GRA Weekly

October 12, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, TFH Legal

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK: WHISKEY WEDNESDAY PAC FUNDRAISER

Whiskey Wednesday

Join Us for our Whiskey Wednesday PAC fundraiser and networking event! Come enjoy a guided whiskey tasting from Bardstown Bourbon, one of the top brands in bourbon, with food and drinks at Hobnob in Dunwoody.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to bid on premier bottles of hard-to-find bourbon and whiskey. All proceeds from the event will support the Georgia Restaurant Association Political Action Committee (PAC). Space is limited, Register today!

HOBNOB Dunwoody

Wednesday, October 18 | 5:00PM - 8:00PM

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

ALCOHOL LICENSE RENEWAL SEASON

Alcohol License Renewal Season

It's that time of year again – alcohol license renewal season is upon us. As most of you know, renewing alcohol license(s) in a timely manner is crucial to ensure continuity of alcohol service after the new year, as well as to avoid fines, suspensions, and/or denials. Remember, you must renew both your state and local licenses.

GRA Corporate Partner, TFH Legal, handles alcohol license renewals for numerous restaurants, hotels, breweries, distilleries, etc. If you need assistance with renewals, they are offering a GRA members only discounted alcohol license renewal fee structure.

See the License Fee Renewal Chart.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

NEW: GRA Releases Guidance on Off-Premise Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in Atlanta

On Tuesday, we released a guidance document for restaurants within the City of Atlanta, as it relates to off-premises consumption, for the home delivery of alcohol, curbside pickup/to-go orders, and merlot to-go. If your establishment is in Atlanta, please refer to this document to adjust off-premises consumption practices accordingly.

Additionally, we encourage our Atlanta members to complete this brief survey, so that we may better understand the impacts of this issue on local businesses. Please contact Dedan McFadden, Local Advocacy Coordinator, for any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

GRA Hosts Macon Kitchen Cabinet

On Thursday, September 28, the GRA hosted a Kitchen Cabinet roundtable at The Rookery in downtown Macon. Scott Bierman and Dedan McFadden sat down with local operators, business leaders, and Mayor Lester Miller to discuss local issues, and the path forward for restaurants grappling with high food costs and the competitive labor market. Thank you to all who attended!

JOIN US AT THE 2023 GRACE AWARDS

Join Us at the 2023 GRACE Awards

You're invited to join us in an unforgettable evening of celebration at the 15th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awa rds! Raise a toast to the stars of Georgia's restaurant industry, mingle with industry icons, enjoy a dinner prepared by world-renowned Wolfgang Puck Catering, choose from a curated drink menu, and celebrate excellence in hospitality against the stunning backdrop of the Georgia Aquarium.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Cocktail Reception | 5:00PM

Dinner + Awards | 6:30PM

Georgia Aquarium

255 Baker Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30313

Thank you to all who submitted nominations. Finalists for all categories will be announced early next week. Interested in sponsoring the event? Please contact Sarah Thorson.

GET TICKETS

FEDERAL UPDATE

FTC Seeks to Overhaul Restaurant Pricing

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a new plan to prohibit “unfair or deceptive fees” throughout a host of industries within the U.S. This proposal impacts restaurant pricing models, with the FTC seeking to:

Eliminate service or other mandatory fees from restaurant receipts
Make several recommendations concerning tipping for servers and credit card transaction charges
Require “all-in” pricing during third-party delivery menu selections.

Our partners at the National Restaurant Association plan to engage on this proposed rule, and we will continue to provide updates in the coming weeks.

Review the FTC proposed rule (restaurant section begins in-depth on page 121).

Navigating Proposed DOL Overtime Rule Changes in Hospitality

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed significant changes to overtime rules that could impact the hospitality industry. The DOL seeks to raise salary thresholds for overtime exemptions, affecting millions of employees. The threshold for executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) exemption may increase from $684 per week ($35,568/year) to $1,059 per week ($55,068/year) by early 2024. Highly compensated employees (HCE) might see their threshold rise from $107,432 to $143,988/year. These changes could cost employers $1.2 billion in Year 1 and require reevaluation of employee classifications. In the hospitality sector, this could affect up to 869,100 employees and result in workforce adjustments, job consolidations, and cost transfers to guests. While these changes aim to protect workers, they present complex challenges for hospitality businesses.

Act Now! By submitting comments to the Department of Labor, you can help to ensure that your business is not harmed by these proposed changes. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, November 7. To submit a comment, click here.

Increased Enforcement on Child Labor Laws

The federal government found a 69% increase in illegal child labor practices between 2018 and 2022. As a result, the US Department of Labor (DOL) has announced increased enforcement and education efforts.
The DOL has issued a fact sheet, with the following key reminders: 16- and 17-year-old employees may work any hours or schedules but are restricted from hazardous occupations, such as operating or cleaning meat slicers and commercial mixers, or driving motor vehicles on the job.
Minors aged 14 or 15 may have limited employment opportunities outside school hours.
The minimum age for employment in non-agricultural jobs is 14.

DOL: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees. ODEP has chosen "Advancing Access and Equity" as the theme for NDEAM 2023.

Read the Blog: Advancing Access and Equity
Download or Order the Workplace Poster
Participate in 31 Days of NDEAM

AFFORDABLE MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Prioritizing Industry Wellbeing with GRA's Affordable Mental Health Solution

After enduring years of unprecedented challenges, the hospitality industry faces significant concerns about the wellbeing of its workforce. With over 70% of restaurant workers reporting high stress levels, and nearly one-third experiencing symptoms of depression, the need for comprehensive support is undeniable. In response, the GRA is proud to highlight HealthiestYou by Teladoc, a revolutionary solution designed to address these issues.

This partnership provides members with unlimited virtual medical and mental healthcare visits for employees and their households at an astonishingly low rate of $9 per month, with no additional costs like copays, deductibles, or coinsurance—far below the normal $49 monthly rate. Importantly, this offering is accessible to all foodservice businesses with two or more enrollees, extending to both full- and part-time employees.

By enrolling in this industry-specific initiative, you take an active step to ensure affordable mental and physical healthcare for your entire team. With a staggering 27 million untreated adults experiencing mental illness and an average wait time of 6 weeks for traditional appointments, HealthiestYou offers timely and convenient access to board-certified mental health professionals via phone or video, enabling members to seek help from the comfort of their chosen environment. Together, GRA and Teladoc aim to safeguard the wellbeing of every individual within the industry. To learn more, determine eligibility, and enroll, click here.

SERVSAFE UPDATE

ServSafe Incorporates FDA Food Code Update

ServSafe products have been updated to reflect the current, 2022 FDA Food Code. The content in the ServSafe program is based on the FDA Food Code, the latest science in food safety and industry best practices. While only some of the changes in the 2022 FDA Food Code required adjustments to the program content ServSafe is, as always, a best-in-class training resource that is completely up to date to help you fulfill your food safety training and certification needs. Read the full announcement.

FAQs:

Watch the Webinar:

The 2022 Food Code and You: Key Information for Food Service Operators and Educators

HOW DOES YOUR RESTAURANT OPERATION COMPARE?

How does your restaurant operation compare?

It’s time again take stock of restaurants’ operational data for the Association’s Restaurant Operations Report, the most widely recognized source of restaurant operating data in the U.S. Based on survey data from restaurant operators like you, this report will measure key industry statistics including profit margins, food and labor costs as a percentage of budget, operating expenses, staffing levels, service offerings and more. If you’re a restaurant operator and take the survey, you’ll receive a free electronic copy of the Restaurant Operations Report, which will allow you to see how your restaurant(s) compare to the competition on key operational metrics.

TAKE THE SURVEY

DINING WITH GRATITUDE

Dining with Gratitude This October

Calling all Georgia restaurants and food service establishments! This October, help Giving Kitchen (GK) raise critical funds and vital awareness by participating in Dining With Gratitude. The ask from GK is simple:

1) pledge at least $1,000 for food service workers in crisis through a direct donation or percentage of sales,

2) tell your staff about Giving Kitchen at lineup

3) in October, share with your customers you’re stepping up to support food services workers in crisis and invite them to dine with gratitude - they will send you a package for promotion kit in September. Register and find more details here.