Coronavirus

NJGCA Status: Most of our staff is working remotely. If you have any questions please contact the appropriate person directly:

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***Important Notice: Starting Wednesday, April 1, all employers with fewer than 500 employees will have to provide the new Federal FFCRA Leave to all their employees. The US Department of Labor just released the official notice which all eligible employers must provide their employees and which must be posted at the worksite. You can download the notification HERE and read DOL’s FAQ about the notice HERE.***

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Coronavirus Communications

UPDATES AS OF 3/18/21:

Possible PPP Small Business Extension; Federal Income Tax Extension; Visa/Mastercard Pump The Brakes On Swipe Fees; One Week Away: FreeWire Webinar

See Road Warrior – March 18th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 3/11/21:

One Year Coronaversary: Looking Back At Last Year; Fuel Cell Tax Exemptions – Don’t Count Out Hydrogen; FYWNJ Update; Freewire Webinar March 24th

See Road Warrior – March 11th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 3/04/21:

Fuel Your Way NJ Self-serve Presentation; NJ Expands Vaccine Eligibility; Repair Shops? Noncompete Bill – Will This Effect You?; Electrifying The Marketplace; Second Round PPP; Visa & Mastercard To Raise Swipe Fees; NJGCA Credit Card Point Of Sale Update

See Road Warrior – March 4th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 2/25/21:

RIP Senator Gerald Cardinale: NJGCA Champion; Fuel Your Way NJ; Governor Murphy Delivers Budget Address; Ford To Phase Out Fossil-Fueled Vehicles In Europe By 2035; New Changes To PPP For Small Businesses’; What’s Going On In The Marketplace

See Road Warrior – February 25th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 2/18/21:

New Jersey Small And Micro Business PPE Access Program Phase 2; CDC Announces New Quarantine Guidance For Fully Vaccinated Individuals; Long And Short Term Predictions On Gas; ATM Thefts On Rise: What You Can Do; Governor Murphy Establishes Office Of Climate Action & The Green Economy

See Road Warrior – February 18th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 2/11/21:

PPP Loans To Be Tax Exempt And Expenses Will Be Tax Deductible, Shops Beware! Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise, Ford To Invest In Electric And Autonomous Vehicles, Lunchtime Auto Tech Training Classes, EMV4NJ Promotion And Webinar

See Road Warrior – February 11th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 2/4/21:

Road Warrior: Grant & Loan; Covert Cars & Secret Shoppers; Tires; GM; Gift Cards; Trainings; Webinar

See Road Warrior – February 4th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 1/28/21:

Biden Signs Environmental Executive Orders; Reminder: PPP Fully Reopened; Vaccine Toolkit For Essential Businesses

See Road Warrior – January 28th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 1/21/21:

PPP Officially Fully Reopens; Required Employee Posters; Smoking Cessation Mandate Stalls; Inauguration Of #46: President Joe Biden; New INL Training Session Dates Scheduled; Sound Payments Webinar Today

See Road Warrior – January 21st, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 1/14/21:

NJ Opens Availability To Vaccine; PPP Loans Available Fully Open Tuesday; 2021 Compliance Calendar; COVID’s Effect On Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Register For Sound Payments Webinar

See Road Warrior – January 14th, 2021

UPDATES AS OF 1/7/21:

Vaccine Eligibility & Pre-Registration; Governor Signs U.I. Legislation; Federal Stimulus & PPP Update; COVID Workplace Violations On The Rise; Rent Payments Via Credit Card; Sound Payments Webinar

See Road Warrior – January 7th, 2021 

UPDATES AS OF 12/10/20:

Reminder: Mandatory Face Mask Wearing At Your Business, EV Charging Bill To Be Heard Today, NJGCA/Chargepoint EV Charging Webinars: Listen Now!, Minimum Wage Increase Reminder, Will We See More COVID Relief Before 2021?, Happy Hanukkah

See Road Warrior – December 10th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 12/3/20:

Stage II Decommissioning, More Discounts For Small Businesses In PPE Program, Small Business COVID Aid, Price Gouging Reminder, Electric Vehicle Webinar Series, Successful Turkey Drive, Please Participate In NACS Survey

See Road Warrior – December 3rd, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 11/19/20:

NJ New Grants And Announcements, Local Ordinances Conflict With Governors Order, Compliance Reminder On Low Permeation Hoses And Dripless Nozzles, Webinar Announcements, Decommissioning Your Stage II Systems, Unemployment Insurance Tax Bill, Important Announcement For Online Banking Members, Turkey Drive

See Road Warrior – November 19th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 11/12/20:

Reminder EMV Webinar Today!, Updated Election Overview, Marijuana Legalization In New Jersey, Newark COVID Restrictions — More Curfews Coming?, Plastics Ban Coming Next Year, Continued Battle Against Tobacco Taxes, NJGCA Turkey Drive, Happy Veterans Day & Diwali

See Road Warrior – November 12th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 11/5/20:

Very Preliminary Election Overview, Two Governor Actions On Businesses, EDA PPP Initiative, Stage II Decommissioning — We Need To Hear From You, Important Message For Members Paying Dues Online, Annual NJGCA Turkey Drive

See Road Warrior – November 5th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 10/29/20:

Mail-In Ballot Instructions, New Covid Mandate From Governor, MA Right To Repair, NJ Liquor License Crackdown, Phase III NJ EDA Grant Final Reminder

See Road Warrior – October 29th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 10/22/20:

Phase III EDA Grants, Stage II Decommissioning, New Perspectives On Gas Tax, NJDEP Climate Change Report

See Road Warrior – October 22nd, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 10/15/20:

Simpler PPP Forgiveness For Loans Of $50,000 Or Less, Murphy Announces Additional $100 Million In CARES Grants, Please Complete Our MBP Survey, October On The Road Newsletter Is Available!

See Road Warrior – October 15th, 2020 

UPDATES AS OF 9/17/20:

Workers Comp Legislation Signed, Budget Deal Made: Are Cig Taxes Off The Table?, Please Complete Our Survey!

See Road Warrior – September 17th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 8/20/20:

A/B Operator “Renewal” Notifications, MVC Auditing And Facemask Safety, Republicans Propose COVID Stimulus, NJ Budget Update

See Road Warrior – August 20th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 8/13/20:

Station Generators And Emergency Preparedness, Workers Comp And Liability Updates, Employee COVID Documentation

See Road Warrior – August 13th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 8/6/20:

Tropical Storm Isaias: Do You Have Power?, New Federal Relief & Liability Discussions, Liability Discussions In NJ Continue, 7-Eleven Purchases Speedway, Inspection Sticker Update

See Road Warrior – August 6th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 7/30/20:

Trenton Update: Healthcare And Workers Compensation Legislation, New Grant Programs, In-Person Inspection Sticker Sales To Resume

See Road Warrior – July 30th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 7/23/20:

Health Insurance Premium Tax, Federal Small Business Liability Protection, Inspection Sticker/MVC Update, Tobacco Product Ban: Remove From Your Shelves, New Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Coming Soon, Potential NJ Firework Ban

See Road Warrior – July 23rd, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 7/16/20:

MVC Further Extends Deadlines & New Advisory, Reminder: Best Practices For Reopening, Union County Small Business Grant Program, NJ EV Charger Grant Program – Apply Now!

See Road Warrior – July 16th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 7/9/20:

MVC Chaos & Obtaining Inspection Stickers; Governor Mandates Face Masks; NJ Hits The Brakes On Reopening The State; PPP Update; Reminder: Taxes Due Wednesday, July 15th; Coronavirus & Liability Protection

See Road Warrior – July 9th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 7/2/20:

NJGCA Latest Business Survey Results, New Stage II Decommissioning Advisory, UST Fill Port Color Change, Vehicle Inspection Lockouts In Error, National Coin Shortage – Stock Up!, NJGCA Board Election Results, Happy 4th Of July

See Road Warrior – July 2nd, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 6/25/20:

County Grants For Small Businesses Available, NJGCA Training Classes To Resume This Fall, NJGCA Economic Survey Reminder, C-Store Scam Alert, Minimum Wage Update, Tax Filing Day Deadline Extension, PPP Reminder Deadline

See Road Warrior – June 25th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 6/18/20:

New Grant/Loan Opportunities Available, An Important Note On Workplace Attire And PPE, Update On NJGCA Classes, MVC Licensing Extension, Trinity Solar Special Offer For NJGCA Members

See Road Warrior – June 18th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 6/11/20:

EV Charger Grants, Cease And Desist Letters On Price Gouging, Best Practices For Reopening the State, Updates On NJ EDA Grants

See Road Warrior – June 11th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 6/9/20:

NJGCA Best Practices Guidance Document Available

Read our update for June 9th

UPDATES AS OF 6/4/20:

New Congressional Action On PPP Loans, NJEDA Grants Available Tuesday June 9, 9am, Looting Concerns – Guidance For Vulnerable Members, PPP Forgiveness Webinar Available Now & Best Practices Webinar Today

See Road Warrior – June 4th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 5/28/20:

NJ EDA Grant Program/ PPP Listings, NJ Covid-19 Business Survey, Pandemic Implications On The Used Car Industry, NJ Revenue Report, FeedNJ Initiative

See Road Warrior – May 28th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 5/21/20:

PPP Forgiveness, Upcoming NJGCA Webinars, When Will New Jersey Reopen, Gas Tax, Cash For Clunkers 2.0?, MVC Issues Extensions, Mastercard Delays EMV, Happy Memorial Day

See Road Warrior – May 21st, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 5/18/20:

SBA Loan Forgiveness Application, NJEDA Receives More Federal Funding for Small Business

Read our update for May 18th

UPDATES AS OF 5/14/20:

New Guidance Available On PPP, NJGCA Fights Harmful Workers Comp Legislation, Debt Collection Bill Amended, Discover Now Agrees To Delay EMV At The Pumps

See Road Warrior – May 14th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 5/8/20:

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness

Read our update for May 8th

UPDATES AS OF 5/7/20:

Covid-19 Financial Security For Consumers Act, Amex Joins EMV Extension, What’s Going On In The Marketplace, Covid-19 & UST Compliance

See Road Warrior – May 7th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 5/5/20:

COVID-19 Financial, Security for Consumers Act UPDATE, Final Framework Document For Reopening the State

Read our update for May 5th

UPDATES AS OF 5/4/20:

Visa Extended EMV until April 2021, COVID-19 Financial, Security for Consumers Act

Read our update for May 4th

UPDATES AS OF 5/1/20:

Relief Money Still Available: If You Have Not Done So Act Now

See Wildfire Alert – May 1, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/30/20:

MVC Agency, Inspection Station Closures: Extended Until May 11, Protect Our Employees Update, Oil Price, Economic Relief Payment Plan, Personal Protection Equipment

See Road Warrior – April 30th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/28/20:

Reminder: New Funding Available and Helpful Loan Information, Update on Loan Availability, Governor Murphy Outlines Reopening Strategy, Make Your Member of Congress Work for YOU, Relief Eligibility Wizard, Price Gouging, Thank You to Our Members AND Thank You from Our Members

Read our update for April 28th

UPDATES AS OF 4/24/20:

President Approves More Funding For Small Business Loans: Act Now!

See Wildfire Alert – April 24, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/23/20:

Phase 3.5 Small Business Loans Coming: Be Prepared!, Whats Going On With Oil Prices?, EMV Requirement Still On, Unemployment And Hiring During Coronavirus, Self-Serve In The Media, Tax Relief For C-store Workers, Face Masks And Cleaning Services Available, Happy Ramadan

See Road Warrior – April 23rd, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/21/20:

Federal Loans Update, Self-Serve Update, Face Masks and Cleaning Services Available 

Read our update for April 21st

UPDATES AS OF 4/20/20:

Loan/Grant Update and Messages to Congress, Your Survey Responses, White House Plan to Reopen Economy, Self-Serve in the Media, Vape Flavor Ban, Trinity Solar Special Offer for NJGCA Members

Read our update for April 20th

UPDATES AS OF 4/16/20:

NJGCA Coalition Efforts – Small Business Assistance, Summer/Winter Blends Of Gasoline, Repair Shops – ASE Certifications, PIFs Monthly Inspection Equipment Charges, Self-Serve Efforts Continue, More Media And Tv Self-serve Coverage, Insurance Concerns And Advice, What’s Trenton Doing This Week?  Help Or Hurt?

See Road Warrior – April 16th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/14/20:

Should Motorists Wear A Mask When Filling Up?, Email Us Your Grant/Loan Stories, PPP Update, Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan, We Still Need To Hear From You, Vaping Ban Reminder, Inspection Equipment Charges, No Extensions For NJDEP Compliance, Workers Comp COVID Liability Aimed At Employers

Read our update for April 14th

UPDATES AS OF 4/10/20:

Reminder New Executive Order Goes In To Effect Tonight, Poster For Your Store, New EDA Loan Apps Begin Monday 9am, NJGCA Members Help Healthcare Workers, First Responders & Other NJGCA Members

Read our update for April 10th

UPDATES AS OF 4/9/20:

New Executive Order For Essential Retail Businesses, PPP Update, UST Compliance Testing Still Ongoing, Happy Easter/Passover

See Road Warrior – April 9th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/7/20:

Help Us Keep Governor Updated, Federal Loan Updates, NJGCA MBP Banks Ready To Assist; NJ Grants & Loans, NJGCA Webinar Recording; ASE Certifications; Repair Shop Creativity; Reminder Vaping Flavor Ban

Read our update for April 7th

UPDATES AS OF 4/3/20:

Urgent: Gas Station – We Need Your Updated Status, Reminder: Also Urgent – Letters To Governor Murphy

Read our update for April 3rd

UPDATES AS OF 4/2/20:

Limited Grants Available Tomorrow, Business Coalitions Appeal To Governor, Repair Shops: Time To Get Creative, NJGCA Coronavirus Webinar, Any Stations Closing?

See Road Warrior – April 2nd, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 4/1/20:

Assistance and Requirements, New Info And Reminder Info Re: More Action Needed Please Read Below

Read our update for April 1st

UPDATES AS OF 3/31/20:

Still Trying To Suspend Self Serve Law, Letter To Governor, Radio And TV Interviews, OSHA Employee Guidance, April 1 Employee Leave Benefits

Read our update for March 31st

UPDATES AS OF 3/30/20:

Efforts to Suspend Self-Serve Law, Customers Letters to Members, Information on PPP 

Read our update for March 30th

UPDATES AS OF 3/27/20:

Grant and Loan Information Available, Survey Notice

Read our update for March 27th

UPDATES AS OF 3/26/20:

NJGCA Email Requests – Please Help Us Help You, Senate Passes Coronavirus Relief Bill/Recapping The Week, Lockdown In Newark, Hand Sanitizer Available, Repair Shops: Contactless Services

See Road Warrior – March 26th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 3/25/20:

Relief Update, Don’t Be Stupid, Self Serve Suspension?, Let’s Help Others, Survey

Read our update for March 25th

UPDATES AS OF 3/24/20:

Price Gouging, Request to Suspend Ban on Self-Serve, Request for Customers That Want to Pump Their Own Gas, Request for Business Updates

Read our update for March 24th

UPDATES AS OF 3/23/20:

Essential Businesses, Letter for Storefront, Legislation to Help Employees, CARES Act, Action Alert

Read our update for March 23rd

UPDATES AS OF 3/21/20:

Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, Auto Repair Have Been Deemed Essential Businesses

See Wildfire Alert – March 21, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 3/20/20:

Small Business Loans, Non-Essential Business Shut Down, FFCRA Updates, Proposed DC Senate Bill

Read our update for March 20th

UPDATES AS OF 3/19/20:

Bergen County cancels total retail shutdown Executive Order scheduled to go into effect Saturday. Please see 3/18/20 Road Warrior below for more information on Bergen County’s order as well as the State Executive Order. 

UPDATES AS OF 3/18/20:

Coronavirus: Uncertainty And Confusion, What You Need To Know Take A Deep Breath – We Will All Get Thru This Emergency You Are Tougher Than You Think And You Can Do This!

See Road Warrior – March 18th, 2020

UPDATES AS OF 3/17/20:

  • Gov. Murphy signed an Executive Order Monday, March 16th that all non-essential businesses must close between 8pm and 5am until further notice. Gas Stations are essential businesses, as are “food stores” like convenience stores. Auto repair businesses would not be included though, if any of you are open past 8pm. All businesses may continue operation outside of those hours, but must not have more than 50 persons in the same area and all persons present must be adhering to social distance rules, chiefly remain at least 6 feet away from each other, wash hands frequently. Travel for non-essential purposes between those hours is “strongly discouraged” but it is NOT being made illegal, so it is not technically a curfew. This goes into effect 8pm today, March 16. You can read the full Executive Order here: https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200316c.shtml
  • Many members have reached out to us with concern that if the situation worsens, they will not have enough employees on-site to man the gas pumps, effectively forcing them to close because of the self-serve prohibitionIf this happens to you and you need to close for lack of employees, please contact us immediately so we can inform the State of the seriousness of the situation.   We have been actively pursuing this issue since last Monday.  Please be prepared to MAKE PHONE CALLS and send emails to both Governor Murphy and your state legislators.
  • Expect significantly reduced gasoline demand as fewer people commute to the office and to schools. Oil prices are already plummeting, now hovering around $30 a barrel, I advise you to use the declining oil prices to keep your margin high and keep your business afloat in current crisis.
  • I reiterate: No gouging on any product. The Attorney General and local enforcement officials are on the lookout for any kind of gouging, much more so than during the typical state of emergency. All products are covered, especially all food, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and disinfectants. In Jersey City they were giving out $10,000 fines (per product) to a business which raised the price of hand sanitizer from $3 to $6. Here is the language of the law:

The State of Emergency declaration triggers the price gouging law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-109).

Specifically, this law makes it an unlawful practice to sell merchandise at what constitutes an excessive price increase. An excessive price increase is defined as:

“Excessive price increase” means a price that is excessive as compared to the price at which the consumer good or service was sold or offered for sale by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency. A price shall be deemed excessive if:

(1) The price exceeds by more than 10% the price at which the good or service was sold or offered for sale by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency, unless the price charged by the seller is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller’s supplier or other costs of providing the good or service during the state of emergency;

(2) In those situations where the increase in price is attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller’s supplier or additional costs of providing the good or service during the state of emergency, the price represents an increase of more than 10% in the amount of markup from cost, compared to the markup customarily applied by the seller in the usual course of business immediately prior to the state of emergency.

A violation of the law is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for the second and subsequent offenses. Each individual sale of merchandise is considered a separate and distinct event.

The Governor and the Attorney General have already made it clear that they are on the lookout for any instance of price gouging on any item, especially bottled water, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. They are clearly looking to hit someone with a fine, don’t let it be you!

  • MVC inspection sticker extension: All inspection stickers due to expire in March, April, and May have been given a 2-month extension. Central Inspection Lanes have been shut down for at least the next 2 weeks. You can read the press release here: https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/press/archives/2020/031320.htm
  • Federal and State governments are working on legislation and policies to address some of the outcomes of the current situation. We will have more info on these in the near future, there is a lot of ideas being thrown around at both the federal and state level.
  • Keep everything clean, advise having gas pumpers wear gloves for their protection as much as the customers, or wipe down credit cards with disinfectant before handing back to the customer. Some retailers have been requesting the use of cards only, as these are easier to disinfect. Also practice these additional hygiene methods to prevent the spread of the virus:
    • Cover your mouth and nose while sneezing
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
    • Avoid touching your face
    • Disinfect common areas, such as doorknobs, telephones, switches, handles, computers, etc.
    • For store operators, NACS has partnered with Ready Training Online (RTO), which provides online training solutions for the convenience, restaurant, and retail industries on how to prevent the spread of illness at businesses: https://readytrainingonline.com/preventing-illness/
  • The current situation is to remain this way for at least the next two weeks, and the CDC is predicting it will be closer to 8 weeks.
  • We are in contact with the State, if you have problems which arise that you think the State needs to be aware of, please contact us, it is likely others are having the same concern. We will make sure your issues are brought to their attention.

 

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NJGCA in the News on Coronavirus

04/18/2020
04/17/2020
04/15/2020
04/14/2020
04/14/2020
03/12/2020

 

NJGCA Resources

Let’s Get Back to Work: Returning Employees to the Workplace NJGCA Webinar Recording

Protect Employees and Protect Customers: Gas, C-Store, and Repair Industry Best Practices for Stopping the Spread of COVID-19

NJGCA PPP Forgiveness Webinar Recording

NJGCA PPP Forigiveness Webinar Slides

NJGCA Your Coronavirus Questions Answered Webinar Recording

NJGCA Your Coroavirus Questions Answered Webinar Slides

UPDATED MAY 2020: NJGCA Families First Coronavirus Leave Breakdown

NJGCA CARES Act Breakdown

Email template to customers that approve self-serve during Coronavirus outbreak

 

As you are all aware, the Coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes, COVID-19, has posed a major global public health crisis that is currently having an effect on the business market. In order to protect yourself, your customers; and your businesses;  employment attorney and NJGCA MBP Steven Horowitz has created two forms for you to print with your letterhead and post at your businesses and distribute to your employees:

Notice for Customers

Notice for Employees

NJGCA MBP CSG Law has also created a COVID-19 page with helpful resources and have established the CSG COVID-19 Crisis Management Task Force to provide guidance: https://www.csglaw.com/csg-
covid19-resource-center

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Other Resources

The following  trustworthy websites contain useful information on how businesses can prepare for and help slow the spread of Coronavirus and what precautionary measures to take:

CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers

State of New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub

New Jersey Business Page – COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses

New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19: A Guide for Businesses

NFIB – Side-By-Side Comparison EIDL & PPP

Senator Cardinale Supports Allowing Self-Serve Gas During COVID-19 Crisis

Visa Business News: Visa’s Operational Business Response to COVID-19: U.S. Automated Fuel Dispenser EMV Liability Shift Delayed to 2021

 

 

Governor Murphy Executive Orders:

Governors Executive Order 122 – April 8, 2020

Governors Executive Order 108 – March 21, 2020

Governors Executive Order 107- March 21, 2020

Governors Executive Order – March 16th, 2020

Vaccine Information

General Notes:

  • You can require employees to be vaccinated as a condition for their employment.  That is, a condition of employment, subject to accommodation (See below).
  • However, in some circumstances, employees may opt not to be vaccinated due to certain medical conditions or sincerely held religious reasons. Please see this AP article discussing deeply held religious beliefs.
  • In these cases, employers must grant exemptions to receiving the vaccine. Employers are strongly encouraged not to terminate those affected employees.

o   You can require employees who are not vaccinated to wear a mask while on company property and/or to get weekly COVID tests in lieu of getting a vaccine.

o   Additionally, for the safety of your employees, you are also allowed to require proof of weekly COVID tests (although you are lawfully not permitted to seek detailed medical information or a prognosis beyond proof of testing. Nor are you allowed to leak to other employees the name of the co-employee who tested positive).

  • Every request for a religious/medical exemption stands on its own, and should be reviewed independent of any other request of an employee.
  • You should encourage all employees regardless of vaccination status to wear masks around customers and in areas with other employees, though again, these decisions are up to you as the employer.

Additional things notes and factors to consider:

  • Is this person you are hiring a “clerical/administrative” person?  Or are they a technician or mechanic?

o   If the former, you could possibly extend the offer, while steering the area they work/who they interact with in person/etc.

  • Under the current COVID framework, you can extend the job offer. Once it is offered, ask them if they need an accommodation (for example: “We will require you to prove that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.  If you need an accommodation, I need to know the reason for not getting the shot (but you as the employer, must keep it confidential). Please provide me with a reason vis a vis your religion (letter from clergy) or your medical condition”, etc.

o   Don’t go too deep into detail so that the person is revealing much about their medical history.

  • Keep in mind, if none are forthcoming, you can still hire them — but just make sure they wear masks at all times, get weekly COVID tests, etc.
  • However, be aware, should you go down this road, you may have others seeking similar accommodations.

Wider, Over-arching considerations:

  • Do you have an actual written COVID policy (that is published to employees?)
  • Do you have an employee handbook?
  • Does your handbook reflect the COVID policy and/or need updating to reflect the current status of the law?

o   In all instances above, you may want to speak to an Employment Law attorney about addressing these factors.

o   NJGCA can help steer you toward an MBP to assist you in that endeavor (to limit your liability and prevent you from possible litigation down the line).

 

Please feel free to call the office at 732-256-9646 or email michelle@njgca.org with any other questions you may have