Harassment Prevention Training, $120M+ in BIG Grants

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 7:55 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2.

***

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Required for All Restaurant and Bar Employees by December 31

Effective January 1, 2020, Illinois employers are required to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. Compliance must be achieved by December 31 every year.

Restaurants and bars are also required to provide supplemental sexual harassment prevention training to all employees, regardless of employment classification.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Businesses may use their own internal program if it meets mandated minimum training standards.

• Approved online training is also available at ServSafe.com.

• Free online training for restaurants and bars is also available in English on the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) website.

• Free online training for restaurants and bars in Spanish has not yet been made available by IDHR. We will share this information as soon as possible.

• In the meantime, operators can create a customized training in Spanish by having a staff member take the ServSafe online course, and then incorporating the missing content into the existing IDHR presentation.  

• Proof of training must be provided upon request from IDHR.

• Records should include the names of employees trained, the training date, sign-in sheets, copies of certificates of participation, and a copy of all written or recorded materials that comprise the training, as well as the name of the training provider, if applicable.

• Records may be paper-based, or electronic.

• In addition to the training requirement, employers must also establish a written sexual harassment prevention policy available in English and Spanish, and provide a copy to all employees within the first calendar week of employment.

• The policy may be included in the company handbook, or distributed as a separate document.

• Employees should acknowledge receipt of the policy with their signature.

• The IRA has developed a policy template which has been vetted by our attorneys, and is available to download in English and Spanish on our website.  

Click here to review the FAQ from IDHR. Contact IRA Director of Education Mary Wilkie with any questions.

Bipartisan Relief Package Introduced

Yesterday, a bipartisan group of legislators from both the House and Senate unveiled a $908B COVID-19 relief proposal.

The stimulus proposal includes some much-needed short-term stopgaps that will help restaurants, including a second round of PPP and temporary liability protections for operators.

A restaurant specific relief fund is not included in this package, however. 

Click here to read the full statement from the National Restaurant Association.

Rapid Testing Available at Moe's Cantina Locations

Moe's Cantina has opened temporary COVID-19 rapid testing sites at both their Chicago locations. The sites offer rapid COVID-19 tests for walk-in patients, with results within 30 minutes. Industry employees receive a discounted rate of $110 per test. 

Click here to learn more.

Submit Your Nominations for IRA Industry Awards

Want to honor an IRA member that goes above and beyond for the community, their employees, and the industry? Nominate your peers for the 2020 IRA Industry Awards today.  

The Sara Rowe ProStart® Company of the Year, Vendor of the Year, and Restaurateur of the Year award winners will be announced at the IRA Annual Meeting held in early 2021.

Please take a moment to nominate your peers for these prestigious honors. Click here to submit nominations.

Tomorrow Morning - Navigating Real Estate Concerns and Solutions Webinar

Join the IRA and panelists from Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and Cornerstone Commercial Real EstateThursday, December 3 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar offering assistance with understanding current real estate issues and navigating potential options and solutions. Get guidance from real estate and legal professionals for managing your concerns during COVID-19.

This webinar is provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative.

Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.

Click here to register.

Reminder - $129M Remaining in Available BIG Grant Funding

There is still more than $120M in state of Illinois Business Interruption Grants(BIG) funding available to all types of small businesses.

To date, the state has received more than 30,000 applications and issued 5,563 grants totaling $141 million. Of those, $65 million have gone to bars and restaurants.

Eligible applicants:

1. Must be an independently owned and operated for-profit corporation or limited liability corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship authorized to conduct business in the State of Illinois; OR a 501c3, 501c6, or 501c19 nonprofit;

2. Must have been operating for at least three months prior to March 2020.

3. Must have had less than $20 million in gross operating revenue in calendar year 2019, or a prorated amount if in operation for less than a year prior to March 2020.

4. Must have experienced net operating losses since March 21, 2020.

5. Must have been closed or had reduced operations due to government orders, public health guidelines, or depressed consumer demand during the COVID 19 pandemic.

6. Must follow other eligibility requirements.

Click here to learn more and apply today.

Free Business Advising from Cook County

All businesses located within the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County are eligible for technical assistance and business advising programming from the Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance program to help address the unique needs arising from the pandemic.

Click here to learn more.