Re-Opening Resources

"I love video webinars full of PowerPoint text!" - said nobody ever.

Today, I'm presenting a webinar sponsored by the Beaver Falls Business District Authority and the New Brighton Business District Authority (big shout out and thank you!) on the legal issues to think about in re-opening your business amidst the coronavirus pandemic.  Shameless plug for my co-presenter, Trish Digliodo, of Paramount Pursuits, who will be discussing small business grant and loan programs!  Check them out at www.paparamount.com.  

During the webinar, I'm going to give you a 30,000-foot overview of the legal issues.  Know what that is?  It's just enough to be dangerous.  It's a taste of what you need to know.  I could probably do a 40-hour, week-long webinar on this stuff, and you still wouldn't have a complete view of it.  And the stuff I tell you on Monday will no doubt be outdated by Thursday because that's just how fast the rules and guidance are evolving.  

All that to say, I'm not the only resource in town.  In fact, I shouldn't be your only resource in town.  I'm not the government, I'm certainly not a health expert, and I'm not a reporter that gets information out to you as it happens.   My job for my clients is to understand their business, understand their situation, and give them advice specifically tailored to their business and their situation, in light of the current status of the laws and rules.  That takes me going back and looking at the new guidance and rules every single time a client has a problem or concern, and analyzing that concern in light of what's going on right now.  Every.  Single.  Time.  (Another shameless plug -- that's also a major reason why I offer a subscription program, so I can do one routine guidance review and then update multiple clients on how it applies to them, and they don't have to pay an extra dime for it).  

Now that you know you can't just rely on my one webinar on any given afternoon, where should you turn? 

If you're a Harmon Kennedy Law client,  e-mail me.  Seriously.   Ask any of the dozens of former clients who've e-mailed me this week alone about grant documents.  I'm totally happy to answer quick questions or send you copies of your docs without charging you by the minute.

If you're not a Harmon Kennedy Law client, here's the list I'm going to promise you during this afternoon's webinar.    It's a list of links where you'll find the updated info from the horse's mouth, or from organizations that invest a huge amount of time and effort into analyzing the horse's mouth.  I'm not guaranteeing any of the info, of course, but I trust these organizations and their summaries well enough to put them out there, and rely on them myself.  

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (main coronavirus page):  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

CDC (Preparing Small Businesses and Employees):  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-small-business.html

CDC (Frequently Asked Questions regarding Small Business):  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html

CDC (Resuming Business Toolkit, incl. much more detailed checklist!):  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/resuming-business-toolkit.html#restart-readiness-checklist

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)(Guidance on Preparing Workplaces):  https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

US Dept. of Labor (DOL)(main coronavirus page -- good guidance for specific industries):  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

DOL (Summary of Families First Coronavirus Response Act - FFCRA - Employee Rights): https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/Pandemic/FFCRA-Employee_Paid_Leave_Rights.pdf

DOL (Summary of FFCRA - Employer-Paid Leave Requirements):  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/Pandemic/FFCRA-Employer_Paid_Leave_Requirements.pdf

DOL (FFCRA Infographic):  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/Pandemic/Quick%20Tip%20Poster%20FFCRA.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)(good detail on employment questions - make sure you pay attention to which guidance is only for federal employers and which is for private employers):  https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws

STATE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES:

Governor's Office (general business guidance - includes what to do with actual or suspected COVID-19 cases among employees):  https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/business-guidance/

PA Dept. of Health (main coronavirus page):  https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

PA Dept. of Health (text of July 1, 2020 face mask order): https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200701-SOH-Universal-Face-Coverings-Order.pdf

PA Dept. of Health (face mask Frequently Asked Questions): https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Guidance/Universal-Masking-FAQ.aspx

PA Dept. of Health (guidance for Businesses):  https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Businesses.aspx

Pennsylvania Department of Labor (employer assistance):  https://www.dli.pa.gov/Businesses/Pages/Employer-Services.aspx

Pennsylvania Dept. of Industry (Unemployment - Form for Employee Refusal to Return to Work) - https://www.uc.pa.gov/forms/Pages/UC-1921W-Refusal-of-Suitable-Work.aspx

PA Office of Unemployment Compensation: https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx

LOCAL RESOURCES: 

Beaver County Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.beavercountychamber.com/resources

Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.paacc.com/coronavirus-preparation-resources

Beaver County Regional Council of Governments:  https://beaver-county-cog-covid-19-hub-bcrcog.hub.arcgis.com/

Allegheny County Health Department:  https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Resources/COVID-19/COVID-19.aspx

Allegheny Conference:  https://www.alleghenyconference.org/covid-19-resources-all/

GENERAL BUSINESS GUIDANCE RESOURCES FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS:

Americans with Disabilities Act National Network:  www.adata.org 

US Chamber of Commerce:  https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus

PA Chamber of Commerce (preparing the workplace):  https://bringingpaback.com/prepare-your-workplace/

PA Chamber of Commerce (safety for employees & customers):  https://bringingpaback.com/welcome-back-employees-customers/

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC RESOURCES:  

PA Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA):  https://www.prla.org/coronavirus.html

PA Licensed Beverage & Tavern Association:  https://pataverns.com/pataverns-covid-19-guidance-page/

PA Governor's Office Guidance for Restaurant Industry:   https://www.governor.pa.gov/covid-19/restaurant-industry-guidance/

PA Dept. of Agriculture:  https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Resources.aspx

PA Dept. of Agriculture (press releases):  https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/COVID-19-Releases.aspx

PA Liquor Control Board (drinks to go):  https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Legal/Documents/Act%2021%20of%202020%20PLCB%20FAQs.pdf

CDC Considerations for Restaurants & Bars:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/business-employers/bars-restaurants.html

US Food and Drug Administration (food safety):  https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/food-safety-and-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

National Restaurant Association Re-Opening guidance:  https://restaurant.org/downloads/pdfs/business/covid19-reopen-guidance.pdf

Meeting Professionals International (MPI):  https://www.mpi.org/tools/coronavirus

Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (funding for grocers, farm markets, etc. announced July 9, 2020): https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Food_Security/Pages/Fresh-Food-Financing-Initiative-COVID-19.aspx

SIGNAGE: 

Required: This sign must be posted "in a conspicuous place" where your employees will see it, or in the alternative, e-mailed or snail-mailed to each employee:

US Dept. of Labor Employee Rights Poster (English):  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf

US Dept. of Labor Employee Rights Poster (Spanish):  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/Pandemic/1422-spanish.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions on using this poster:  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-poster-questions

Required: This sign must be printed, posted, and hung near all public entrances and employee common areas:

PA Dept. of Health Safety Procedures for Business Sign (English):  https://www.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COVID-19-Reopening-Businesses-Flyer-8-5x11-1-Updated-RE.pdf 

PA Dept. of Health Safety Procedures for Business Sign (Spanish): https://www.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COVID-19_ReOpeningBusinesses_Poster-Spanish_8-5x11_6-26.pdf

Not Required:

CDC Various Printable Signage:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

PA No Mask No Service:  https://www.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/No-Mask-No-Service-Poster.pdf

US Chamber Customizable & Printable signage:  https://www.uschamber.com/app/covid-19-flyer/