GRA Weekly

April 6, 2023

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

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

WOTC

GRA IN THE NEWS

Business Leaders, CFOs Name Labor Most Pressing Concern

The quality and availability of labor are by far the most pressing concerns cited by businesses large and small at the start of 2023, and combined they've been among their top two worries since 2018, according to surveys conducted by the Atlanta Fed.

issues other than labor—including inflation, monetary policy, costs, and supply chain—pale in comparison to concerns about having enough competent employees to do the work that keeps the doors open, according to responses by about 300 business leaders.

We estimate 50,000 jobs could be filled in Georgia if there were more people who wanted to work in our industry. -Karen Bremer, president and chief executive officer Georgia Restaurant Association Read the full article.

LAST DAY TO VOTE!

Polls close April 7!

The top 10 vote getters in each category will be listed in the May/June issue of JAMES Magazine, and the number one company in each category will be spotlighted in a feature article.

Make sure to come back every day to vote for your favorites and share the poll with your followers, friends and family! If you don't see your favorite on the list, choose the "other" option and write it in. We will add it to the ballot.

*In partnership with the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, Hospitality Business Network Foundation, Georgia Grown, Georgia Wine Producers, Atlanta Beer Festivals and Foodie Road Trip.

LAST DAY TO VOTE!

FEDERAL UPDATES

Association to Congress: Expand employment opportunities and competition in the marketplace

Congress holds the power to help operators address workforce challenges and rising business costs. This was the Association’s main message in a recent op-ed published in The Hill by Sean Kennedy, EVP, Public Affairs. Restaurants are asking Congress to support legislation that will broaden the workforce and lower operators’ costs by supporting the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (EWEA) and the Credit Card Competition Act.

The EWEA would expand America’s workforce by creating career paths that do not require a college degree through market-driven, non-immigrant, 3-year visas, and the Credit Card Competition Act would require that credit cards issued by the nation’s largest banks be routed over at least 2 competing networks. Consumers wouldn’t see any change, but merchants could choose which networks to use. See the full article.

U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Landmark Case About ADA Accommodation "Tester"

Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to weigh in on whether a private citizen can serve as a legal “tester” that goes from business to business looking for – and suing for – alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), even if they have no intention of patronizing the business. A hotel in Maine is challenging a federal appeals court ruling in favor of a so-called “accessibility tester” who has filed hundreds of such lawsuits against hotels even though she never planned to stay at their properties. Why is the case significant for hospitality, retail, and just about any other business with a physical location (and possibly just a website)? Read more.

SBA May Not Collect On Some Delinquent COVID-EIDL Loans, But Agency Says Borrowers Will Face Consequences

The Small Business Administration may not attempt to collect on some delinquent Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans, according to a prominent lawmaker. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee, wrote in a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman that she had “received reports” that the SBA intended to forgo collections on Covid EIDL loans under $100,000 — accounting for about $71 billion of the roughly $378 billion across about 3.9 million loans made before the program ran out of funding in May 2022. The idea that the SBA might decide not to collect on delinquent EIDL loans comes after the agency drew scrutiny for its decision not to collect on delinquent Paycheck Protection Program loans of under $100,000. Read more.

USCIS | E-Verify Records Disposal

On June 24, 2023, USCIS will dispose of E‑Verify records that are more than 10 years old, which are those last updated on or before Dec. 31, 2012. E‑Verify employers have until June 23, 2023, to download case information from the Historic Records Report if they want to retain information about these E-Verify cases.

Employers who have not already done so must record the E‑Verify case verification number on the corresponding Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification, or attach a copy of the case details page to the Form I‑9. Employers should retain the Historic Records Report with the Forms I‑9.

For more information and guidance on downloading the Historic Records Report, see the fact sheet and instructions for downloading.

STATE UPDATES

2023 Regional Education Series: Fair Play on the Midway

Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation

Program will be beneficial to any individual involved in the workers’ compensation process. Highlights include recent board decisions, current events, issues in claim defenses, etc. CEUs available.

April 14, 2023 | Tifton, GA

May 5, 2023 | Alpharetta, GA

May 12, 2023 | Cartersville, GA

May 17, 2023 | Savannah, GA

For more information and to register.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

Early Bird Pricing Ending Soon for 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). Early bird pricing ends on Friday, 3/31 so register soon! 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.