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October 15, 2020

IECRM MEMBER FORUM RECAP

Top of Mind Business Impacts & Current State of Covid in Colorado

Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Hosted by IECRM

Watch the VIDEO RECORDING of this week’s forum.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS

10/13/2020 Colorado COVID-19 Update: 

Colorado last week recorded more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 in one 24-hour period, the most since March. Today the state saw another day with more than 1,000 cases, and alarmingly, the positivity rate is above 5%. (6.4%). On September 4, there were 132 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state, and on October 12 there were 288. This is the highest rate of hospitalization since May.

The World Health Organization recommended in May that the positivity percentage remains below 5% for at least two weeks before governments consider reopening.

Concerns increase heading into a perfect storm this winter: flu season, holiday travel, and cold weather that keeps people indoors. And we know how to do it.

To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, we need to get back to the basics, which means Coloradans should continue to: 

  • Wear a mask;
  • Social distance whenever possible;
  • Wash your hands with soap regularly;
  • Sanitize surfaces;
  • Keep social activities or interactions with others outside, and encourage those you love to follow these precautions as well.

Tri-County Health is considering putting Level 3 regulations back into place which will negatively impact stores, restaurants, and other hospitality vendors.

Adams County Workforce and Business Center offers many opportunities and resources for employers,​   job seekers, and others:​

  • Contact for Workforce Center 720.523.2400
  • Emergency Disaster Relief Grant Funds are available for companies that have hired extra staff for​ cleaning, compliance, COVID protocol enforcement, contact tracing, temp checks, etc.
    • For any employer that is doing temporary hiring (meaning due to COVID), the relief fund can help fund that. If you are doing additional cleaning that requires additional staffing, there is assistance to employers to cover this cost.
    • If you are having to change your business plan because of safety and you have to hire a consultant to help with that, there is also funding for that to keep the business safe and clean.
    • All of the services at the workforce center are available at no cost to you.
    • The workforce center does training and helps assist employees in training for their jobs.
  • Works with Tri-County Health Department and the SBDC/SBA to provide “consulting grants” for​ companies that have had to revise their business plans due to COVID
  • Work-Based Learning opportunities for companies to hire (paid for by workforce centers)​ individuals to file, answer phones, greet customers, etc that give a job seeker new skills, re-training to increase their employability – these are “internships” that carry $5-8K per participant. CARES ACT
  • Registered Apprenticeship ​ Assistance​   o           Can pay for classroom training
    • Can help fund PPE and other supportive services that the apprentice may not be able to pay out of their pocket
    • Workforce center can help pay for their internship because it helps develop skills that can be used and utilized by the intern going forward.
    • Offering virtual career fairs
    • Can do assessments of soft skills for potential employees
  • IECRM and the Adams County Workforce Center work very closely together.​ They have supported a number of our apprentices by paying their tuition, assisting with book fees, housing, childcare, etc.
  • Residency is NOT required – Adams County Workforce Center ​ does not​ have a residence​             requirement to assist with training.
  • Out of school youths -​ can get assistance with getting their GEDs
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)​
  • Job Placement Assistance for out of work or under-employed people​
  • Data Assistance: If you need assistance with data, they have a labor market specialist that can help (i.e. ​ competitive wage intelligence​ and any other type of data you may need)​
  • Working with Businesses in the Community (Workforce Center Services/Benefits/Programs) include NO COST job​ postings,​ career​ fairs,​ hiring support, labor market info, economic data (individually researched questions for businesses)
  • Business Services – Screen in / screen out competencies, assessments, (modified to meet needs of​ employers), free assessments and skills tools for new hires or existing staff, teamwork skills (soft skills development), candidate assessments for eligibility and competency at the time of hiring/screening process https://www.adcogov.org/temporary-assistance-needy-families-tanf​

Top of Mind COVID Legal issues:

  • COVID fatigue is very real. Many people are growing weary of protocols and becoming lax on following them.
  • Still getting a lot of questions about pay for those who become sick with COVID.
  • Still getting a lot of exposure questions.

 

What about the CARES ACT? Some may think that it “is over” and that workplaces are “back to normal.” Help us re-calibrate from a legal/guidance perspective? 

■  For someone who gets COVID or has childcare issues due to COVID, 80 hours of pay is required to be available.   ■    Will likely stay the same for 2021

  • Sick Leave For Employees – Colorado’s ​  “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”​
  • Healthy Families Workplace Act
  • Traditional sick pay leave hours (minimum of 48 hours in CO)
  • Public health emergency-full time employees have to have 80 hours immediately available to them (likely still in place and resetting in January with a new 80 hours).
  • As a reminder, Colorado is still under the Safer at Home order. With this, it is still ok to do symptom checks at business.  Limits are still at 50% capacity for the number of employees in the office.

Is there anything that Fisher Phillips has on Diversity and Inclusion? 

  • There is a training on Unconscious Bias available to Fisher Phillips clients
  • Often times, assumptions are made on biases, whether consciously or unconsciously.
  • Diversity & Inclusion Resources (from Fisher Phillips):

■ Getting Unconscious Bias Into Your Company’s Consciousness

■ Speak No Evil – The Right To Limit Employee Speech This Election Season and Beyond

COVID Updates from a Contractor Perspective

  • When employees test positive for COVID, they risk exposing not just coworkers but also the family of those coworkers.
  • Even with proper PPE protocols in place, exposure can still happen

■   During lunch/breaks when masks are removed to eat

■    When reusing masks without sanitizing between uses

■    Ride-sharing

  • Implementing new guidelines and reminding team members about proper protocols can help curb the spread of COVID on the job.

■    Provide more than one mask for employees.  In reality, they probably need at least five masks.

■            Provide handwashing stations in addition to antibacterial hand sanitizers.

■    Make sure everyone is wearing their PPE properly.

■    Log everyone who has any symptoms daily.  If anyone has ANY symptoms, request that they stay home (and work remotely, if possible).

■    Encourage no ride-sharing

 

Additional Resources from our Subject Matter Experts:

Fisher Phillips:

 

Additional COVID-19 Links

 

/iecrm-covid-19-updates-resources/

 

IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.