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Ten at the Top hosts workshop on COVID-19 rules

Staff Report //May 4, 2021//

Ten at the Top hosts workshop on COVID-19 rules

Staff Report //May 4, 2021//

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The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem will host “New COVID-19 Rules and Updates for Employers,” a virtual workshop from 3-4 p.m. May 6 online.

This event is open to the public and is geared toward Upstate employers, particularly those heading small businesses that may not have a human resources department. It will feature Michael Nail of Ogletree Deakins, one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms, according to a news release.

This workshop will include a discussion on important information for employers. Nail will address new COVID-19 rules in the Upstate, as well as updated COVID-19 and vaccine guidelines for employers. He will share the impact of vaccinations on the workforce, including an employer’s ability to mandate a vaccination. He also will discuss whether COVID-19 complications would be covered under workers’ compensation.

“As the vaccine has now become available for citizens of all ages, employers should determine whether to mandate or encourage vaccination of its employees,” Nail said in the release. “Legal issues must be considered, including whether vaccine side effects would be covered under workers’ compensation insurance, and whether any valid exemptions apply. These considerations are vital and should strike a balance between legal compliance and employee morale.”

The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem, an initiative of Ten at the Top, consists of organizations and people who work to support entrepreneurs and all types of business owners at all stages in every industry, according to the release. It works to increase the capacity and ability of the ecosystem to help entrepreneurs be more successful faster by ensuring entrepreneurs receive the support and information they need. The group conducts regular capacity and capability-building workshops targeting entrepreneur support organizations and facilitates a strong social network through events and other networking or information sharing tools.

"From stimulus wrangling to business model changes, small business owners have done a lot of amazing work to keep their businesses afloat,” Earl Gregorich, area manager of the Greenville Area Small Business Development Center, said in the release. “However, the vaccine appears to be the only solution that can offer far-reaching, consistent recovery. Knowing how to implement the vaccine into the workplace is probably the most crucial step an entrepreneur can take for the long-term survival of their business.”

Online registration is open.

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