Automotive offerings and expertise at IHS Markit span every major market and the entire automotive value chain – from product planning to marketing, sales and the aftermarket. Their representative, Todd Campau, Associate Director, Aftermarket Solutions, will be a presenter at CAWA’s Leadership Meeting on June 25, 2021 in San Diego. For more information, contact programs@cawa.org or to register click HERE.

Yesterday our store was very busy, so I could not let my employee leave for a meal break until very late in the day. Do I owe the employee a one-hour meal period penalty because their lunch break was late, or is it owed only if they didn’t get a meal break at all? See answers here. Source: Our friends at the California Chamber of Commerce

As COVID-19 vaccination rates climb, more employers are setting their return plans in motion. A survey by LaSalle Network, a staffing and recruitment firm, found 70% of workers plan to have employees back in the office by this fall.

For many businesses, the return is expected to be accompanied by a question: "Are you vaccinated?". Experts say employers are trying to determine the vaccination status of employers for a number of reasons, including when making the decision about when to reopen an office or bring a higher percentage of workers back. But they also say companies need to keep several factors in mind when seeking to determine an employee’s COVID-19 vaccination status. See more details here.

For this and other employee related issues see CAWA’s attorneys (www.cawa.org). As a member you can receive up to ½ hour legal consultation each month that is FREE to you. Source: Sacramento Business Journal

Don’t wait for your renewal, your broker can get a quote and potentially save you significant dollars in health insurance premiums.

CAWA members in Nevada with 2 to 50 full-time employees can now offer insurance coverage for their employees and their families with a high-quality, affordable Association Health Plan medical plan from Prominence. Our Association Health Plans allow small employers to join as one entity to purchase the type of coverage that is traditionally available to large group employers. This results in less expensive and richer health plan options that can then be passed along to the employee.

Either you or your current broker should contact Mat Nabity of CoreMark Insurance Services to assist you at mnabity@coremarkins.com or 916.835.1676.

Session I: August 22-27, 2021 - Northwood University Campus, Midland, MI.

Session II: March 20-25, 2022 - Raleigh, NC.

Scholarship recipients receive a full $6,350 scholarship. The chosen applicant is only responsible for their hotel and travel. The program is appropriate for all levels of the aftermarket and all educational backgrounds. See the enclosed brochure (here) and contact Rodney Pierini, 800.332.2292, ext. 1201 or admin@cawa.org for more information or to answer your questions.

The meetings will take place on June 24 and 25, 2021. Committee sessions, business meetings, networking events and guest speakers on contemporary automotive issues will make presentations.

There will also be a YANG Regional Meet-Up in conjunction with the leadership meetings and, keeping with CAWA’s continued support of YANG, all their members can register for the complete event free of charge.

Presentations at the general session on Friday, June 25th will include:

For more information on the event, contact programs@cawa.org or to register for the event, click here.

CAWA joined a coalition to weigh in on the proposed development of the Oakland waterfront that will impact the Port of Oakland. These comments were respectfully submitted in response to the February 26, 2021 publication of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the “Oakland Waterfront Ballpark District Project” at Howard Terminal (Case File Number ER18-016). These comments were submitted on behalf of many businesses, labor unions, and trade associations who utilize and depend on a healthy, growing, and well-functioning Port of Oakland. See the letter here.

When I talk to sales reps who aren’t hitting their numbers it usually comes down to a lack of activity, in other words, they aren’t making enough calls to get the prospects and ultimately make the sales. “I don’t have enough time” is the biggest excuse I hear regarding why they aren’t making the necessary calls. Not having enough time can be due to a few factors. Here they are and here’s what you can do about them (here). Source: John Chapin

The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department last week announced details of tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) that allows small and midsize employers, and certain governmental employers, to claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees due to COVID-19. This includes leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. The ARP tax credits are available to eligible employers that pay sick and family leave from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.

Your business may also be eligible for additional credits for those who took sick leave earlier in the public health crisis. Beginning April 1, 2020, any businesses with fewer than 500 employees were entitled to a tax credit equal to 100% of emergency paid leave they provided for qualifying reasons related to COVID-19.

For more information on the tax credit, view the Department of Treasury's snapshot. 

The Auto Care Association applauded a report issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entitled, “Nixing the Fix: An FTC Report to Congress on Repair Restrictions.” The report found that “there is scant evidence to support manufacturer justifications for repair restriction” and stated that the FTC “stands ready to work with lawmakers, either at the state or federal level, to ensure that consumers have choices when they need to repair products that they purchase and own.”

To stay apprised of issues impacting the automotive aftermarket, learn of local trainings and events coming to your area, in addition to the many benefits CAWA offers its members, see how you can get connected via website, newsletter, social media. See here for more details.

The CAWA Career Center is more than just a place to post job opportunities. In fact, it offers something of far greater value than other recruitment sites. CAWA’s Career Center is an engagement platform that brings you even closer to the type of talent that you are looking for. The Association’s job board is built around an established community of state and national trade association members, students and industry professionals; creating an opportunity to network with others in the field and build an employer brand that extends beyond the job board. Visit www.cawa.org to begin your search for talent for your company. Another member benefit.