COVID-19 EMPLOYER RESOURCE GUIDE

Like many of you, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 Coronavirus and its potential impact on our region. Now is the time to prepare, not panic. While this is a quickly evolving situation, we will work to provide up-to-date information, actionable intelligence and help employers adopt a prepared mindset to focus on the health of their business.

National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SCDHEC are also helpful resources with the latest information, as well as South Carolina Department of Commerce COVID-19 Resource Center and The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

SMALL BUSINESS & NON-PROFIT LOANS

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at: SBA.gov/Disaster

Below are some helpful links and resources:

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and PPP Application Guide to SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

Step By Step Instructions for COVID-19 Economic Injury Loans SBA Express Bridge Loans SBA Debt Relief

U.S. Chamber – Emergency Loans Guide & Checklist (English) U.S. Chamber – Emergency Loans Guide & Checklist (Spanish)

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES

Below are some resources on how you can help support small businesses during the Coronavirus.

Inc’s 7 Ways to Support the Small Businesses in Your Community During the Coronavirus Crisis

SCRLA’s Hospitality Employee Relief Fund North Augusta Lifestyle Guide and Business Directory

TAX PAYMENT POSTPONEMENT

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on Tuesday, March 17th that taxpayers can delay paying their income taxes on as much as $1 million in taxes owed for up to 90 days. Corporate filers would get the same length of time to pay amounts due on up to $10 million in taxes owed. Read more here.

>Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Updates South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) Updates

EMERGENCY REMOTE WORK

Harvard Business Review outlines 5 recommendations in the article, “What’s Your Company’s Emergency Remote-Work Plan?”

Acknowledge the possibility that all or part of your workforce may need to work remotely.
Map out jobs and tasks that could be affected.
Audit available IT hardware and software, and close any gaps in access and adoption.
Set up a communications protocol in advance.
Identify ways to measure performance that could inform broader change.

Other helpful resources:

PREPARING YOUR ORGANIZATION

Businesses, no matter their size, can significantly influence our community’s readiness, awareness, resources, and engagement against the spread of the Coronavirus. This begins with organizational preparedness, including risk management teams and contingency plans.

Employers should prepare and socialize an Outbreak Response Plan and:

Ensure the plan is flexible and involves employees in development and review.
Conduct a focused discussion or exercise using the plan, to find out ahead of time whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected.
Share the plan with employees and explain what human resources policies, workplace and leave flexibility, and pay and benefits will be available.
Share best practices with other businesses in the community.