• The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020. Click here to view the rule.
• The National Restaurant Association will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. EST with the law firm of Littler Mendelson to address implementation of the paid leave provisions contained in the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act." Speakers will include Michael J. Lotito and James A. Paretti, Jr., shareholders with Littler Mendelson; and Shannon Meade, Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Advocacy, National Restaurant Association. Click here to register.

• The State budget is in the process of being finalized by the Legislature today/this evening. A ban on polystyrene packaging was included in the final product, which also included a hardship waiver.

• The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has announced that they are waiving sidewalk cafe fees for the quarter (March through May) and will reevaluate the situation from there. If you have already submitted payment for your sidewalk cafe, the DCWP says reimbursement is available. 

• Our next webinar is Friday, 4/3 at 11 a.m.,The CARES Act Loan Program - What Restaurants Need to Know, presented by Jackson Lewis and Citrin Cooperman. Click here to register. 

• We fielded questions from two separate Yahoo Finance reporters, and the Haitian Times. 
• https://ny.eater.com/2020/3/31/21199988/nyc-restaurants-report-sales-loss-covid-19
• https://finance.yahoo.com/news/chef-marcus-samuelsson-on-coronavirus-where-restaurants-go-away-so-goes-all-small-businesses-180117756.html