GRA Weekly

April 20, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner NCR | Aloha

WIND DOWN BY THE RIVER

Wind Down by the River

Please join us on the banks of the Chattahoochee River for Wind Down by the River, a special reception in support of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant Political Action Committee and the Georgia Restaurant Association Political Action Committee.

Through your attendance and support, we are able to reach candidates who will advance a pro-restaurant pro-business legislative agenda, fight onerous legislation and address the issues that are most important to YOU.

Thursday, April 27 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM

MANY THANKS!

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, over 150 golfers, sponsors, volunteers and an elected official came together at Atlanta National Golf Club in Milton, GA for an incredible day of golf raising just over $105,000 for the GRA PAC. Participating golfers enjoyed exciting raffle prizes, a great variety of food and beverage donated by industry partners, and interactive contests along the course.

Your generous participation, donations, and time made the tournament a great success!

MANY THANKS to our sponsors and restaurant partners for helping make this event happen: Coca-Cola, Gas South, Sysco, Society Insurance, OrionStar USA, Healthy Hospitality, Ecolab, US Foods, Focus Brands, TriMark, Melissa Libby & Associates, Tito’s Vodka, IRONWOOD, HM Plumbing, Moore Colson, Savannah Distributing, Corporate Events Unlimited, Hay! Straws, Fork U Concepts + Taqueria Tsunami, H Restaurant Group + Pisano's Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen, Copeland's of New Orleans, Brewed to Serve Restaurant Group & Bold Monk Brewing Co., Whataburger, and Loyal Q + Brew.

Congratulations to the Top Scoring Teams

First Place: Sizzlin Steak Concepts (Wilson Oswald, Pierce Brooks, Josh Chay, Blake Kennedy)
Second Place: Copeland's of New Orleans (Bill Goudey, Derek Jackson, Quinton Austin, CJ Bressoud)
Third Place: First Horizon Bank (Spencer Curtis, Taylor Trent, William Edwards, Thomas Hamlin)

RISING STARS 2023

2023 Rising Stars Announced

The Rising Stars program recognizes those in the industry who are going above and beyond expectations in their jobs and finding new ways to lead the industry forward and we’re thrilled to announce our 2023 winners.

Each year, the hospitality industry is invited to submit nominations for who they think should be a Rising Star. The final selections were determined by Restaurant Informer editorial staff in partnership with the Georgia Restaurant Association. This year’s winners are an impressive group of individuals who are making a difference in the way we do business. This year, the winners are...

WORKING WITH MINORS

US Department Of Labor Focused On Preventing Child Labor Violations, Protecting Young Workers In Southeast As Summer Hiring Surge Approaches

From 2020-2022, division assessed Southeast employers more than $2.8M in penalties

ATLANTA – With violations of child labor laws up 69 percent since 2018 and millions of minor-aged workers joining the U.S. workforce each year – many in seasonal summer jobs in the restaurant, retail and amusement industries – the U.S. Department of Labor is actively working to educate Southeast employers about their legal obligations and make sure young employees are kept safe at work and paid fully.

As part of that effort, the department’s Wage and Hour Division will hold a webinar on child labor regulations for employers, minor-aged workers and their parents, school representatives and other stakeholders on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT. The webinar panel is free, but registration is required.

The webinar will include a panel discussion that will include representatives from the Wage and Hour Division; Tennessee State Department of Labor; Safety, Health, Environmental Services at Georgia Tech; Georgia Restaurant Association and the Consulate of Guatemala. Continue reading.

From School to Work: What to Know When Employing Minors

U.S. DOL + Georgia Restaurant Association

Wednesday, April 26 | 10:00AM

RESTAURANT SERVER SKILLS

Restaurant server skills that will be essential in 2023

There’s no substitute for good service at a restaurant

Customer service is essential to a restaurant’s survival and success. An establishment could serve the most incredible food but if the wait staff doesn't provide exceptional customer service, people will stop coming.

Great restaurant servers create an inviting atmosphere using their interpersonal skills, including the way they smile, speak and interact with customers. They should be able to clarify and elaborate on the menu, easily answering customers’ questions. Continue reading.

FEDERAL UPDATES

U.S. DOL | Examine your Overtime - Correctly Classify Managers and Assistant Managers

In preparation for a new overtime rule, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidance for restaurants to examine their exempt status classifications:

Restaurant owners, general managers, and human resource employees can use the following guidelines to help them to determine which managers and assistant managers are exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and which are not. Learn more.

Menu labeling regulations are coming back

On May 11, the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration expires and with it the suspension of menu-labeling enforcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Operators will have until Nov. 7, 2023, to meet labeling requirements. Find out what you need to do.

Changes to 2022 Food Code make donations easier

Operators who plan to donate food from their restaurants can follow these 4 tips from Association partner Food Donation Connection and our Association’s VP of Food Science and Safety. Get the tips that cover temperature control, packaging, and labeling. Learn more.

Restaurant Revitalization Tax Credit

The news: Last Thurs., April 13, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and Rep. Dean Phillips reintroduced the Restaurant Revitalization Tax Credit.

Breaking it down: The legislation would create a tax credit for payroll tax liabilities of up to $25K per quarter in 2023. To qualify for the tax credit, restaurants must have applied for but not received funds through the Restaurant Revitalization Act in 2021 and must have experienced a revenue loss of 50% in 2020 or 2021 compared with 2019, or a loss of 30% in both 2020 and 2021.

WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference

GRA members, join us on our annual trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference (June 19-21).

Our Government Affairs team will be there to guide you during this fantastic conference as well as on Capitol Hill to speak to Georgia members of Congress about the many issues facing restaurants.

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.