April 8, 2020
Serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Ventura & Clark Counties
CARES Act Provides New Access to Retirement Account Funds
The new Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act is the largest stimulus bill in American history. Among its many provisions, Section 2202 allows people to access funds that are in their retirement accounts. Here’s what you need to know:
 
Who qualifies for this?
Individuals who have been diagnosed, or have a spouse or dependent who has been diagnosed, with COVID-19 by a CDC-approved test; or

Individuals who, due to the coronavirus pandemic, have experienced adverse financial consequences as a result of:
  • Being quarantined;
  • Being furloughed, laid off or having work hours reduced;
  • Being unable to work due to lack of childcare;
  • Closure or reduced hours of a business that the individual owns or operates; or
  • Other factors to be determined by the US Department of the Treasury
 
How can people access their funds?
There are a number of new, optional ways. These include:
 
  • New loans – An increase in the limit for new loans taken from the plan, from $50,000 or 50% to $100,000 or 100% of plan balances. 
  • Existing loans – The repayment of existing loans from the plan for which the due date is between March 27 and December 31, 2020 can be extended by up to one year.
  • Temporary withdrawals/distributions – Up to $100,000 of plan balances.
 
When must the money be accessed?
Distributions can be made any time in 2020. The new, increased loans must be taken within 180 days of enactment (i.e. by September 23, 2020).   
 
Are these distributions subject to the 10% early distribution penalty?
No. These distributions are not subject to the 10% early distribution penalty that would otherwise be applicable to payments made prior to age 59-1/2.
 
What are the tax consequences of these distributions?
A participant can repay the distribution within three years. To the extent that the participant does not repay the distribution, it can be included as part of the individual’s taxable income ratably over three tax years.
How to Use a Pop-Up Facebook Group for Business
When to Use a Pop-Up Facebook Group

Unlike regular groups, a pop-up Facebook group is a limited-time experience. Members have the opportunity to learn more about you, your company, and the problems you’re trying to solve, with the intention of generating sales for a service or offering. Think of it as a pre-launch event.

Even more powerful, you can use your pop-up group as a pre-launch tool and then pitch your sales process, which is also front-ended with something free like a webinar or video series.

Keep in mind that the group’s purpose is to focus on the “what” and the “why.” The mistake some marketers make is focusing too much on the “how” in the pop-up phase, which can turn people off. If your pop-up group is heavy on to-do’s and fills people’s feeds with lessons and actions for 4 weeks before even getting to a pitch, you may lose them.




Compliance Issues When Managing a Remote Workforce
Suddenly find yourself with employees working from home? As if you don’t have enough on your plate trying to deal with the impact of the global pandemic, you also need to concern yourself with compliance issues. After all, employment laws remain in force regardless of where your workforce is located.
 
Here are some of the key things to consider regarding your suddenly-remote workforce…
 
Are your employees properly recording their time worked? If your nonexempt workers normally punch in at a timeclock, what system are you using now? Remember, all of the usual laws regarding overtime and hours worked still apply, even for those who are now working at their kitchen tables. California law still requires that you pay employees for all hours worked, even if those hours were not approved.
 
Are your employees taking the required meal and rest breaks? Who is monitoring their records of time worked to ensure this is happening?
 
Are any nonexempt employees performing work off the clock? You must make it clear to workers and their supervisors that this is unlawful and strictly forbidden.
 
Are you reimbursing employees for business expenses? California law requires employers to reimburse employees for certain necessary expenditures incurred that primarily benefit the employer. This may include, for example, cell phone/data plan and internet access expenses.
 
Action item: Having clear written policies for all of these things is a must in any situation. Reminding everyone about these policies now is a good idea in this particular situation
Webinar: COVID-19: The Path Forward For The Economy And Print Markets
Date:Thursday, April 23, 2020
Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm Eastern Time

COVID-19 has severely disrupted the economy and print markets. This webinar examines current trends in the economy and analyzes the impact on the economy and print over the next 12 months.
You Will Learn
  • How deep will the recession be?
  • How long will the recession last?
  • What will be the impact on print sales?
  • What will happen to printers' profits?
  • Will there be longer-term disruptions and shifts in print demand and printer operations?

Free for members
$29 for non-members
PIA Joins SGIA And NAPCO Media To Launch
COVID-19 Resource Channel
New channel provides industry with the latest information on COVID-19, including thought leadership on legislation, economic impact, human resources, and safety.

Printing Industries of America (PIA) and its affiliates have joined forces with SGIA and NAPCO Media to launch a powerful resource channel dedicated to providing the printing and graphic communications industry with up-to-the-minute news and resources on COVID-19 and how to navigate the latest information about the pandemic.  The COVID-19 Resource Channel is now live at HERE .

With content being updated daily, the entire industry can easily access guidelines and best practices as recommended by leading government agencies, such as the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,  World Health Organization ,  Small Business Administration , and  Department of Labor  as it pertains to the printing industry and relevant operations and procedures.

"We are at a critical time in the industry right now," says Ford Bowers, President and CEO, SGIA. "It became apparent that our community is desperately searching for answers and the latest information on COVID-19 and how it is affecting business operations. As legislation and new mandates are changing daily, sometimes even more frequently, we worked quickly to assemble experts from across platforms to engage swiftly to track and monitor these updates, so that we could provide the resources, together, in one easily accessed location.”

Content on the COVID-19 Resource Channel will be provided daily by industry leaders in subject areas, as follows:

  • State and Local Legislative Updates: Marci Kinter, Vice President, Government Affairs, SGIA
  • National Legislative Updates: Lisbeth Lyons, Vice President, Government & External Affairs, PIA
  • Safety Updates: Gary Jones, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety Affairs, SGIA
  • Economic Impact on the Printing Industry: Andy Paparozzi, Chief Economist, SGIA
  • Human Resource Updates/Guidance: Adriane Harrison, Vice President of Human Relations, PIA
 
SGIA, PIA, and PIA affiliates have been actively working on the industry's behalf to call for swift legislative action to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic on the printing and graphic communications industry, including its call to action to support print as an essential business. Other initiatives include advocating for a federal emergency program to provide compensation for COVID-19-related employee leave; equipping members with resources to implore leaders in Washington to emphasize the critical need for a government response to address the potential consequences that COVID-19 poses to public health, the nation's economy and its workforce; and much more.

Be sure to bookmark and follow the  COVID-19 Resource Channel HERE , for the latest updates.  
On Our Radar
With California’s legislative sessions currently on hold due to the statewide shelter-in-place orders, it is hard to guess if any of the legislation we are tracking will move forward this year. With any luck, a “silver lining” in the coronavirus pandemic will be the shelving of much of the proposed legislation that would add to the burden of conducting business in California.
 
That said, here are the proposed bills that we have added to our watch list:
 
  • Lots of bills aimed at repealing or modifying AB 5 – This includes SB 1039, which would develop a “modern policy framework” for independent contractors;, SB 806, which would replace AB 5 with a new test,; and more.
  • Responsibility for harassment committed by a contracted supervisor – AB 2043 would make the client employer responsible for these acts.
  • Addition to business license fees – AB 2843 would add an annual “affordable housing assistance fund” fee to annual city and county business license fees.
  • Expansion of unpaid protected family care and medical leave – AB 2992 would eliminate the current exception for small employers.
Lengthy bereavement leave – AB 2999 would require employers to grant bereavement leaves of up to 10 days in length.
Webinar: Trade Creditor Strategies to Ride the Anticipated COVID-19 Bankruptcy Wave
Date:  Tuesday, April 14th
Time:  2:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Many industries have been reeling from the disruption arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. A huge wave of bankruptcy filings is anticipated. This webinar provides trade creditors the opportunity to identify distressed customers prior to their bankruptcy filings and mitigate their risk of loss. The speakers will discuss the warning signs of a troubled customer and sources of information for identifying warning signs.
The program then focuses on the risk mitigation tools that should be part of a trade creditor’s arsenal, including Uniform Commercial Code remedies, such as stoppage of delivery and adequate assurance rights, set off rights, letters of credit, credit insurance and obtaining consignment and purchase money security interest protection and the steps that can be taken prior to any bankruptcy to reduce preference risk. Finally, there will be a discussion of the steps a creditor should take to increase recovery in a bankruptcy case, such as the increased collectability of claims for goods delivered within 20 days of bankruptcy, the benefits of serving on a creditors’ committee, the changes to court procedures and practice resulting from the pandemic, and the CARES Act changes expanding the applicability of the new small business bankruptcy provisions.
The session will close with an interactive Q&A session, and topical questions may also be submitted at time of registration.  
Quote of the Week
"If you can stay positive in a world of negativity, then you win "