NIA Informs
COVID-19 Information for the Insulation Industry. Click here to read the latest online.
April 7, 2020
In This Issue:
Free NIA Webinars
Register today for 2 webinars:
  • Thursday, April 9: Best Practices for Remote Working

  • Wednesday, April 15: Contractors Panel Discussion on Construction Challenges and Opportunities Amid COVID-19
Insulation Impact Survey Results
NIA Legal Counsel Update
DOL Clarifications on Federal Leave under FFCRA . Click here to read the April 3 update.
Helpful OSHA, HR, and Airline Links & Resources
See below for details.
Free COVID-19 Legal Counsel Call for NIA Members
See below for details.
Welcome to our new NIA Informs newsletter! Twice a week, NIA will be providing updates to help your business find resources to recover faster during COVID-19.

Note: We know you are receiving a lot of emails and this newsletter will help us streamline our communications to you. Please don't unsubscribe or NIA will not be able to send you any emails in the future.
NIA's Next Free Webinar Is Thursday, April 9
As a service to our members and the industry during the COVID-19 crisis, NIA is offering complimentary webinars to help you navigate the changing environment and share new information with you.

Free NIA Webinar: Best Practices for Working Remotely
When: Thursday, April 9, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET

With statewide stay-at-home orders in place, many businesses are remotely managing a portion of their workforce. When this isn’t the norm for you, it can seem daunting to know how to effectively manage your team, which tools are best, and how to stay productive.

This webinar is led by NIA favorite and Matrix CEO Joanna Pineda, who will share her tips, tricks, and best practices for working remotely.

Webinar Presenter: Joanna Pineda, CEO, Matrix Group International
Looking Ahead: April 15 Free Webinar with NIA Contractor Members
Free NIA Webinar: Contractors Panel Discussion on Construction Challenges and Opportunities Amid COVID-19
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Join us for a conversation with contractors to discuss our industry’s shared concerns, challenges, and opportunities during this unprecedented time. Presenters will discuss how their businesses are operating during the COVID-19 outbreak, including addressing health and safety challenges, managing client concerns, embracing new approaches, and planning for the near-term future.

Webinar panelists include:
  • Kenny Freeman, President, Petrin, LLC
  • John Lamberton, Chief Operating Officer, Irex Corporation
  • Ashley Luse, President, Luse Thermal Technologies

Facilitated by:
  • Dana Vlk, NIA President, Distribution International, Inc.

Attention members: Send your questions for the panelists to webinar@insulation.org
Results from Industry Contractor Survey

Thank you to our contractor members who answered the industry survey!
NIA is partnering with fellow insulation industry associations to represent your needs and help ensure that local, state, and federal government entities do not take actions without considering the insulation industry. We asked about project delays, project cancellations, slowdowns, material supply, plus more.

Your Feedback Is Essential
As NIA continues to monitor the pulse of the industry as the current situation evolves, we will be sending out quick, 2-minute surveys to our members. Look for a new survey coming soon. We thank you for your feedback and participation!
NIA Legal Counsel Update: DOL Clarifications on Federal Leave under FFCRA
April 3: COVID-19 HR Legal Update: Important Changes and Clarifications from the Department of Labor Regulations on Federal Leave under the FFCRA
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued its regulations that tell employers how the DOL will be interpreting and enforcing the 2 types of federal leave created under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). That leave includes Emergency Paid Sick Leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave. We have highlighted several important changes and clarifications that employers need to know about as they deal with these types of leave, which went into effect April 1.

As you review these items, please keep in mind that many of them will need to be treated on a case- by-case basis. Additionally, we recommend that any decisions related to discipline, denial of leave, furloughs and layoffs, or termination of employment should be run past labor and employment counsel before such decisions are finalized.

  • Parents cannot “double dip” on leave that is available where a child’s school or place of care is closed or whose child care provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 related reasons.


Continue to look for updates and consider periodically checking the DOL’s Q&A web page for updates on these and other issues.
Helpful OSHA and Human Resources Links & Resources
On April 3, OSHA issued Enforcement Guidance for Respiratory Protection and the N95 Shortage Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. Click here to read the memo.

For human resources information to navigate the changing landscape, the Society for Human Resource Management offers numerous resources. Click here for COVID-19 resources, including information on furloughs, pay cuts, and layoffs.
Good News from the Airlines
For those who had to cancel air travel, many airlines are easing restrictions on using travel credits and re-booking flights due to COVID-19. Several airlines' COVID-19 web pages are linked here:
NIA Webinar Archives: Watch at Your Convenience
COVID-19 Stimulus—What Every Construction Employer Needs to Know, Part 2 (March 31, 2020)

COVID-19—What Every Construction Employer Needs to Know, Part 1 (March 24, 2020)
COVID-19 Call with Legal Counsel for NIA Member Companies
Auman, Mahan & Furry is offering a free 30-minute call on COVID-19 during April for NIA member companies. For more information, contact Auman, Mahan & Furry’s Labor and Employment Group at 937-223-6003.
Where to Find the Latest Resources
NIA is curating the information and resources we send to members on our website, including legal updates, article resources, calls to action, and more. Please click here to find the latest updates.
We thank you for your ongoing commitment to NIA. Please take care of yourself, your family, and your business. If we can be of service to you and your business during this time, please contact NIA at niainfo@insulation.org .
National Insulation Association