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Friends,
The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on virtually every industry from agriculture to finance to construction. During the economic shutdown, our nation’s service and retail trade industries came to a grinding halt. Fashion, hospitality, food service, personal care, and many other businesses were forced to close in an attempt to slow the spread.
In order to help these industries, I proudly supported the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided forgivable loans to 121,917 North Carolina businesses totaling $12.4 billion. The PPP has helped support or save 1.2 million jobs in our state.
While the PPP undoubtedly helped so many of our small businesses during the economic shutdown, and many are now slowly and safely resuming operations, employers and employees still face significant challenges in the months ahead, including how to reopen safely.
This is why businesses across North Carolina should take proactive measures to implement best practice plans to limit exposure to COVID-19 and ensure the continued safety and confidence of staff and customers. Additionally, taking steps mentioned below helps prevent trial lawyers from filing frivolous lawsuits against hardworking employers doing everything they can to keep everyone safe.
- Businesses should include social distancing, “no mask, no service” requirements (when applicable), limited occupancy, frequent disinfecting, and physical infrastructure improvements such as touchless payment methods and protective barriers at point of sale locations.
- Businesses can and should participate in “evidence-based COVID-19 training developed by public health officials and food safety experts,” which “provides a vital roadmap for reopening.” Once completed, this “Safe Business” certification can be displayed in businesses, increasing both the safety and confidence of staff and customers alike.
Additionally, Congress needs to protect businesses that implement best practice plans and take responsible actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by providing liability protection.
I will continue to work hard for all businesses in North Carolina so every business has the confidence in their ability to safely resume operations.
Thank you for reading, and as always please reach out to my office if you have any questions or need help with a federal agency and please stay safe.
All the best,
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