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COVID-19 Business Resource Center
March 22, 2021
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on March 22, 2021
Nicole Vullo on March 22, 2021We were recently asked about what policies employers can put in place regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Stephanie Ramsey, Director of Business Analysis provides some insights on this topic. Question: Can we require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Stephanie Ramsey: There are many people who are divided on whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The first question that employers must address is, “Can we require employees to get vaccinated?” The answer to this question varies based on the business you are in generally but is quite simple for funeral businesses. Yes, you can require that employees get vaccinated. The reality is that employers in the funeral industry have a strong justification for this requirement. Their employees are at high risk due to the nature of their jobs. What is meant by the term “high risk?” Funeral employees are at greater […]
March 22, 2021
Published by 
Gabriel Ngo on March 22, 2021
Gabriel Ngo on March 22, 2021“Funerals just don’t happen by themselves.” – said every Funeral Director ever No, funerals simply do not happen by themselves. They require expertise, planning, coordination, teamwork, management, and leadership in order to successfully serve a family and perform a funeral service—not to mention the consistency to do this over and over again at the highest level of performance. So why is it then, that the same typically does not occur in succession planning for most funeral home owners? In a November 2020 Funeral Business Planning Survey published by an outside research firm in partnership with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), nearly three out of four (73%) respondents do not currently have an exit strategy or succession plan, despite more than one-third planning on retiring within the next five-years. Now, I won’t get into the reasons why this typically is […]
March 18, 2021
Published by Nicole Vullo on March 18, 2021
Nicole Vullo on March 18, 2021The Small Business Administration has decided to push back the deferment period for disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. The SBA said that all disaster loans made in 2020, including the EIDL program, will have a first payment due date extended from 12 months to 24 months from the date of the note. It is important to note that all SBA disaster loans made in 2021, including EIDL loans, will have a first payment due date increased from 12 months to 18 months from the date of the note. Any current SBA disaster loans in regular servicing status as of March 1, 2020, will now have the additional 12-month deferment of principal and interest payments. They will resume their regular payment schedule on March 31, 2022, unless a borrower chooses to make payments […]
February 12, 2021
Published by Nicole Vullo on February 12, 2021
Nicole Vullo on February 12, 2021While the pandemic has decreased the amount of invitations we all receive for physical gatherings and social events, we want you all to be aware of a different kind of invitation to be dropping into your mailboxes soon; The Targeted EIDL Advance invitation. The SBA began to send email invites to businesses and nonprofit organizations that received the EIDL Advance in an amount less than $10,000 on February 1, 2021. Please note that it will take time before all emails are sent to the first priority group. Remain calm if you do not receive your email invite right away. The application invitation will be sent to the primary contact email address connected to your original EIDL application. With scams are an all-time high, be aware that the email will have an @sba.gov ending. Do not communicate with any email that […]
January 25, 2021
Published by 
Chris Cruger on January 25, 2021
Chris Cruger on January 25, 2021With the COVID-19 vaccine now rolling out, it is our greatest hope that the pandemic will soon be behind us. Unfortunately, the pandemic has already proven to have permanent implications on our profession as we repeatedly highlighted from our Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study. Our profession has historically been behind the times in terms of embracing technology and new ways of doing things, but the pandemic changed that in the blink of an eye. Everything from the buying and shopping process, the necessity of physical attending services, and the influence of technology has had in all aspects of our profession. It is obvious that the consumers are talking, and we need to listen. I want to summarize a several critical points: Funeral homes need to adapt and evolve. Now is the time to embrace new ways of doing things. […]