3rd Party Delivery Commission Fees, Workers' Comp Rule, HR Webinar

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19.

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.

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IRA: Cap Third Party Delivery Service Commission Fees on Restaurants

In an effort to provide much-needed financial relief to restaurants, the Illinois Restaurant Association has asked Mayor Lori Lightfoot to consider capping the commission fees that third party delivery services charge restaurants in Chicago during the COVID-19 crisis.

"What we’re talking about right now is having third-party delivery companies give some relief to restaurants," said Sam Toia, IRA President & CEO. "We feel this is a way to give them cash flow. Third-party delivery companies are doing well. What the mayor of San Francisco did was very pragmatic and progressive.”

Last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breen announced an emergency mayoral declaration to cap the commission fees that third party delivery services charge restaurants at 15% per order.

“We recognize the devastation that COVID-19 is having on our city’s restaurant community, and our administration is committed to working with the Illinois Restaurant Association, who have been outstanding partners since the beginning of this crisis, on solutions that will protect businesses as well as the thousands of food industry workers they employ,” said Mayor Lightfoot's office in a statement.

Click here to read more from Crain's Chicago. Click here to download a PDF of the article.

IRA Opposes Emergency Worker's Compensation Rule

Yesterday, the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission issued an emergency rule that creates an automatic presumption that an essential worker diagnosed with COVID-19 contracted the illness at his or her workplace, even if they are working remotely or currently not employed. Click here to read the emergency rule.

The IRA has issued our strong opposition to IWCC's emergency rule and has urged them to reconsider this drastic policy change.

Many restaurants already face an uncertain future as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and this measure reduces their chance of survival even further

Click here to read the IRA letter to IWCC. Click here to read more from The Southern Illinoisan.

Webinar: HR Challenges for Restaurants on FFCRA, PPP Loans

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, Plante Moran, and Laner MuchinFriday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m. for a webinar as we discuss HR challenges for restaurants during the current COVID-19 crisis.

Topics will include unemployment insurance, paid sick leave requirements through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), furloughs, layoffs, employee benefits, and how to ensure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are forgiven.

Tax and accounting professionals Dave Andrea, John Barsella, and Michael Kruker of Plante Moran, along with Labor and Employment attorney Rob Bernstein of Laner Muchin, will provide overviews of the regulations and requirements facing employers and offer guidance for restaurants as they navigate this ongoing crisis.  

Click here to register. Please send all questions you would like addressed during the webinar to Matt Quinn.

Updated U.S. Treasury Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Treasury has updated its list of 28 FAQs on the Paycheck Protection Program for borrowers and lenders that address franchise affiliation rules, non-bank lenders, and more.

Click here to read the questions and answers.

DCEO Webinar - Resources in Spanish

On Thursday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m., the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will be hosting a webinar in Spanish about the resources available for small business owners impacted by the coronavirus.

Click here to register. DCEO will email you the webinar link before the event. For more information, please contact Diana Alfaro.

Wednesday Webinar: Who Is Left Out of the PPP Program? 

The IRA will be hosting our next webinar for restaurant operators on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans Wednesday, April 15 at 12:00 p.m. (Central).

We are again hosting the program along with the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), National Restaurant Association, and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

Topics to be covered include: 

• New Treasury guidance to lenders and other policy updates

• Clearing backlogs and increasing access for underserved communities: linguistically diverse, unbanked, rural, and smaller (100 employees or less) small business owners and nonprofits

• Connecting underserved communities to local banks, nonbank lenders, and CDFIs

• Identifying, documenting, and filing complaints on wrongful actions

• Q&A with Renee Bender, Senior Professional Staff with the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee under Chairman Marco Rubio; and Melissa Jung, Chief of Staff for Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez

Click here to register.