Business News for October 6, 2020
Today's message includes the following news and online courses:

  • News and Updates
  • Statewide Order Limits Public Gatherings to 25% 
  • Planning for When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
  • Madison Extends Streatery Program for Restaurants
  • Madison Area HR Trends Update - access the report!
  • Tips for Accepting Credit Card Payments 
  • Upcoming Learning Opportunities
  • Cash is King: Understanding Cash Flow During COVID and Beyond
  • Launch into Leadership
  • HR for Non-HR Professionals
Statewide Order Limits Public Gatherings to 25%
Recent increases in cases across Wisconsin led to order issuing
Gov. Tony Evers has directed the Department of Health Services (DHS) to issue Emergency Order #3 limiting public gatherings to no more than 25% of a room or building’s total occupancy.

This directive is effective 8 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2020 - Nov. 6, 2020, and applies to any gatherings at locations that are open to the public. This order follows recent increases in cases, with an increase of 2,020 confirmed statewide cases of COVID-19 today and a record number of hospitalizations this week in Dane County.

What if an Employee Tests Positive for COVID?
This FAQ guide from Public Health can help you make a plan
If concern over what to do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 is keeping you up at night, it could help both you and your employees to develop a plan before something happens.

To assist with many of the common questions businesses are asking about health-related concerns for a positive test, Madison & Dane County Public Health has developed an FAQ document to share best practices on issues such as cleaning, how long an employee should stay away from the job site and how to determine if other employees may have been exposed. We strongly recommend you review this document to take the appropriate action.
Other relevant resources:
  • Our Navigating the New Normal guide - written for small businesses during COVID-19 - can help you with the business planning aspects of your work. In addition, WWBIC is facilitating small-group discussions using our guide as a tool. Contact Business Resource Coach Sarah Mullins to join a group!
  • Do you want to know what COVID-19 risks your business may have? The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene's Occupational Health Division has established a group of occupational safety and health consultants whose mission is to help Wisconsin’s employers prepare and implement workplace COVID-19 preparedness and response plans. Learn more here.
Madison-Area HR Trends Unveiled for 2021
With so much changing, local data can help with decisions
Thank you to those of you who joined us for our webinar on 2021 HR trends, hosted by Summer Rector of The QTI Group! QTI’s annual HR Trends eBook has provided hundreds of employers with insights into top HR trends. The resulting report summarizes key findings and recommendations on how to develop a successful HR strategy for 2021.

Not an HR professional and looking to learn commonly broken HR laws and other key concepts for small businesses? Join our HR Basics for Non-HR Professionals course on October 22 & 23.
How to Accept Credit Card Payments
Whether online or in person, the ability to accept credit cards is key
Credit Card
If you are running a business, it is likely you need to be able to accept credit card payments - either in person through a point of sale (POS) system or online. Yet you may be wondering how credit card fees are structured, what merchant services you should set up, or key differences between online and in-person sales. Learn more from this ASBDC blog post.
City of Madison Extends Streatery Program
Cold-weather dining guidelines, compiled by the GMACC
Cafe
The City of Madison has extended to April 14, 2021, its Streatery Program, which was launched earlier this year to allow expanded outdoor dining to assist restaurants that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. However, colder weather will present new challenges in maintaining outdoor dining while also abiding by Public Health orders.
City Fire Inspection has issued fire safety guidelines for heaters and tents while reminding operators that tents and propane heaters cannot be used together; many restaurants will have to choose one or the other to get through the season. The City has also released cold-weather guidelines for sidewalk cafes and cafes in the parking lane, as well as guidelines for private property.
Related Resources:
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Launch into Leadership
October 12-15, 2020 (rescheduled from September)
Taking on new supervisory responsibilities is a great opportunity and challenge. Many in supervisory roles have learned either by trial and error or by following what was done by their predecessor. In most cases, this is not a very effective strategy. This webinar series will start you in the right direction with fundamental leadership skills and ideas for how to continue your growth as a supervisor and leader.
Cash is King: Understanding Cash Flow During COVID and Beyond
October 20, 2020
Cash is the lifeforce of your business, and being able to control your cash flow is one significant way you can take some of the uncertainty out of running your business. This free, interactive webinar will provide you with a tool to help you forecast and plan your business cash flow, and the program instructor will walk you step-by-step how to use it.

HR Basics for Non-HR Professionals
Starts October 22, 2020
If you are a business owner or manager of a small business without a dedicated HR expert on your staff, this is the program for your organization. This mini series of two half-day classes is directed toward small businesses and the HR issues they face. One class will include the laws most often violated (unknowingly) by Small Businesses (according to the Small Business Administration) and provide information on how to prevent these violations. The second class will focus on common issues encountered when working with employees.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu or 608-263-2221 to request accommodations.

The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in the University of Wisconsin System. It is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.