Restart: Experts Weigh In

Employers and employees across Southeast Michigan are preparing to transition back to in-person work. The Detroit Regional Chamber knows a shift this large doesn’t come without challenges. During a recent employer forum, national health experts discussed useful strategies for maintaining well-being amid return to office and the importance of staying up to date on routine vaccinations.

Michiganders can finally return to the office to work as of May 24. As companies start to make the transition of having employees come into the office, some businesses are making the transition slowly to make sure their workers feel safe.

Dr. Stanley Samuel Jr., president of Michigan State University, and Dr. Randolph Rasch, dean and professor at the university’s College of Nursing, joined Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber, to share medical expertise and insights on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered in Michigan.

The 2020 elections delivered control of the key policy making functions to Democrats, putting President Biden and members of his party in a position to reshape the tax code.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Dr. William Beecroft, medical director, behavioral health, and Julia Kyle, behavior health strategy and planning director, joined Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer for the Detroit Regional Chamber, for a discussion on coping with stress, change, and isolation through the holidays and into the winter months. 

As clinical trials continue for the COVID-19 vaccine, Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is working to develop methods of delivering the vaccine to more than 300 million Americans. Marion Whicker, who normally serves as an executive director with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) – is on loan to Operation Warp Speed where she is applying her expertise in moving military machinery to delivering COVID-19 vaccines across the nation.

Michelle L. Kolkmeyer of Bodman’s Workplace Law Group offered insight on whether mandating employees take a COVID-19 vaccine is possible and offered advice to employers. Kolkmeyer engaged in a one-on-one discussion with Brad Williams, vice president of government relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber.

Learn more about the new Henry Ford @ Work offering to help businesses manage team members who need COVID-19 assessment and follow-up.

MIOSHA will conduct inspections at workplaces with traditional office settings to review how rules are being followed and enhance compliance. Learn more about the rules businesses should be following and resources to ensure the safest possible working conditions for employees and customers.

As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to rise across the state, all eyes are on businesses to crack down on COVID-19-related safety practices. Despite pervasive caution fatigue as the state is more than seven months into the pandemic, it is more important than ever to adhere to safety protocols in the workplace. Updates are expected this week regarding increased monitoring and enforcement of safety protocols in Michigan businesses.

Recent measures on legal immigration including presidential proclamations are impacting many U.S. businesses. Rami Fakhoury, managing director of Fakhoury Global Immigration, provided insight on how these recent developments are affecting the ability of U.S. businesses to meet their talent mobility objectives.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO— Blueprint series recently hosted a session on how businesses can rebuild their brands to stay engaged with evolving audiences. Catch the full conversation in the video and recap below.

Mark S. Lee, president and CEO of The LEE Group, MI LLC, discussed with the Detroit Regional Chamber the state of the city’s small businesses amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, including how businesses are managing throughout the crisis and the resources they need to survive.

JS Clark Agency’s Compliance Director, Jennifer Young, provided context and clarification on the latest COVID-19 legislative and regulatory updates that impact employee benefits.

Plunkett Cooney attorneys discussed what businesses need to know about how commercial real estate and business operations will continue to change. The rapid-fire discussion covered topics from financial considerations to landlord or tenant issues to workforce management concerns related to COVID-19.

The Detroit Regional Chamber, in partnership with CO— by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighted how small businesses are successfully transforming the challenges presented by COVID-19 into opportunities.

After a temporary 16-week closure, The Henry Ford is now welcoming back its members, friends, and fans to Greenfield Village this summer. Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO of The Henry Ford, spoke with Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah to outline what is being done to welcome back visitors safely, the timeline for reopening its attractions, and how it is preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase mental health issues nationally, addressing the needs of employees dealing with these challenges is critical to business restart and recovery. Hear strategies and best practices from health care and wellness experts to support employees.

Today, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing with some of the innovative biopharmaceutical companies leading the coronavirus vaccine race. The companies will discuss their research and development efforts, as well as their ongoing preparations to manufacture and distribute resulting solutions.

One of your employees was diagnosed as a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case. What should you do?

As COVID-19 cases increase in every region of the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stressed the importance of “masking up” to mitigate the spread and keep the state on track to reopen preK-12 schools to students in the fall.

Mary Culler, chief of staff, Office of the Executive Chairman; president, Ford Motor Company Fund; and director, Michigan Central Station Development, spoke with Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in today’s Tele-Town Hall to update the business community on how Ford has pivoted its strategy in Corktown due to COVID-19.

What will it cost to keep students safe? What funding cuts are coming? Are snow days dead? The Governor’s “Return to Learn” Advisory Council is expected to drop its plan for reopening schools on June 30, which also marks the final day of the fiscal year for schools. Here’s what to consider.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has exposed serious faults in existing supply chains and has accelerated the notion of economic nationalism. The four truths that most supply chains are built upon are no longer true, thus setting the stage for supply chain’s new world order.

This session will give practical advice to help with recovery planning. Talent analytics, return-to-office surveys, scenario planning, and re-entry tactics are the keys to understanding who could remain at home long-term, what space will be needed, and how much re-entry may cost.

As a key leader in the region and a valued partner of the Chamber, BCBSM’s efforts toward promoting employee health and well-being was collected to serve as an educational resource for other regional businesses.

As employers slowly transition employees back to the office and back to work onsite, the State of Michigan is working to provide businesses with workplace safety recommendations.

According to the SBA’s PPP report released on Friday, June 12, Michigan businesses received more than $15.7 billion through more than 115,000 PPP loans. In total banks distributed more than 4.5 million PPP loans totaling over $510 billion dollars across the United States.

The session will focus on three strategic areas upon which companies must focus in order to move forward and thrive during these uncertain times including embracing digital transformation, developing an innovative learning culture, and planning for the unexpected.

The restructuring and transformation experts at Plante Moran help leaders take a proactive approach to balancing priorities under uncertain outcomes that influence business strategy and the ability to recover while positioning for growth.

In order to support you in the race to embrace this “new normal,” UHY Consulting has developed a short webinar intended to provide you with meaningful information about what your company can do to reduce risk and protect your endpoints no matter where they are.

Now that Michigan has transitioned into phase four of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan, what does this mean for businesses attempting to resume operations in a safe and secure way?

Chamber Vice President of Government Relations Brad Williams spoke with Natalie Chmiko, vice president of Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and International Trade for MEDC in a Tele-Town Hall on the free PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform.

As the economy restart’s UHY’s team will help businesses with financial and operational strategies to ensure their business succeeds going forward. This discussion will include advice on liquidity planning, which is critical for moving through the reopening phase.

With the Governor lifting the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order this week, Michigan is moving to Phase Four of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.  What does it all mean?

As employers begin to evaluate if working from home is the best way to accomplish social distancing, they should consider risks associated with an all-remote workforce.

As businesses across Michigan prepare to reopen or welcome employees back, having the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect their employees and customers will help ensure a successful restart. Our goal is to help connect those who have supplies with those who need supplies.

The coronavirus pandemic is unlike anything the automotive and mobility industry has ever seen or could have ever foreseen when developing marketing and communications strategies for 2020.

Bring back your customers and employees safely with these ideas for reopening after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Many suppliers struggle with the plant floor operating system, which is now also being fundamentally altered. The turnaround begins with a foundational “blocking and tackling” approach to COGS reduction to offset underperformance, including realigning the behaviors on the floor to the new operating system.

As America’s businesses look to reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed, employers are facing countless new questions and unprecedented new challenges.

Join Accenture’s Health Practice leaders as they paint a compelling picture reimagining the future of health care which seamlessly connects care, society, and work.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an order allowing for the reopening, in two regions, of retail businesses, office work that cannot be done remotely, and restaurants and bars with limited seating.

As businesses restart and begin operating in the “new normal,” understanding the unique challenges and strategies of crisis management and business continuity planning is paramount. This includes monitoring and managing cash flow and liquidity.

Friday’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference in Lansing will provide one of the first substantive glimpses into the state’s fiscal outlook as the economy re-opens in phases, and will set the backdrop for budget negotiations amid historic unemployment.

With the generous support of MEDC, NEI, Michigan-based foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and in collaboration with the SBA, the Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund has secured funds to provide recovery grants and loans to diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses from underrepresented groups in Michigan. 

With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to allow manufacturing to resume, General Motors Co. is currently transitioning its workforce back to work. Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing Gerald Johnson joined Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in today’s Tele-Town Hall to share firsthand how the company pivoted to produce ventilators and its strategy in resuming operations.

Building on Deloitte’s prior studies of recession playbooks, this session shares six imperatives for how Chief Financial Officers can help their companies navigate disruption.

As government and health officials begin to set parameters around reopening businesses, bringing your people back onsite successfully won’t be as simple as flipping a switch.

Many suppliers struggle with the plant floor operating system, which is now also being fundamentally altered. The turnaround begins with a foundational “blocking and tackling” approach to COGS reduction to offset underperformance, including realigning the behaviors on the floor to the new operating system.

Did your business receive a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan? This webinar will provide the guidance and steps to take now to ensure loan forgiveness. The UHY team helps you understand the loan forgiveness compliance process and points your business needs to consider.

Barton Malow President and CEO Ryan Maibach, the 2020 Mackinac Policy Chair shared some insight as construction opened back up last week.

Foley & Lardner LLP Partners John Birmingham Jr. and Jeff Kopp joined Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy K. Baruah in a Tele-Town Hall to discuss employment best practices for restarting and continuing business amid the COVID-19 crisis. The pair took part in answering businesses’ urgent questions on what issues to anticipate moving forward and best practices for navigating the transition.

Given the human dimension of urgent workforce challenges and the uncertainties facing business leaders, the economic and business recovery from COVID-19 will require workforce strategies that focus on both short-term priority actions and long-term reaching for the future normal.

As companies transition employees back into the workplace, safety and mental health are top of mind. Learn more about strategies to help employers navigate reopening businesses during COVID-19.