Helping you and your business cope with COVID-19.
Your go-to guide for COVID-19 resources and information.
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Rue Insurance is committed to helping our clients manage their risk from a holistic perspective, which includes understanding, preparing for, and responding to the risk of public health concerns such as coronavirus (COVID-19). Much information is being disseminated at this time, so we have attempted to organize the resources that we have received to help you stay informed and maintain a safe environment.
Where can I obtain reliable, current information on COVID-19?
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)—Including Current Statistics
- OSHA—Legal Obligations With Respect to Workplace Safety and Health
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Preparedness Planning
- NJ Department of Health
- PA Department of Health
- NY Department of Health
Resources for Employers
Employers are obligated to maintain a safe and healthy work environment and to comply with applicable state and federal laws such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). To ensure compliance, employers should closely monitor the CDC, WHO, and state and local public health department websites for information on the status of the coronavirus and state-specific obligations such as under the State of Emergency. Also, it is important to understand your jurisdiction’s employee leave laws to ensure compliance for employees who miss working whether or not they are actually ill. We will continue to provide informational updates for your review as it becomes available.
General Information & Resources
- Designing a Post-coronavirus Office
- Employee Compensation and Benefits During Closures and Furloughs
- Post-coronavirus Return to Work Cleaning Checklist
- Sample Return to Work Action Plan Discussion Guide
- Employee Welcome Back Packet
- Best of: Post-coronavirus Checklists
- Best of: Remote Work HR Insights
- OSHA: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus Poster
- OSHA: Coronavirus: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
- OSHA: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance on Returning to Work
- COVID-19 Scenarios & NJ Benefits Available
Legislative Updates
- 8/20/2020: IRS Offers Guidance on COVID-19 Employee Leave-sharing Plans
- 7/22/2020: Employers Must Report Pay for FFCRA Leave on W-2
- 4/30/2020: Federal Agencies Issue COVID-19 Relief for Employee Benefit Plans
- 4/20/2020: COVID-19-Related Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave Provided by Small and Midsize Businesses FAQs
- 4/13/2020: FMCSA Extends Coronavirus HOS Waiver Until May 15
- 4/6/2020: IRS FAQs: FFCRA Tax Credits for Small and Midsize Businesses
- 4/2/2020: COVID-19 Scenarios and Benefits Available – Paid Sick Time and FMLA eligibility
Insurance & Risk Management Information
- 8/11/2020: 2021 Benefits Planning and COVID-19
- 6/22/2020: OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work
- 6/22/2020: OSHA Issues Guidance for Reopening Nonessential Businesses
- 5/21/2020: OSHA Construction Guidance COVID-19
- 4/23/2020: Risk Tips for Vacant and Shut Down Properties
Federal Assistance Programs
- Paycheck Protection Program—Ten-year, low-interest loans for businesses that employ 500 or fewer employees. Loans up to $10 million are available for payroll and other certain expenses. If employees are kept on payroll for eight weeks, the SBA will forgive the portion of the loans used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Up to 100% of the loan is forgivable.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Loan Advance—The SBA program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million to help cover the temporary loss of revenue. Small business owners may apply for a loan advance of up to $10,000 for immediate assistance. These funds may be made available within three days of a successful application and the advance will not have to be repaid.
- SBA Debt Relief—The SBA will provide a reprieve to small businesses as they overcome the challenges created by this crisis. Under this program, the SBA will pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020; and pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months.
- SBA Express Bridge Loans—This program allows small businesses that currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans are designed to bridge the gap while a business is applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Programs Available in New Jersey
- Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program – a $5 million program that will provide grants up to $5,000 to small businesses in retail, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service, and other services—such as repair, maintenance, personal, and laundry services—to stabilize their operations and reduce the need for layoffs or furloughs.
- Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program – a $10 million program that will provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 to businesses with less than $5 million in revenues. Loans made through the program will have 10-year terms with 0% interest for the first five years, then resetting to the EDA’s prevailing floor rate (capped at 3%) for the remaining five years.
- Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) Emergency Loan Loss Reserve Fund – a $10 million capital reserve fund to take first loss position on CDFI loans that provide low-interest working capital to microbusinesses. This will allow CDFIs to withstand loan defaults due to the outbreak, which will allow them to provide more loans at lower interest rates to microbusinesses affected by the outbreak.
- CDFI Emergency Assistance Grant Program – a $1.25 million program that will provide grants of up to $250,000 to CDFIs to scale operations or reduce interest rates for the duration of the outbreak.
- NJ Entrepreneur Support Program – a $5 million program that will encourage continued capital flows to innovation economy companies and temporarily support a cautious investor market by providing 80% loan guarantees for working capital loans to startup entrepreneurs.
- Small Business Emergency Assistance Guarantee Program – a $10 million program that will provide 50% guarantees on working capital loans and waive fees on loans made through institutions participating in the NJEDA’s existing Premier Lender or CDFI programs.
Programs Available in Pennsylvania
- COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program –
A program administered by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) that provides critical working capital financing to small businesses located within the commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. All CWCA loan applications must be submitted through a certified economic development organization (CEDO). Learn more about this program.
Resources for Individuals
During these challenging times, please try your best to remain positive and follow the recommended guidelines to remain safe and healthy. Be sure to check with your state and local officials for the most up-to-date information as to recommended actions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We will continue to provide informational updates for your review as it becomes available.
Contact Us
If you have specific questions about your policies, please reach out to us at 609-586-7474 or contact us at info@rueinsurance.com.
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