden of post-secondary education and support the industry’s future leaders. Awards range from $2,500 to $10,000 and can be used toward tuition and fees, books, room and board, as well as other school-related expenses.

The scholarships have no age restrictions and anyone pursuing higher education in a restaurant, foodservice and/or hospitality related field is encouraged to apply through March 15, 2023, by visiting ChooseRestaurants.org/Scholarships.