Mainebiz hosts free webinar for businesses preparing to reopen

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By Staff

As some retailers in Maine this week resume brick-and-mortar operations — and other companies prepare to, under the state’s economic reopening plan — Mainebiz will present a free webinar Thursday morning to help businesses gear up for the new normal.

“What Does Open Look Like? Part One” will feature an expert panel discussing the preparations needed before workers and customers come in the door.

Panelists will be: Jim Erwin, partner at Portland law firm Pierce Atwood LLP; Catherine Lamson, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at workers’ compensation insurer MEMIC; and Heather Paquette, vice president of retail services for Hannaford Supermarkets.

The experts will discuss a broad range of topics to consider before employees return to work, including:

Screening and monitoring rules
Workplace safety requirements
What do you need? What are the costs?
Are employees ready to go back?
Workplace liability
The Family First COVID Sick Act
Where to go for more information.

In addition, panelists will share insight and advice on customer-facing issues, such as safety requirements businesses should consider, potential liability, and resources for additional help.

Pierce Atwood and MEMIC, both sponsors of the webinar, are currently advising clients about issues related to the public health restrictions on business, while Hannaford has been grappling first-hand with the challenges of retailing amid the pandemic. Last week, Hannaford announced that it plans to hire an additional 2,000 employees, and a representative discussed the company's response to the crisis.

Mainebiz will conduct a second webinar on "What Does Open Look Like?" in June; details will be released soon.

In April, Mainebiz held free webinars on the Paycheck Protection Program and the EIDL Program and other financial relief options for business.

“What Does Open Look Like? Part One” will run from 11 a.m. to noon, May 21, via Zoom. Participation is free; to register, click here.