Auto Glass Safety Council™

Tag: COVID-19

  • AGSC Issues Manual on Providing Services during Pandemic

    The Auto Glass Safety Council has issued a new manual on providing services during the COVID-19 crisis. Dealing with COVID-19 in the Workplace provides manufacturers, suppliers and auto glass repair and replacement companies with information on proper procedures and equipment for companies to use as a guide to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It is available at no charge to all members.

    Topics include classifying employee risk, controls to reduce the threat of exposure, policies and facility design changes to put in place, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and screening, safety checks and cleaning. The manual also includes a section specifically for auto glass repair and replacement technicians, education and resource links. Members can obtain a copy by visiting the member only area of the AGSC website at https://agsc.org/members/ or by emailing Kathy Bimber at kbimber@agsc.org.

    Non-members may download a copy at https://agsc.org/covid/.

  • AGRSS Audits Postponed Until 2021

    By Penny Ouellette, Accreditation and Program Director, Orion Registrar, Inc.

    Penny Ouellette

    After careful consideration of the widespread health risks posed by COVID-19, the AGSC has made the difficult decision to postpone its 2020 AGRSS audits until 2021.  This decision was not made lightly, but the widespread travel bans and state of emergencies being declared have made the logistics of traveling to audit the Registered Member Company locations to be increasingly difficult. Most importantly, the health and safety of our members and their families are our primary concern. On behalf of Orion Registrar and the AGSC, we send our best wishes in this difficult time.

  • Revised Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application Form Released

    On Tuesday, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury released the promised revised Form 3508 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application. Form 3508 can be found here, and its instructions here. The new streamlined form incorporates the PPP loan forgiveness changes contained in the recently enacted PPP Flexibility Act, including the expanded 24-week Covered Period for calculating qualified expenses for loan forgiveness and the new exemptions from FTE and salary and wage reductions. In addition, the much-anticipated new Form 3508EZ was also released, providing even greater simplicity for those Borrowers eligible to use it. Form 3508EZ can be found here and its instructions here. Those eligible to use the EZ version include:

    • Those who are self-employed with no employees, or
    • Those who did not reduce salary or wage by 25% or more during the Covered Period for any employee making less than $100,000 and there was no reduction in full-time equivalent (FTE) employees between January 1, 2020, and the end of the Covered Period (taking into account certain reduction safe harbors and exemptions), or
    • Those who did not reduce salary or wage by 25% or more during the Covered Period for any employee making less than $100,000 and the Borrower can certify that it was unable to operate during the Covered Period at the same levels as before February 15, 2020, due to compliance with government health directives related to COVID-19.

    The new PPP loan Forgiveness forms also take into account guidance contained in an Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued yesterday. The IFR can be found here. The IFR makes revisions to previously issued IFRs to bring them into compliance with the PPP Flexibility Act provisions. Of note, the IFR makes clear that when Borrowers use the 24-week Covered Period, the cap on compensation for non-owner employees is $46,154 – tripling the prior $15,385 cap based on the 8 week Covered Period. However, employee-owners are capped at $20,833 when the 24 week Covered Period is used. While these latest publications provide some answers to ongoing questions, more guidance is expected as has been the case throughout the PPP loan process.

  • U.S. House Approves Third Coronavirus Relief Package

    On Thursday, the U.S. House approved a third Coronavirus relief package to further address the economic dislocation caused by the global pandemic. The Senate had passed the legislation on Tuesday and it is expected to be quickly signed by President Trump.

    The $484 billion piece of legislation includes:

    • $322 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program – Including $60 billion for a small lender set-aside
    • $60 billion for the Emergency Industry Loan Program
    • $75 billion for hospitals
    • $25 billion for virus testing

    The additional $322 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) adds to the $349 billion previously allocated in the CARES Act. The new money seeks to address the funding shortfall that left the PPP coffers empty last week before a large number of small businesses received loans. Large companies, that had pre-existing relationships with banks and teams of lawyers and accountants at the ready, were quickly able to access the limited PPP funding, at the expense of “mom and pop” small businesses. The situation has caused continued economic distress and a political uproar, as those smaller businesses, considered by many to be the backbone of our nation, were unable to secure the desperately needed financial lifeline.

    The PPP will work the same as previously, providing loans that are potentially 100% forgivable if used for payment and other basic expenses such as rent, mortgage or utilities, in the 8-week period following loan funding. It is worth noting that while these loans have been highly attractive because they could be completely forgiven, some financial advisors are urging care spending down all of the funding in that it is possible that the lender could later decide that not all of the spending complied with the forgiveness requirements and that it may be important for some small businesses to maintain cash on hand to meet future needs. The PPP loans carry only 1% interest and repayment is deferred for six months. Companies are advised to confer with their accountants and financial planners regarding cash flow and financial needs.

    The new legislation set aside $60 billion for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions. The intent is to assist businesses, shut out of the first round of funding, that do not have relationships with big banks.

    It is anticipated that due to the enormous number of businesses that are still in need of assistance, this new round of funding will quickly be disbursed, perhaps in as little as 24 hours.

    The bill also contains an additional $60 million for the Economic Industry Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The EIDL is a U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan program that is available in states that are declared disaster areas, usually as a result of natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. In response the global pandemic, for the first time in history, all 50 states have been declared disaster areas at the same time. These loans are available for up to $2 million at a 3.75% interest rate. EIDL applicants who have less than 500 employees are eligible for a one-time $10,000 federal grant for immediate relief for payroll, rent and mortgage. Grant recipients can also receive PPP loans but up to $10,000 will be deducted from the forgivable portion of the PPP loan.

    Congress is already in negotiations on a fourth coronavirus relief bill as the legislation passed on Thursday did not address shortfalls being faced by state and local governments. Also, as businesses in some of the harder hit areas may remain shuttered for longer than the eight-week time frame anticipated by the PPP, further assistance may need to be contemplated.