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Message from Ethan HellierU.S. Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Manager, Midwest Region:

On Saturday, a federal appeals court temporarily halted the Biden administration’s ETS requiring businesses with at least 100 employees to ensure vaccination of their workers or, for those workers who are unvaccinated, masking policies and weekly testing.

However, we do not know how this legal process will eventually playout and we want to ensure your members are prepared.

The Department of Labor has provided several fact sheets and FAQs, which can be found here. In addition, we hosted a briefing on Friday, which you can re-watch here. We also created an easy-to-digest fact sheet detailing the specifics of the ETS. Click here to download the fact sheet.

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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new emergency temporary standard to protect more than 84 million workers from the spread of the coronavirus on the job. The ETS is effective immediately upon its publication in the Federal Register (on Friday, November 5th). The standard applies to employers with 100 employees or more at any time in which the mandate is in effect.

Molly Grover, President & CEO, and Ryan Sempf, VP of Government & External Affairs, will be meeting with Senators Ernst & Grassley next week to further understand this mandate and explain the issues this presents to employers. Please reach out with any feedback you have on the rule that we can confidentially share with the Senators at that meeting.

The ETS requires employers to do the following:

  • Determine the vaccination status of each employee, obtain acceptable proof of vaccination status from vaccinated employees and maintain records and a roster of each employee's vaccination status.
  • Require employees to provide prompt notice when they test positive for COVID-19 or receive a COVID-19 diagnosis. Employers must then remove the employee from the workplace, regardless of vaccination status; employers must not allow them to return to work until they meet required criteria.
  • Ensure each worker who is not fully vaccinated is tested for COVID-19 at least weekly (if the worker is in the workplace at least once a week) or within 7 days before returning to work (if the worker is away from the workplace for a week or longer).
  • Ensure that, in most circumstances, each employee who has not been fully vaccinated wears a face covering when indoors or when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes.

Employers can find a recorded webinar with additional information on the rule here, an FAQ from OSHA here, and compliance materials here. The rules states that employers must comply with most requirements within 30 days of publication and with testing requirements within 60 days of publication. We encourage you to seek legal counsel before taking action relating to this rule to ensure compliance.

You can find a copy of the full news release from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration here.”

                From Emergency Temporary Standard 2 FAQ Page:

“This ETS preempts States, and political subdivisions of States, from adopting and enforcing workplace requirements relating to the occupational safety and health issues of vaccination, wearing face coverings, and testing for COVID-19, except under the authority of a Federally-approved State Plan. In particular, OSHA intends for the ETS to preempt and invalidate any State or local requirements that ban or limit an employer’s authority to require vaccination, face covering, or testing. State and local requirements that prohibit employers from implementing employee vaccination mandates, or from requiring face coverings in workplaces, serve as a barrier to OSHA’s implementation of this ETS, and to the protection of America’s workforce from COVID-19.

To ensure that the ETS supplants the existing State and local vaccination bans and other requirements that could undercut its effectiveness, and to foreclose the possibility of future bans, OSHA clearly defined the issues addressed by the ETS in section 1910.501(a). OSHA’s authority to preempt such State and local requirements comes from section 18 of OSH Act, and from general principles of conflict preemption. As the Supreme Court has explained, under section 18, once OSHA promulgates federal standards addressing an occupational safety and health issue, States may no longer regulate that issue except with OSHA’s approval and the authority of a Federally-approved State Plan. Gade v. National Solid Wastes Management Ass'n, 505 U.S. 88 (1992); see 29 U.S.C. 667.”

The recent law passed in Iowa does not directly prohibit employers from requiring vaccines, but does create a lenient system for waiver of that requirement and allows for unemployment to be collected if they are fired for not receiving the vaccine. According to the above information from the FAQ, the waiver system does not appear to comply with the ETS2 Standard.

Lastly, Governor Reynolds has announced that she will challenge the rule in court, and likely will be joined by a host of other states in that effort. More information will be available in the coming days and we will continue to share that information as it becomes available.

If you have questions please do not hesitate to reach out but please review the webinar, FAQ, and compliance information linked above first.

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Details on the coronavirus relief deal and its effect on your business
U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, and Jeanette Mulvey, Content Director at CO

More relief is on the way for small businesses across the country, now that the President has signed the latest coronavirus relief deal into law. Join U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, and CO— Content Director, Jeanette Mulvey, Tuesday, January 19 at 1:00 pm CT as they discuss the aid that's now available and what small businesses need to know.


Chamber hosts Federal Relief Webinar

The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion on Jan. 12, 2021, about the new federal relief package and what you should know as a business owner. Our featured speakers were, Jay Wickham, Small Business Development Center, Regional Director, and Ryan Sempf, Dubuque Chamber of Commerce, Government & External Affairs Manager. Click here to view the webinar.


Stimulus Details and Changes to PPP Loans
U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, Neil Bradley, and Jeanette Mulvey, Content Director at CO—, discuss the new coronavirus relief deal.

[December 22, 2020] Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus bill to assist individuals and small businesses that continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For businesses, the new stimulus bill includes significant updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), changes to how PPP loans are taxed, tax credit eligibility changes, the ability to receive grants and more.

During the recent Small Business Update, U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive vice president and chief policy officer Neil Bradley and Jeanette Mulvey, content director at CO—, discussed the new coronavirus relief deal and the updates to PPP. Click the Small Business Update image below for the full article and video.

The Iowa COVID Mitigation Task Force for Business was assembled seven months ago to assist Iowa businesses with COVID related issues. To date they have consulted with over 500 businesses, large and small, to answer questions on COVID-19. Throughout this process, they have developed and updated a PowerPoint presentation of frequently asked questions from Iowa businesses on COVID. The Iowa Department of Public Health and the state epidemiologists have signed-off on all content within the presentation. Attached is the latest updated Business PowerPoint on COVID Mitigation.

If any member businesses have questions on COVID mitigation, please contact the Iowa Economic Development Authority at COVID19Business@iowa.gov.

Local COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses
3 new compliance rules pertaining to bars and restaurants:

  • The City of Dubuque Mask Ordinance 
  • The Governor’s Social Distancing Proclamation
  • Alcohol & Beverages Division COVID-19 Preparedness Plan Submission*

PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508S
Loans under $50,000
Click the document below for Instructions and form

City of Dubuque Community Resources & FY2021 City Budget Update

Download the latest Safe at Work booklet. Safe at Work is a partnership of Greater Dubuque Development and Northeast Iowa Community College through the COVID-19 Business Helpline and informed by the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). COVID-19 Business Helpline: 563-588-3350, sbhelpline@nicc.edu, Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

Coronavirus Loan Assistance Small Business Guide & Checklist

Northeast Iowa Community College helpline expanded to provide guidance for ALL businesses applying for funding assistance during COVID-19 emergency. Business owners may call (563) 588-3350 between 8:30 am - 4 pm, Monday through Friday, or email at sbhelpline@nicc.edu.

Small Business Loans Available Through the CARES Act

UPDATE: CARES Act and the $600 weekly unemployment benefits
The CARES Act $600 weekly benefit payments for most existing unemployment benefit claimants are going out this week. Iowans with debit cards should see a deposit Thursday and direct deposits will be made Friday. Self-employed should see payments next week.

The $600 payments are backdated to the week of March 29th.

IWD has updated their website with information on steps for those who are self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors, and those who don’t have enough wage history. For more information and how to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/pua-information.

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