Best Practices for Resuming Business Operations

Employers and employees across Southeast Michigan are preparing to transition back to in-person work. The Detroit Regional Chamber knows a shift this large doesn’t come without challenges. During a recent employer forum, national health experts discussed useful strategies for maintaining well-being amid return to office and the importance of staying up to date on routine vaccinations.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network, Priority Health and Total Health Care are among a growing number of insurers waiving cost sharing for the next four months, including co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance, for inpatient, outpatient, laboratory testing, ER visits, ambulatory services and medications and vaccines associated with the virus.

Recent measures on legal immigration including presidential proclamations are impacting many U.S. businesses. Rami Fakhoury, managing director of Fakhoury Global Immigration, provided insight on how these recent developments are affecting the ability of U.S. businesses to meet their talent mobility objectives.

Mark S. Lee, president and CEO of The LEE Group, MI LLC, discussed with the Detroit Regional Chamber the state of the city’s small businesses amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, including how businesses are managing throughout the crisis and the resources they need to survive.

JS Clark Agency’s Compliance Director, Jennifer Young, provided context and clarification on the latest COVID-19 legislative and regulatory updates that impact employee benefits.

Plunkett Cooney attorneys discussed what businesses need to know about how commercial real estate and business operations will continue to change. The rapid-fire discussion covered topics from financial considerations to landlord or tenant issues to workforce management concerns related to COVID-19.

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-166 that reinstates protections for employees in the State of Michigan.  Under the Order, the governor prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, or retaliating against employees who make the responsible choice to stay home when they or their close contacts are sick. 

The Detroit Regional Chamber, in partnership with CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighted how small businesses are successfully transforming the challenges presented by COVID-19 into opportunities.

Under Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Orders from last week, Detroit casinos will be allowed to open on Wednesday, Aug. 5, but their occupancy will be limited to 15% capacity.

Today, the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. (DEGC) will open a new grant application that has $15.5 million available for Wayne County business owners, with $7.25 million to be granted within the City of Detroit borders.

Earlier this week, Oakland County launched the $32 million Oakland Together Small Business Recovery Grant fund.

One of your employees was diagnosed as a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case. What should you do?

As COVID-19 cases increase in every region of the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stressed the importance of “masking up” to mitigate the spread and keep the state on track to reopen preK-12 schools to students in the fall.

Mary Culler, chief of staff, Office of the Executive Chairman; president, Ford Motor Company Fund; and director, Michigan Central Station Development, spoke with Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in today’s Tele-Town Hall to update the business community on how Ford has pivoted its strategy in Corktown due to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has exposed serious faults in existing supply chains and has accelerated the notion of economic nationalism. The four truths that most supply chains are built upon are no longer true, thus setting the stage for supply chain’s new world order.

As the state’s economy continues to reopen, businesses are faced with the challenge of safely welcoming employees back, establishing work-from-home protocols, or doing both.

Many states across the U.S. have been given the green light to fully reopen, with exceptions in Michigan, Illinois, and California, which have limited reopening. Small businesses are faced with the challenges of when, how, and if they will reopen.

The  Wayne County Back to Work: Small Business Readiness Grant will be funded through the county’s allotment from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. At least 5,000 county small businesses could receive grants of up to $10,000. Applications will be available on June 29-July 10.

Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the State of Michigan to provide an update on the state’s COVID-19 cases and strategy for reopening.

Verizon and LISChave opened up a new round of funding to support small businesses that are faced with having to close their doors to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. LISC will use the funds to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure, especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses, and other enterprises that don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital in historically under-served communities. 

Last week, Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) announced it has launched rapid COVID-19 testing, together with CVS Health, at its downtown campus site.  Licensed health care providers from MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic of CVS Health, and CVS Pharmacy colleagues will staff the testing operation.    

Michigan has started to reopen the state in the past couple of weeks since COVID-19 cases have decreased and the curve has flattened. As businesses start to reopen there are key guidelines to keep employees and customers safe that will also help avoid a second wave. Start with the below resources as your business continues to return to a regular in-person schedule. 

The session will focus on three strategic areas upon which companies must focus in order to move forward and thrive during these uncertain times including embracing digital transformation, developing an innovative learning culture, and planning for the unexpected.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve Board expanded its Main Street Lending Program to allow more small and medium-sized businesses to be able to receive support.

The State of Michigan, in partnership with the Connected Nation Michigan, released a statewide Wi-Fi hotspot map today to assist residents who currently lack internet access at home.

Now that Michigan has transitioned into phase four of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, what does this mean for businesses attempting to resume operations in a safe and secure way?

Michigan continues to reopen as hospitalizations reached an all-time low this week dropping 82% compared to the mid-April peak. Today, Gov. Whitmer announced that on Monday, June 15, personal services including hair, massages, and nails will reopen statewide.

Chamber Vice President of Government Relations Brad Williams spoke with Natalie Chmiko, vice president of Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and International Trade for MEDC in a Tele-Town Hall on the free PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform.

As Michigan moves into the next phase of the “MI Safe Start Plan” and more sectors of the economy begin to reopen, guidance on safely bringing employees back to the workplace is critical.

At the Detroit Regional Chamber, we believe that nothing would be more economically damaging than a second economic shutdown due to COVID-19.

With the Governor lifting the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order this week, Michigan is moving to Phase Four of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.  What does it all mean?

Today, the Governor announced that she will rescind the “Safer at Home” Executive Order, moving the state into phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan — the “Improving” phase. 

To help reopening businesses safely reengage in the economy, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity launched the MI Symptoms Web Application as a cost-free way for employers to comply with Executive Order 2020-97 and implement a COVID-19 symptoms screening questionnaire for employees.

Businesses are working to reopen as Gov. Whitmer’s “Stay at Home” and other Executive Orders put in place amid COVID-19, begin to relax. It is important, and required, for businesses reopening to protect both their staff and customers. 

As businesses across Michigan prepare to reopen or welcome employees back, having the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect their employees and customers will help ensure a successful restart. Our goal is to help connect those who have supplies with those who need supplies.

The coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything the automotive and mobility industry has ever seen or could have ever foreseen when developing marketing and communications strategies for 2020.

Bring back your customers and employees safely with these ideas for reopening after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a number of Executive Orders that relaxed some of the “Stay at Home” orders. She updated Executive Order 2020-100 to extend Michigan’s “Safer at Home” order until June 12, 2020.

Many suppliers struggle with the plant floor operating system, which is now also being fundamentally altered. The turnaround begins with a foundational “blocking and tackling” approach to COGS reduction to offset underperformance, including realigning the behaviors on the floor to the new operating system.

As America’s businesses look to reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed, employers are facing countless new questions and unprecedented new challenges.

Today, Gov.Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order 2020-96 to reopen retail businesses and auto dealerships by appointment statewide on Tuesday, May 26, as part of her MI Safe Start plan.

Join Accenture’s Health Practice leaders as they paint a compelling picture reimagining the future of health care which seamlessly connects care, society, and work.

As businesses restart and begin operating in the “new normal,” understanding the unique challenges and strategies of crisis management and business continuity planning is paramount. This includes monitoring and managing cash flow and liquidity.

Over the last few months, the AIREA has been studying “Back to the Workplace” trends and ideas from many of the top thought leaders from around the globe. There are many diverse concepts and solutions that are being considered and there is no “one size fits all” answer.  

With the generous support of MEDC, NEI, Michigan-based foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and in collaboration with the SBA, the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund has secured funds to provide recovery grants and loans to diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses from underrepresented groups in Michigan. 

With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to allow manufacturing to resume, General Motors Co. is currently transitioning its workforce back to work. Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing Gerald Johnson joined Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in today’s Tele-Town Hall to share firsthand how the company pivoted to produce ventilators and its strategy in resuming operations.

As government and health officials begin to set parameters around reopening businesses, bringing your people back onsite successfully won’t be as simple as flipping a switch.

Miller Canfield’s Richard Walawender, Corporate and Transactions Group co-leader and Brad Arbuckle, principal attorney will discuss issues such as problems with logistics, bankruptcies, pricing disputes, force majeure, production delays, and liquidity squeeze.

Many suppliers struggle with the plant floor operating system, which is now also being fundamentally altered. The turnaround begins with a foundational “blocking and tackling” approach to COGS reduction to offset underperformance, including realigning the behaviors on the floor to the new operating system.

As businesses restart and begin operating in the “new normal,” understanding the unique challenges and strategies of crisis management and business continuity planning is paramount. This includes monitoring and managing cash flow and liquidity.

Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order extending her “Stay Home Stay Safe” order until May 28. The order also allows Michigan’s manufacturing sector, including the automotive industry and Michigan’s Big 3, to open in phases starting on Monday, May 11.

Barton Malow President and CEO Ryan Maibach, the 2020 Mackinac Policy Chair shared some insight as construction opened back up last week.

As we move towards a post-COVID-19 recovery, companies that halted operations will soon face a new challenge – maintaining social distancing guidelines in manufacturing and distribution center environments.

The goal of this checklist is to highlight key operational areas for consideration of risks and planning of actions essential to restarting manufacturing operations at the Tier 1-n supplier level while ensuring customer product quality and delivery requirements are fulfilled.

As automotive manufacturers prepare to return to work, there are many financial and operational considerations. New safety, sanitation and hygiene procedures are all part of the “new normal” for manufacturers as plants begin to reopen after shutting down due to COVID-19.

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 crisis is negatively impacting business operations for most middle market companies — 86% of them, in fact, according to the National Center for the Middle Market. Despite this, most companies are confident in their resilience.