VAC Lawyers Host Webinar for Hospitality Industry on Laws Addressing COVID-19

Adam Chandler, joined by Chris Vrountas, recently hosted a webinar for the New England Inns and Resorts Association (“NEIRA”). The webinar sought to help NEIRA members address the challenges the hospitality businesses face as a result of the coronavirus. It focused in particular on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, two laws recently passed by U.S. Congress in response to the pandemic. Among other things, the CARES Act provides for $350 Billion in guaranteed small business loans (capped at $10,000,000 per borrower) to help small businesses sustain operations during the coronavirus outbreak by providing for funding of qualifying payroll expenses, rent and utilities payments. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires covered employers (those with fewer than 500 employees) to provide 1) paid sick leave and/or 2) expanded family and medical leave, for specified reasons related to coronavirus, with 100% reimbursement by the government via a tax credit for leave time paid out. More information about these and other employment laws implicated by the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on VAC’s blog Legal Line.