Monday, October 5, 2020
Tennessee Updates COVID-19 Business Guidance: ERG Releases Updates for Businesses Under Tennessee Pledge
 
Recently, Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee’s Economic Recovery Group (ERG) issued updated guidance Friday for businesses and other activities under the Tennessee Pledge. The updates follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and maintain emphasis on key preventative measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and frequent disinfection. The guidance are not mandates and are established to guide business reopening guidelines and follow executive orders signed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee earlier last week, extending the State of Emergency through the end of October. The Tennessee Chamber has played a key role in the recovery efforts, helping to provide key input into the Tennessee Pledge and have served as a member of Governor Lee's ERG. 
 
“On behalf of Tennessee's business community, we greatly appreciate Governor Lee's leadership and our ERG in establishing safe protocols to open our economy and ensure economic growth" noted Tennessee Chamber President Bradley Jackson. "Our businesses have gone to great lengths to put in place strong measures to protect their employees, customers, and communities,” said Gov. Lee. “The updated Tennessee Pledge enables businesses to better sustain best practices with foundational pieces that help lead to healthy communities and open businesses.”
The updated and streamlined guidance aligns with recent amendments to state-issued Executive Orders and enable Tennessee businesses to operate with more flexibility where social distancing protocols remain in place.

The Economic Recovery Group (ERG), composed of 30 leaders from the public and private sector along with health experts, and include Tennessee Chamber President Bradley Jackson and other business leaders to provide essential input. With input from the business community, the Tennessee Pledge was established to assist businesses in a safe reopening.  The Tennessee Chamber is proud to have been an integral part of the ERG's creation and group discussion early in the pandemic. The industry representatives participating in the ERG collectively represent over 140,000 Tennessee businesses that employ over 2.5M Tennesseans. More information about ERG is available here.
TN Chamber Business Events Update *Don't Miss Out - Register Now*
Upcoming [VIRTUAL] Events Happening at the Chamber
TN Chamber Policy Listening Sessions:
Each virtual event will be held for Chamber members in the three grand divisions of the state and are designed to inform members about potential issues which could be facing the business community during the 2021 legislative session
East TN - October 8 | Middle TN - October 15 | West TN- October 22

SAVE-THE-DATE: Chemistry Industry Council Meeting, October 14, 1pm CT

TOSHA VIRTUAL Two-Day Training : Basic Safety & Health, October 14-15
This webinar is designed for safety and health professionals or safety committee members who oversee or participate in the maintenance or implementation of the company’s Safety and Health Program.  

Virtual Leadership Development Series- Emotional Intelligence - October 14
This module reviews self–awareness and self- management, how to manage your emotions, and understand others’ emotions and how to manage in the workplace.
Mark Your Calendar- October 19:
Tennessee Chamber Announces Diversity and Inclusion Discussion Event
Diversity and Inclusion is a crucial element to workforce development and is currently one of the most important topics Tennessee businesses are facing . This event will offer your business or organization an opportunity to implement real measures that produce results.  

This major, virtual event headlines a number of major Tennessee companies, including Keynote Speaker, Perry Stucky of Eastman Chemical. We will explore diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as, learn how businesses and organizations of all sizes can establish and improve their programs to ensure they create a welcoming climate for both existing and prospective employees.

In addition, participants will also hear from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about their recently launched Equality of Opportunity Initiative, in which the Tennessee Chamber is a proud supporter.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: UNUM
Recent news you don't want to miss..
U.S. adds 661,000 jobs in September and unemployment rate falls to 7.9%: Tennessee's Unemployment Rate Continues to Improve 

The numbers: The U.S. created 661,000 new jobs in September and the unemployment rate fell again to 7.9% to the lowest level of the pandemic, but the gain in hiring was the smallest since the economy reopened and pointed to deceleration in the recovery.
The increase in employment last month fell short of Wall Street’s estimate. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast an 800,000 gain. Click here for the full report>>  
Cybersecurity Special Report: Tennessee Chamber Promotes Improving Your Cybersecurity During the Pandemic

Increasingly a number of business trade associations and businesses have noted the increased risk of cybersecurity attacks on businesses of all sizes. In light of this risk, the Tennessee Chamber is posting a number of information and resources from our national partnership with the U.S. Chamber to highlight and show proactive measures businesses of all sizes can take to mitigate their risk. 

COVID-19 has forced millions of Americans to work from home. With virtual meetings and digital commerce becoming the new normal, workers and businesses have had to adapt. But so too have cybercriminals, making employers and employees susceptible to cyberattacks in new ways.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and FICO today released their Special Report on Cybersecure Remote Working During COVID-19. It digs into the evolution of cybersecurity threats during the pandemic and offers insights on how companies can protect themselves.
New Jobs Report Expected to Underscore Slowing Recovery
The final monthly jobs report before Election Day will be released Friday, giving voters one last glimpse into the state of the labor market before they decide whether to give President Trump another four years to fix it.

The September jobs report is expected to show the U.S. adding roughly 800,000 jobs with the unemployment rate dropping to 8.2 percent, according to projections from economists. If those predictions hold up, the U.S. will have recovered roughly half of the more than 20 million jobs lost to a pandemic that derailed the strongest labor market in half a century.
TN Dept. of Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Hodgen Mainda Reflects
on one year of Service to Tennesseans Amid an Unprecedented Year
TN Chamber Announces State's First Business License Plate 
Effort benefits TN Chamber Foundation workforce and business programs
PRE-ORDER YOUR PLATE TODAY! $35
Deadline: Dec. 21
Manufacturers: Save Now on Health Insurance: Get your Partner Discount Quote Now
If you are about to renew your employee benefits, as a member of one of our partner Associations, you'll want to hear this. Please join for the next live Q&A session!

🕒 Register here for Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 2:00 CT / 3:00 ET

Register now to learn how NAM Health Care could:
  • Save on your company contributions toward insurance costs
  • Lower your employees' insurance expenses
  • Extend to you multiple plan design options
  • Offer you telehealth, mail-order Rx, online support and phone apps
  • Streamline your benefits communication
  • Help you compete with larger companies' benefits
  • Assist with attracting and retaining your employees