COVID-19 RESOURCES & INFORMATIONORLA continues to work on behalf of Oregon's hospitality industry to provide advocacy, information and resources to help in the recovery from COVID-19 impacts. We encourage hospitality industry members to stay informed by subscribing to our email communications.
COVID-19 Updates, Mandates and Rules: |
COVID-RELATED BUSINESS RELIEF
Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)
The Employee Retention Tax Credit is a COVID-19 relief measure intended to help small businesses reduce or eliminate payroll tax in order to keep the doors open and maintain jobs. Unfortunately, the program initially slated to operate until Dec. 31, 2021, came to an early end when the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November. ORLA is working in conjunction with our national affiliates to put pressure on Congress to reinstate the ERTC for quarter four of 2021. Visit IRS.gov for FAQs on the ERTC. |
Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)
Established through the American Rescue Plan Act in the spring of 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is a $28.6 billion federal grant program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration to help eligible businesses recover from COVID-19 pandemic-related revenue loss. The RRF was a promising tool for thousands of restaurants across the country including 2,337 operations here in Oregon. Unfortunately, 2,536 Oregon restaurants are among the 177,000 eligible applications that remain unfunded in the SBA portal. |
RESOURCES & INFORMATION
Unemployment Insurance benefits are available during temporary layoffs related to COVID-19 situations. These benefits occur for employees whose employer stops operation for a short period of time, such as cleaning following a coronavirus exposure, or by government requirement.
Work Share Oregon is a layoff aversion program which can help eligible businesses avoid layoffs, retain talent during a temporary decline in business, and continually provide reduced wages plus unemployment benefits to subsidize for the reduction in wages. |
Cleaning and operational guidance was developed by our national affiliates do assist operators with industry-specific guidance on addressing Covid-related issues.
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EMPLOYER / EMPLOYEE
Addressing Refusal to Work and No Shows
The workforce shortage is a serious challenge for the industry as restaurants and lodging establishments across the state have had to reduce operating hours, minimize menu options and hold rooms offline due to lack of staff resources. ORLA remains engaged on this issue, advocating for solutions to contributing factors like child care and the extension of unemployment benefits to those who are not making an effort to find a job or get rehired. In case you weren’t aware, employers do have rights to report “no shows” and refusals of suitable work for job offers to the Oregon Employment Department.
The workforce shortage is a serious challenge for the industry as restaurants and lodging establishments across the state have had to reduce operating hours, minimize menu options and hold rooms offline due to lack of staff resources. ORLA remains engaged on this issue, advocating for solutions to contributing factors like child care and the extension of unemployment benefits to those who are not making an effort to find a job or get rehired. In case you weren’t aware, employers do have rights to report “no shows” and refusals of suitable work for job offers to the Oregon Employment Department.
COVID-19 REGULATIONS & GUIDANCE
Quarantine & Isolation
The CDC’s new guidance on isolation and quarantine impacts operations. Download posters at CDC.gov and ServSafe. Isolate – If you have the virus
Quarantine – If you have been exposed to the virus
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Vaccinations & Masking
On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the 'vaccine-or-test' requirement for employers with 100 or more employees. Read the court's decision and federal OSHA's announcement to withdraw the ETS. What Does This Mean for Oregon Employers? Oregon is a state with its own OSHA program and as such, ORLA continues to be directly involved in conversations with our state agency to advocate for alignment with federal OSHA’s approach. Given the Supreme Court decision and guidance provided by Oregon OSHA to date, Oregon hospitality operators should check the following webpage frequently to learn more about Oregon OSHA’s decisions given the Supreme Court ruling. ORLA remains hopeful that Oregon OSHA administrators understand the historic challenges facing business operators and will not implement a new vaccine or test policy that creates more inequity within our industry as businesses of all shapes and sizes do everything they can to stay in business. Watch for updates on OR OSHA's website. Vaccine Information:
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