The small-business aid included in the $900 billion pandemic relief package approved last month has started to flow, and businesses are ready for the relief. The U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for First Draw PPP Loans the week of January 11, 2021. SBA began accepting applications for Second Draw PPP […]
legislation
How Retailers Can Protect Themselves from COVID-19 Lawsuits
At the beginning of the store closures in most states due to COVID-19, small businesses had to lay off some of their employees to help keep their company afloat. Now, as states are easing the stay-at-home orders and brick-and-mortar stores are slowly starting to open their doors, following government sanitary orders aren’t the only thing […]
Are Retailers Required to Compensate Non-Exempt Store Associates for Temperature Checks?
by Jeffrey H. Ruzal Retailers around the country are eager to re-open after the lengthy and debilitating COVID-19 shutdowns. However, it is not as easy as simply throwing open ones doors to the waiting throngs of consumers who have likewise been shut-in, desperately yearning for brick-and-mortar shopping. Safety is paramount for both businesses and the […]
Stroock Leads Coalition to Launch Small Business Legal Relief Assistance
by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP In an effort to provide substantive legal counsel to the New York businesses and organizations most directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, together with partner law firms and legal aid organizations, has launched the Small Business Legal Relief Alliance (SBLRA). The SBLRA […]
The Business Impact of the South Dakota vs. Wayfair Decision in COVID-19 Times
by Robert V. Willeford Stay-at-home orders as a result of COVID-19 have sparked an even greater increase in online purchases. More people are avoiding trips to the store and, instead, ordering online. The growth of online options has made it much easier to reach a potential customer on the other side of the country, or […]
The COVID-19 Related Acts – Does the Stimulus Help Retailers?
By: Rania V. Sedhom It’s unclear when COVID-19 truly made its presence known. However, most retailers were closed in major markets by mid-March and had no choice but to make decisions that immediately affected their employees, customers, and supply chain. Most of the companies with whom I work furloughed 50 percent of their employees and […]
Seven Steps on How Retailers Can Get CCPA Compliant
The issue of consumer privacy has been exploding recently, especially with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and everything involving Facebook for the past couple of years. If you’re like most business owners and unsure of what the CCPA is or if you should be worried, just know that if you’re a for-profit business in […]
FDA Sends Warning Letters to 15 CBD Companies Amid Safety Concerns
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to 15 companies for illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Based on the lack of scientific information supporting the safety of CBD in food, the FDA is also indicating that it cannot […]
Significant TCPA Fax Victory Saves Small Businesses Millions
If you send out group fax notifications for your store promotions, this one is a victory for small businesses everywhere. The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled faxes sent to “online fax services” are not faxes to “telephone fax machines,” a major victory declaring online fax services outside […]
How E-Cigarette Regulations Are Affecting Retailers
Vaping and e-cigarette resellers are all on edge with the deaths and illnesses that have reportedly been linked to them. Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger and Rite Aid are only some of the retailers that have decided to pull these products from their shelves. With the developing regulations in a growing number of states and municipalities, businesses […]