GRA Weekly

July 18, 2024

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Society Insurance.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR TEQUILA TUESDAY

Join us next Tuesday for our Tequila Tuesday fundraiser and networking event! Come enjoy a guided tequila tasting from one of the top brands in tequila, with food and drinks at Chicheria MX in Atlanta. Attendees will also have an opportunity to bid on premier bottles and hard-to-find tequila. All proceeds from the event will support the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Restaurant Association PAC, and the Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation.

When: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 5:00PM - 8:00PM

Where: Chicheria MX | 202 Chattahoochee Row, Unit C, Atlanta, GA 30318

ADVOCACY UPDATE

Disaster Assistance Available for 11 Georgia Counties; SBA To Open Business Recovery Center

Businesses affected by the water main breaks, which occurred from May 31 to June 6, 2024, in 11 Georgia counties, may now apply for low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://lending.sba.gov.

For more information about the program, click here.

MEET THE EXPERTS

Register Now To Attend GRA's Newest Educational Networking Event - Meet The Experts, Hosted In Partnership with NCR Voyix, Ecolab, Moore Colson, And Sysco

Meet the Experts will feature over a dozen industry experts for an evening of speed coaching and power networking. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 2:00PM to 5:00PM at the NCR Voyix Headquarters, restaurant and hospitality operators will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with some of the biggest restaurateurs in the business, plus experts in HR, public relations, law, accounting, licensing, insurance, and more.

How it works: Operators (restaurant/hospitality owners, managers, and restaurant leadership) can select up to five (5) topics to be paired with during the event for 15-minute sessions. Consider it an ideal opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and exchange business information to keep the conversation going in the future. It's speed coaching and power networking at its finest.

RESTAURANT SALES CONTINUE TO RISE

Restaurant Sales Continue to Rise in Latest Report

According to the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) latest report, eating and drinking places registered total sales of $94.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in June, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up 0.3% from May and represented the third consecutive monthly sales gain, after May’s preliminary reading was revised significantly higher.

Read the full report here.

FOUNDATION UPDATE

Georgia High Schools Awarded with Rachel Ray ProStart Grow Grant

We are proud to announce that Meadowcreek High School and Berkmar High School have been selected as recipients of the NRAEF’s prestigious Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grant!

The ProStart Rachael Ray Grow Grant supports high school culinary and restaurant management programs nationwide, providing vital resources to foster the next generation of culinary professionals. This year, 2024 Georgia ProStart Champions Meadowcreek and Berkmar High Schools have distinguished themselves through their commitment to culinary education, innovative teaching methods, and the overall success of their students.

Learn more about the grant and how it will serve students in Georgia by reading our latest blog.

UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE DECLARATION PAGES

Understanding The Importance Of Insurance Declaration Pages

A declaration page, often referred to as a "dec page" or "policy declarations page," is one of the most vital components of any insurance policy. Upon the issuance of a policy, the policyholder receives this essential document.

A comprehensive document that encapsulates the details of your insurance policies, a declaration page highlights the types of coverage possessed, the specifics of those coverages, deductibles, discounts and more. Read our latest blog to learn why they are important and how to find yours.

FEDERAL UPDATE

FTC Announces New Policy Statement and Guidance on Illegal Franchisor Fees

This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took a suite of actions to address growing concern about unfair and deceptive practices by franchisors—to ensure that the franchise business model remains a ladder of opportunity for small business owners.

The FTC released a policy statement that warns that franchisors’ use of contract provisions, including non-disparagement clauses that prohibit franchisees’ communications with the government, violate the law. The statement emphasizes that franchisee reports and voluntary interviews are a critical part of FTC investigations and franchisees’ reluctance or inability to file reports and discuss their experiences may hamper the agency’s work to protect franchisees. Threats of retaliation against a franchisee for reporting potential law violations to the government are unlawful.

FTC staff also released new guidance explaining that franchisors cannot lawfully impose and collect fees from franchisees that were not previously disclosed. In response to the FTC’s request for information, franchisees reported ever increasing payment processing and technology fees that make it difficult to make a living, while others identified undisclosed fees for training, marketing, property improvement, or any other product or service required by the franchisor. Read more.

New Federal Overtime Standards Take Effect

The U.S. Department of Labor has updated regulations to extend overtime pay eligibility to salaried restaurant employees earning up to $43,888 annually, a change expected to affect about 1M additional workers across various industries, with further increases in the threshold planned. A business coalition that includes the National Restaurant Association’s legal arm and the Texas Restaurant Association had filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court to halt adoption of the new overtime standard. Learn more.

OSHA Proposes New Heat Illness Prevention Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a proposed rule outlining steps employers would be required to take to protect indoor and outdoor workers from the risk of heat illness.

This rule applies to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work, with limited exceptions.
Public comments are due 120 days after it is posted in the Federal Register.

Overview of the Proposed Rule: The National Restaurant Association (NRA) is analyzing the rule. Employer requirements include:

Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (HIIPP): Develop and implement a plan with site-specific information to evaluate and control heat hazards.
Initial Heat Trigger Control Measures (80°F heat index): Provide cool drinking water, break areas with cooling measures, indoor work area controls, acclimatization protocols for new and returning employees, paid rest breaks if needed, and regular effective communication.
High Heat Trigger Control Measures (90°F heat index): Mandatory rest breaks of 15 minutes every two hours, observation for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, a hazard alert, and warning signs at indoor work areas with ambient temperatures that regularly exceed 120°F.
Emergency Response Plan: Develop a heat emergency response plan and take steps if an employee is experiencing signs of heat-related illness.
Training Requirements: Provide initial and annual refresher training for supervisors, heat safety coordinators, and employees.
Recordkeeping Obligations: Maintain records of indoor monitoring data for at least six months.
Cost-Free Implementation: Ensure all requirements are implemented at no cost to employees.

Next Steps:

Review the Proposed Rule: Assess its potential impact on your operations.
Provide Feedback: Because this is the first-ever nationwide heat standard, it's essential for the restaurant industry to weigh in. Please share your insights and concerns with the Association as we draft comments to submit to OSHA. Additionally, we encourage operators to submit comments once the rule is published in the Federal Register.

For More Information:

New Action Expands Loan Access for Energy-Reducing Retrofits, Solar Panel Installation

The Small Business Administration has lifted the lending cap for clean energy projects through its 504 Loan Program, which is designed to benefit small and medium businesses. The cap was previously set at $16.5M.

What this means: Restaurant operators interested in projects to reduce energy consumption through a building retrofit or to produce renewable energy will have greater access to capital.

More about the program: The 504 Program has 10-, 20-, and 25-year maturity terms available with an interest rate above the current market rate for 10-year U.S. Treasury issues.

RESTAURANT LEGAL SUMMIT

8th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit

Join the Restaurant Law Center this October 23-25 for the 8th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico! Learn and connect with other industry chief legal officers, attorneys, and human resource professionals. In addition to meeting senior representatives from some of the industry’s most successful brands, attendees get access to the latest information on current trends and best practices from legal experts at some of the nation’s top law firms.

CHILD LABOR PROTECTIONS IN RESTAURANTS

Child Labor Protections in the Restaurant Industry

In 2023, there were over 2 million workers between the ages of 16 and 19 in the restaurant industry. As an employer, it is vital to ensure that you are providing a positive and safe work environment for children – the most vulnerable workers in the workplace.

Since 2019 alone, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has seen an 88% increase in offenses related to child labor exploitation. To prevent violations from occurring in the first place, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) recently partnered with the DOL to host an educational webinar - keep reading for the key takeaways, plus access additional resources.

QSR EVOLUTION CONFERENCE & NEXTGEN RESTAURANT SUMMIT

QSR Evolution Conference & NextGen Restaurant Summit

The QSR Evolution Conference will focus on the needs of quick-service restaurant operators where industry leaders will hear and share perspectives on running QSRs of the future. Educational sessions focus on growth and franchising, leadership, technology, digital marketing trends, company culture, drive-thru and the changing consumer.

The NextGen Restaurant Summit is geared toward nextgen and emerging full-service brand operators. Topics covered during educational sessions cover unique restaurant experiences of the future, F&B innovation, technology, restaurant design, menu engineering and labor and employment.

When: September 4-5, 2024

Where: Atlanta Marriott Marquis

Keynote presentations will be provided by:

Burger King
Firehouse Subs
GoTo Foods
Inspire Brands
KFC
Popeyes
Tim Hortons
...and more!

As a partner of the event, we secured a discount for GRA members to attend. Use code GRA10 at checkout to save 10% on your full conference pass which will grant you access to all sessions and included receptions of the event.

PREPARE YOUR RESTAURANT FOR HURRICANE SEASON

National Hurricane Preparedness | June 1 - November 30

Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and runs 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: