MAF works tirelessly to improve the business climate of Florida's manufacturers and manufacturing industry. This includes sharing resources during Florida's emergency disasters. As members of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) we are able to keep our members engaged with government leaders, state agencies, community and partner organizations before, during and after statewide emergencies.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
  • Emergency Bridge Loan Program Activated. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. The application period runs March 17, 2020 and runs through May 8, 2020. Learn more and apply

  • Recommended strategies for employers to use now:
    -Encourage sick employees to stay home
    -Separate sick employees
    -Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hygiene by employees
    -Perform routine environmental cleaning
    -Create an infectious disease outbreak response plan

Executive Order 20-91:
On April 1, 2020 Gov. DeSantis announced a Stay At Home order for Florida. This order covers all counties and will be effective 12:01am EST Friday, April 3. The order mandates that Floridians stay home and "limit movements and personal interactions outside the home" to essential services or activities for the next 30 days. Gov. DeSantis said the state would follow the guidelines outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. While we urged for all manufacturing sectors to be included in list of essential businesses and local counties responded positively to our request, Gov DeSantis will be adopting federal guidelines. More details on those guidelines can be found at the link above.

   

 

FEDERAL RESOURCES

HR 6201-Families First Act:

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed HR 6201, "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" into law. This bill requires employers to provide paid leave for some employees related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, among other measures. Specifically, the bill: 
  • Requires two weeks of paid sick leave for affected government workers and employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees; and
  • Provides FMLA rights for some employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees.
 The bill also provides funding for economic assistance, requires health plans to cover COVID-19 testing at no charge, and includes a refundable tax credit for employers that provide paid leave benefits due to the coronavirus outbreak. The bill will take effect no later than 15 days after it is signed by the president.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave
The Act requires two weeks of paid sick leave for government workers and employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees. Leave must be made available immediately to workers who are symptomatic or are under an order or advice to quarantine or self-isolate, who have to care for a family member under such an order or advice, or who have a child whose school or child care facility has closed (or whose child care provider is unavailable) due to the coronavirus.
Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act
The Act provides FMLA rights for some employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees, requiring partially paid leave after 10 days when an employee is unable to work or telework due to school or child care closures related to the coronavirus.
Other Provisions
The Act provides funding for economic assistance and requires health plans to cover COVID-19 testing at no charge. A refundable tax credit for employers that provide paid leave benefits as required by the Act is also included. The U.S. Treasury is expected to use its regulatory authority to advance funds to some small businesses to cover the cost of providing paid sick leave.