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Support for BusinessSeptember 3, 2021Service Industry Roundtable
Telephone Town Hall Meeting
Vaccination status in the hiring process
Jefferson County Public Health Released Public Health Order
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Service Industry Roundtable: supporting innovative solutions
to challenges created by the Pandemic The Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center hosted a virtual Hospitality Industry Roundtable Discussion in partnership with the Golden, Evergreen, Arvada and West Metro Chambers on August 11th. The purpose of the roundtable was to bring local businesses together to support innovative, solution-focused discussions addressing the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating Businesses included Boston Market Corp., Lariat Lodge Brewing, Hyatt House Denver/Lakewood at Belmar, Balmer Peak Distillery.
The main workforce challenges identified were staffing, adapting to ongoing changes in the labor market, recruiting efforts, employee retention, and how to overcome ongoing supply chain issues.
One business is dealing with staffing issues is by re-evaluating their hiring process from start to finish. They created an employee referral program where each time an employee refers a candidate to the program (that stays for a set period), it increases their hourly pay rate. This is not a one-time bonus - an employee can receive multiple pay rate increases based upon how many new referrals are hired. They are also offering new employee a sign-on or stay-on bonus.
Several were concerned about long-term employee retention efforts. When you must hire new staff at a higher rate than existing staff due to market conditions, how do you take care of your current staff without promising wages that aren’t sustainable over the long haul?
One business strives to finds out about an applicant’s career interests during the initial interview so that they can incorporate them into their job responsibilities. For example, they are offering interested bartenders the opportunity to be trained as managers during slower periods, this allows more flexibility in scheduling and saves money on recruiting a shift manager. It also gives the employee valuable paid training and more growth opportunities in the industry.
A new business that opened in November 2019, experienced recruitment and supply chain issues, along with the challenges of opening a new business during the COVID-19 pandemic. While they utilize many online hiring applications, they have come to rely more on word-of-mouth referrals to find staff that are invested in the business and have a personal connection to its success. They speak directly to their customers and vendors and ask them for referrals. They have gotten one of their best employees through a referral and now the employee has taken on a sales and distribution role in addition to bartending.
Make sure that your employees feel valued. Utilize your business partnerships to create “perk packages” or other employee incentives to help boost employee satisfaction when you can’t raise their wages. Hotel stays, gift cards tailored to the employee’s interests or hobby and discounted services from other partners and employee discounts. Work with employees to determine a career path in the industry that allows them to move and grow with the company. Find out what their passion is and help feed that interest in a way that benefits both sides.
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How to ask about vaccination status in the hiring process
With Covid-19 cases and employer vaccination mandates on the rise, it has become necessary when hiring a new employee to ask about their vaccination status
The Society for Human Resource Management says companies are usually within their rights to ask candidates if they’ve received a Covid-19 vaccine.
Here are some tips to navigate asking for vaccination status
Limit the Inquiry
Stephen Riga, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Indianapolis, explained that employers should avoid making medical inquiries that could run afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said employees may decline to confirm their vaccination status for reasons that are unrelated to a disability. "Therefore, requesting documentation or other confirmation of vaccination by a third party in the community [such as a pharmacy or doctor] is not a disability-related inquiry under the ADA, and the ADA's rules about such inquiries do not apply," the agency said in updated FAQs.
Maintain ConfidentialityThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explained that any documentation or other confirmation that employees provide about their vaccination status is considered medical information and must be kept confidential. The best way to address employee privacy concerns is to communicate that such records will be strictly confidential and will not be used to make employment decisions.
Keep Policies UpdatedAs the pandemic continues, employer's policies cannot remain stagnant.
Employers should have consistent messaging in regards to the vaccination status of their employees when communicating with their customers or prospective employees.
Try to keep a close track on federal and county guideline and make decisions accordingly.
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Masks now required for ages 3 and older when indoors at schools, childcare facilities Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) amended Public Health Order 21-002, which now requires everyone ages 3 and older (instead of 2 and older) to wear a mask when indoors at all schools and school-based extracurricular activities as well as all childcare settings in Jefferson County. Additionally, the amended Order no longer requires social distancing of at least 6 ft. when masks are removed during meal times or when playing instruments indoors, and instead, JCPH strongly recommends maintaining at least 3 ft. distance in these instances. The amended Order is effective immediately and until it is rescinded, superseded or amended. Read more: www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1661
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Jefferson County is operating under Dial Level ClearJCPH issued public health order PHO 21-001 - Simplified COVID-19 Dial (Second Amended) to help guide the county through the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and into a full reopening. The local order was extended on August 13, 2021 is now effective through September 15, 2021.
Jefferson County is operating under Phase 2 – Observation Period from May 16-September 15. Businesses may operate at 100 percent capacity with no mitigation requirements, with the exception of statewide mask requirements in certain high risk settings for unvaccinated individuals and any other requirements set by the State of Colorado or Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
During the observation period, JCPH will closely monitor hospitalizations, a health metric indicative of severity of COVID-19 infections. If needed, JCPH can apply capacity limits based on hospitalization rates as described in the order. |
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Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center
Business ServicesBusiness Services offers a wide array of services and resources to help businesses of any size.
Information about layoff assistance and layoff aversion programs are available, please contact Jill Howard at [email protected] or call 303-271-4768.
If your business is currently hiring, we can assist with job postings, marketing to job seekers and virtual job fairs. Contact the Business Services team at [email protected] or call 303-271-4800.
Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center website:
https://www.jeffco.us/Business-Workforce-Center
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Additional Resources Jefferson County Business & Workforce Workshops: https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=28
General Unemployment Insurance Information Related to Coronavirus
Up-to-date information for employers, employees and FAQ’s about Colorado Unemployment Insurance programs and other resources.
https://covid19.colorado.gov/
Colorado Unemployment Insurance Employer Services website
Information about layoffs, labor laws, incentives and tax credits, audits, posting jobs on Connecting Colorado and more.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/businesses-employers
Unemployment Insurance Guide for Employers
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Employer_Guide.pdf
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Learn what it means for employers.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/families_first_coronavirus_response_act.pdf
U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance for the workplace.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20200309
Small Business Guidance & Resources
Information about Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs, Guidance for Businesses and Employers, SBA Products and Resources, Government Contracting and Local Assistance.
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners and Renters.
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation
Jeffco EDC is an advocate for the county’s business community and is dedicated to building economic prosperity in the community. Current resources for businesses are included on the website.
https://jeffcoedc.org/
Clear Creek Economic Development Corporation
The CCEDC works to create and offer programs for Clear Creek County businesses. Information about emergency working capital loan program is on the website.
http://www.clearcreekedc.org/our-programs
Arvada Economic Development Association
Arvada Economic Development Association has community, government, and civic partnerships which allow AEDA to provide your business with the latest business information and resources.
https://arvadaeconomicdevelopment.org/
City of Edgewater
The City's economic development programs are designed to bolster the economic health and opportunity within Edgewater and the surrounding area for residents and businesses alike.
https://edgewaterco.com/planning
Golden Community & Economic Development Division
The City of Golden Community & Economic Development Division provides a network of resources to support existing and growing businesses including grant opportunities.
https://www.cityofgolden.net/work/economic-development/
Lakewood Economic Development Division
The Economic Development Division of the City of Lakewood provides services to businesses, including business attraction, expansion, entrepreneurialism, marketing, communications and resources.
https://www.lakewood.org/Government/Departments/Economic-Development
Littleton Economic Development Department
The Economic Development Department of the City of Littleton focuses on business development, retention and attraction by providing business resources for companies operating in or planning to locate within the city.
https://www.littletongov.org/city-services/city-departments/economic-development
Westminster Economic Development Department
The City of Westminster Economic Development Division provides resources to existing and growing businesses.
https://www.westminstereconomicdevelopment.org/
Wheat Ridge Economic Development Division
The City of Wheat Ridge Economic Development Division is dedicated to both the businesses and citizens of Wheat Ridge by providing an array of resources for the community.
https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/269/Economic-Development
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
OEDIT has a hotline for small business owners to call with questions at (303) 860-5881 or email [email protected]
https://choosecolorado.com/
Chambers of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce associations promote and protect the interests of the business community in a local community, and offer valuable resources and education to businesses
West Metro Chamber
https://www.westmetrochamber.org/
Arvada Chamber
https://www.arvadachamber.org/
Conifer Chamber
https://www.goconifer.com/
Evergreen Chamber
https://www.evergreenchamber.org/
Golden Chamber
https://goldenchamber.org/
Littleton Chamber
http://littletonbusinesschamber.org/
Westminster Chamber
https://www.westminsterchamber.biz/
Wheat Ridge Chamber
http://www.wheatridgechamber.org/
Wheat Ridge Business Association
https://www.wheatridgebiz.com/
Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center serving Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties is an equal opportunity program; auxiliary services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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