Resources for Owners/Managers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

We are fully committed to helping construction companies weather this unprecedented storm. We've pulled together resources for business owners to help guide the tough decisions. 

• Questions about the Payroll Protection Plan? Our webinar with friends at Marcum and Silvertrek Systems helps lay out what the program means for Contractors. 
• Covid-19 has drastically changed the way we work. Has your business made the shift?
• Did your company have a Crisis Plan in place before Coronavirus? If not, now is a great time to put one together. Our guide can help. 
• Cybersecurity is a major concern with Covid-19. If you don't have a sound Cybersecurity strategy, check out this article. 

Congress recently passed legislation to help small businesses with cash flow through the crisis. These resources will help you determine if you business is eligible and what it means for you and your employees.

• With the changing information on PPP and The CARES Act, we've put together a resource for our customers to help navigate the changes. You may also see the updated PPP FAQ from the Department of the Treasury. 
• An additional $310B has been added to the Paycheck Protection loan program, which is great news for construction companies who missed out on the first round of funding.
• If you're looking for a planning tool for loan forgiveness, Albin, Randall & Bennett has a free PPP Loan Forgiveness Workbook that may help.
• Construction firms represented 13.1% of total PPP loan dollars approved by April 17. However, as of April 16, the funds had dried up until congress passes additional funding.
• Learn about the COVID-19 Employee Retention Credit and how it may apply to your business.
• Paycheck Protection Loans are a lifeline for many small construction businesses. ENR recently provided an update on how firms can apply.
• Construction accounting firm MARCUM provided some helpful resources: An FAQ on Small Business Interruption Loans, a guide to the CARES Act and a Paycheck Protection Loan Application form

• Communicate, communicate, communicate. Commit to a consistent communication cadence to employees, including emails from leadership and live Q&A sessions. Create a chat channel specifically for communications to employees.
• Be flexible. Understand that there may be a need for parents to adjust their schedules due to childcare. If possible, be flexible with hours and expectations. If need be, shift their responsibilities to other roles in the short-term. As a company, consider offering a stipend for childcare, or additional PTO while children are home.
• Create a task force. Put together a team who can respond to new information quickly and meet with them often. The team would be responsible for updating internal and external communications and taking any action that is warranted.
• Stay calm. As a leader, employees are looking to you to set an example. Use your words and demeanor to send a message that everything will be okay. Use neutral language that doesn’t cause fear, such as “abundance of caution”, “thoughtful”, “precautionary” and “proactive”.

• One-on-ones. Schedule regular virtual one-on-one meetings with each employee, potentially on a more frequent cadence than usual. Provide support, reassurance and ask your employees how you can set them up for success.
• Team check-ins. Hold daily or weekly status check-ins with your team for shared accountability. This can also give a sense of certainty and progress.
• Turn video on. Normalize a cameras-on practice for video calls. Needing to work remotely can lead to feelings of isolation, and being able to see team members, even just virtually, can be a positive step toward creating a sense of connection.
• Know the IT support number. Make sure that you know how to contact IT for support if needed, and relay this information to your team.
• Set clear expectations. Clarify necessary outcomes for your team members (e.g., goals, “definitions of done”) so focus is on what needs to get done rather than how many hours someone works.

• Have you been wondering what face masks and coverings are recommended on the job site? Check out these recommendations from Construction Dive. 
• Has your teamwork suffered since work from home began? This article goes over how to get that teamwork back.
• As the foreseeable end of the pandemic moves closer, it's time for contractors to start planning for what's next.
  
• Our friends at Tilson are offering a free 90-minute consultation to help you shift your workforce from the office to home. Learn more on their website or email [email protected].
• Construction accounting firm MARCUM provided some helpful resources: An FAQ on Small Business Interruption Loans, a guide to the CARES Act (passed by congress last week) and a Paycheck Protection Application form.
• Working remotely is new for a lot of companies. CMS Wire has some perspective from the management side.
• Construction Executive has a helpful guide on what contractors should consider when communicating over the next few weeks.
• MITSloan Management Review has a variety of articles that managers may find helpful during the Covid-19 outbreak.
• All contractors should now have procedures in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 on the jobsite. AGC has provided a critical list of resources to ensure compliance.
• As a manager you are navigating through a difficult time alongside your employees. Smartbrief has an article you should read.
• Disaster Loans are available to some small businesses in need through the Small Business Association. See if you qualify.
• While helping with social distancing, there are unexpected cyber-security risks with allowing employees to work remotely. Business Insurance has a list of tips to help business owners combat cyber-attacks.
• How do you lead during a crisis? 66 CEOs and Executives share how they are leading from home.
• COVID-19 doesn’t just impact how healthcare workers stay safe on the job. There are guidelines for every workplace. There is a fact sheet straight from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
• When is the right time to send your COVID-19 notice? It's not an easy topic, but it is covered well by the National Law Review.
• Remote working can be a challenge in the construction industry, but companies are making it happen. Executives tell Constructive Dive how it's working.
• LifeLabs Learning gathered intel from 650+ HR leaders from different companies to share ideas, policies and templates with you. Get them here.
• Meetings are still an important part of business, even in a remote situation. Here are tips to keep meetings productive and on-topic.

This is just a taste of the COVID-19 contractor resources we have collected. See our complete list.