New Resource May 2021
Latest update on COVID Business Restrictions – May
- Click here for the latest updates on COVID Business Restrictions
New Resources April 2021
- Here for more on State Winding Down Most COVID-19 Restrictions
- National Association of Manufacturers:
Love Frank Video:
- Centers for Disease Control COVID Vaccine Fact Sheet
- CDC Why Get Vaccinated? Poster
- Health Action Alliance – Tools for the Business Community
- CDC – Information for Essential Workers
- CDC – Materials to Build Confidence in Vaccines
- Pfizer – BioNTech Vaccine Fact Sheet
- Moderna Vaccine Fact Sheet
- Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Fact Sheet
Massachusetts Resources:
- Trust the Facts. Get the Vax Campaign, which includes PSAs and Animated Videos in English, Spanish, ASL.
- Mass DPH– Vaccine education and outreach materials for non-English speakers
- MLCHC- COVID-19 vaccine resources for health centers to use with patients. Available in: Basic/Comprehensive English, Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese
- Dimock Center Covid-19 Vaccine Information Hub – fact sheets, information, and resources from the Dimock Center
- TBF – Vaccine Resource Map – TBF a compilation of numerous resources
New Resources March 2021
- Here for updates on Phase 4, Step 1 Reopening for businesses
New Resources January 2021
- Here for The 30 Second Vaccine Update
- Here for Webinar: What Vaccines Will Mean to Employers
- Here for AIM’s Government Affairs Vaccine FAQ
- Here for AIM HR Solutions Vaccination Checklist
- Here for information about the vaccination model policy through the handbook subscription service
Resources December 2020
- Here are 8 highlights you need to know about the COVID-19 Vaccine
- Timeline to Vaccine Distribution in Massachusetts
- Interactive map of MA testing sites. – COVID-19 testing continues to be a real challenge for Massachusetts employers, employees and residents. This interactive map provides an updated look at testing sites in Massachusetts.
Resources November 2020
- Face coverings Q&A Face Coverings – Revised.docx
- Daily COVID-19 Data (updated daily) https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information#daily-updates-
AIM Podcast | Employers Face Challenges
Massachusetts employers who have survived the COVID-19 pandemic face ongoing challenges with finances, ensuring the safety of their workplaces and helping employees figure out the shifting child-care landscape.
Listen to our podcast as AIM Executive Vice President of Government Affairs Brooke Thomson discusses a new survey of 88 employers conducted by AIM’s Re-Opening Task Force. The responses paint a compelling picture of the long, hard road that employers face as Massachusetts emerges from the public health and economic consequences of the pandemic.
Listen to the Podcast
View the Infographic
AIM Resource Documents
Re-Opening the Massachusetts Economy
The Massachusetts economy is re-opening using a four-phase approach, based on public health guidance.
- Phase 1 allowed limited industries to resume operations with severe restrictions.
- Phase 2 allowed additional industries to resume operations with restrictions and capacity limitations.
- Phase 3 allows additional industries to resume operations with guidance.
- Phase 4 will enable the resumption of a “new normal” with the development of vaccines and/or treatments.
Prior to reopening, each business must do the following:
- Complete a written COVID-19 Control Plan.
- Complete and post the compliance attestation poster.
- Post signs and posters for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, cleaning, and disinfecting.
- Review and comply with industry-specific guidance.
Phase Three
As of July 6, 2020, the state moved into Phase Three of the re-opening of the Massachusetts economy. The City of Boston followed and moved into Phase Three on July 13, 2020.
Re-Opening the Massachusetts Economy
Phase Two
As of June 8, 2020, the state moved into Phase Two of the re-opening of the Massachusetts economy.
Phase Two was introduced in two steps.
Step one of Phase Two included retail, restaurants (outdoor table service), childcare facilities, and hotels with contingencies. Step one was effective as of June 8, 2020. For the full list of businesses allowed to re-open in step one click here.
Step two began on June 23 and covered indoor table service at restaurants and close-contact personal services, with restrictions including, nail care, skin care, and hair removal and replacement. Click here for the full list.
Phase Two Step One Sector-specific Protocols:
- Safety Standards for Car Washes
- Safety Standards for Driving and Flight Schools
- Safety Standards for Golf Facilities
- Safety Standards for Operators of Lodgings
- Safety Standards for Restaurants (Outdoor Table Service)
- Safety Standards for Retail Businesses
- Safety Standards for Sectors Not Otherwise Addressed
Phase Two Step Two Sector-specific Protocols:
Additional Resources:
Governor Baker’s Phase Two Executive Order
Re-opening Health and Human Services Guidance
As of May 18, the state lifted the Stay at Home advisory and implementing a Safer at Home Advisory.
Phase One
Phase one was introduced in two parts.
Part one included the re-opening of manufacturing, construction and places of worship effective May 18, 2020.
Part two included the opening of office buildings (office space in Boston will be effective on June 1, 2020), laboratories, hair salons and barber shops, pet grooming, car washes, and retail that allowed for curbside pick-up effective May 25, 2020. In addition, beaches, parks, drive-in movie theaters, athletic fields, gardens and zoos opened effective May 25, 2020.
All businesses in Massachusetts are required to comply with Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards which vary by industry. Essential business which have remained open must comply with these standards by Mary 25, 2020. All other business must comply with these standards prior to re-opening.
- Safety Standards for Construction
- Safety Standards for Manufacturing
- Safety Standards for Office Spaces
- Safety Standards for Laboratories
- Safety Standards for Hair Salons & Barbershops
- Safety Standards for Pet Grooming Services
- Safety Standards for Place of Worship
- Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs COVID-19 Guidance Doc
Refer to the Reopening Massachusetts and Mass.gov COVID-19 site for regular updates on business openings, testing facilities, and other resources and refer to Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces for additional guidance.
Employers are also encouraged to review any re-opening guidance issued by local municipalities.
AIM “Thirty on Thursdays” Webinar Series
On-Demand Audio
- June 25 – Building a Resilient Growth Framework
- June 18 – Attorney General Office-Fair Labor Division Review For Employers
- June 11 – Mitigating COVID-19 Liability in the Workplace
- June 4 – Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Workplace
- May 28 – What is Leadership in the New Normal?
- May 21 – Post COVID-19 Response Strategies
- May 14 – Recalibrating Your Sales Plan – When You Have No Idea What Will Work
- May 7 – Reimagining Your Business
- April 30 – Spotlight on Global Market and Supply Chain Disruption
- April 23 – Communicating During Times of Turmoil
- April 16 – State & Federal Tax Implications of COVID-19
- April 9 – COVID-19 Q&A With AIM Experts
- April 2 – SBA Economic Injury Loan Info
- March 26 – Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- March 19 – AIM 30 on Thursday Expert Panel Q&A Recording
- Here for Webinar: On Pins and Needles-Should Employers Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Employees?
- Here are 8 highlights you need to know about the COVID-19 Vaccine
Disaster Financing
The Small Business Administration offers multiple loan programs to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is open in Massachusetts. Small businesses can now access and apply for Economic Impact Disaster Loans at sba.gov/disaster. SBA issued a “declaration of economic injury” for the commonwealth.
- Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives, and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of COVID-19 since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of COVID-19
- The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses.
- The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years, and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
- Visit the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, call the Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
Federal Reserve Bank Main Street Lending Program
As part of the $2.3 trillion funding the Federal Reserve announced to aid in the economic response to coronavirus, the Main street Lending Program will become available to small businesses on April 9, 2020.
The Main Street Lending Program is a five-year loan for businesses with fewer than 15,000 employees and revenues of less than $5 billion per year.