Coronavirus Response Resource Hub
This section contains resources to help you navigate these unprecedented times. Also, check out some of the Products & Services that might be useful.
> denotes NPACT member-only access
> denotes NPACT member-only access
NPACT Involved in Business Interruption Insurance Industry Action
NPACT is part of a major industry coalition (also including MPA, NCTA, NASCAR, Independent Film & Television Alliance, NFL, DGA, NAB, PGA, SAG, IBEW, IATSE) urging federal government officials to support plans to address COVID-related business interruption insurance. See a copy of the letter sent this week to government leaders here.
Production Guidelines
NOTE: Most of these guidelines are updated on a regular basis and NPACT may not always have the latest version posted. Therefore, always confirm current guidelines with any state, network, or other entity with whom you are working.
NOTE: Most of these guidelines are updated on a regular basis and NPACT may not always have the latest version posted. Therefore, always confirm current guidelines with any state, network, or other entity with whom you are working.
- NPACT Covid-19 Nonfiction Production and Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines and Considerations: Created by NPACT specifically for nonfiction production, these guidelines are provided for consideration and adoption as each company creates their own individual plan for reopening.
- On October 21, the CDC changed their definition of who is a "close contact" of an infected individual. They previously defined a "close contact" as someone who spent at least 15 consecutive minutes within 6 feet of a confirmed coronavirus case. The new guidance, which health departments rely on to conduct contact tracing, now defines a close contact as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
- CA State Guidance to Reopen your Business or Facility Safely
- CA State COVID-19 Industry Guidance - Office Workspaces
- COVID Safety Protocols from the Producers' Guild of America.
- Unions announced on September 21 that they have reached an agreement with major studios on pandemic protocols that will allow broad resumption of production. The deal includes, among other things: mandatory use of PPE and testing of cast/crew, dedicated coronavirus supervisor to oversee protocols, required "zone system" to limit on-set interaction, 10 days of paid COVID-19 sick leave per employee, which can be used after positive tests or for quarantine. More info here. And here is the agreement text.
- NBCU (For all third-party productions for the NBCU Entertainment Networks group: NBC, Bravo, Oxygen, E!, USA, Syfy, UniKids, and Peacock.)
- > See this COVID Protocols and Vendor Contacts sheet as supplied by Rachel Dax of The IP Corp during NPACT's Special Production Presentation webinar.
- Bunim/Murray Productions: Policies & Procedures for Safe Working in a COVID-19 Era: Member company BMP has provided their employee guidelines, included here as an example of an excellent best practices document for employees, tailored to the needs and facilities of a specific company. Thanks to Bunim/Murray Productions for creating this useful info, and encouraging others to review and share.
- NY State production reopening info by county: Go to the "NY Reopening Wizard"... enter the county you wish to search. The NAICS code for production is 512110. You must electronically affirm that you've read and are abiding by the NY State interim guidelines for Office-based work in order to re-open in the designated county.
- Netflix
- Discovery
- State of Georgia
- States of New York and California: COVID-19 reopening plans were submitted this week to NY and CA Governors by a task force made up of unions and studios. Here is the submitted white paper.
Other Production-Specific Info
- > Sample COVID-Related Questionnaires, Waivers and Acknowledgements: COVID documents for Employees, Independent Contractors, Field Talent and Location Personnel. Thanks to Jupiter/The Hive for sharing these documents with us.
- NY Times article contains info about how two films completed shooting during the pandemic.
- CA Governor Newsom announced that production can reopen beginning June 12, subject to approval by county authorities. It's still unclear when shooting will reopen on LA County.
- LA County Public Health Director announced an updated Health Office Order that officially permits the reopening of TV production, with the effective date of June 12.
- Sectors in LA County can reopen on June 12 once they implement required protocols: Reopening Protocol issued by LA County Public Health.
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Member Questions
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> ONLINE DEPARTMENT MEETINGS
Get the lowdown on how fellow members are managing work flow during COVID. From Post to Human Resources, we'll have you covered. > Special Production Presentation
Get details about how medium- and large-scale projects are back in production, with health and safety measures in place. Recorded July 14, 2020. 
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Economic Relief Information
- President Trump signed the new coronavirus relief and government funding bill last night. For info on what's in the new bill to benefit small businesses, including updated PPP details, and Employee Retention Tax Credits read this. Here's a breakdown of everything included in the massive bill.
- Article about new California tax incentive program that launched July 1.
- More info about the CA Film & Television Tax Credit Program 3.0, including how to sign up for alerts.
- Comparison of proposed new stimulus packages, Heroes and HEALS.
- Loan recipients are facing delays in forgiveness applications as banks seek SBA guidance.
- A summary of the CARES Act business relief programs (including PPP loans, EIDL loans and grants, larger employer loans, and payroll tax credits), and employee aid programs (direct payments and unemployment benefits) can be found here.
- Here is an SBA document titled: "Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program - Interim Final Rule".
Despite the confusing title, it contains some good detail that answers many basic questions about the PPP loan program. - A summary of the federal sick leave law (FFCRA), for employers with fewer than 500 employees, can be found here.
- Force Majeure expert analysis for entertainment
- Financial Survival Checklist for businesses
- Filmmaker's Guide to Applying for Coronavirus Relief.
- Are you aware of this tax benefit included in the CARES Act? Companies that experienced net operating losses in 2018 or 2019, and that may experience losses in 2020, are eligible to carry back those loss amounts for five years. Doing so will allow the company to receive a refund from the IRS now, instead of having the tax benefit deferred to future years. Consult your tax professional for more information.
- Also, we're hearing that some companies are having increased success getting SBA loans from alternative sources outside their regular banking relationships, including FinTech options like Lendio, Divvy, BlueVine, etc. Here's another option.
- Here's info on another Federal loan program -- the Main Street Lending Program. The Federal Reserve designed Main Street to support small and medium sized businesses that were unable to access the PPP or that require additional financial support after receiving a PPP loan. Main Street loans are not forgivable. More info: FAQs and conditions to consider before applying.
- For any companies that received or are receiving a PPP loan: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced last week that SBA will audit all loans over $2 million before there is loan forgiveness. Expert legal analysis: "PPP Loan Scrutiny Requires Immediate Borrower Attention -- Despite the need for swift decisions regarding the dwindling Paycheck Protection Program funds, the Small Business Administration's recently released limited safe harbor and guidance require loan applicants to contemplate their next steps carefully prior to the looming May 14 repayment deadline."
- PPP Loan forgiveness application now available
- A creative strategy for repaying PPP loans for small businesses trying to survive the pandemic.
Business Operations Information
- Companies are starting to think remote work isn't so great after all from the Wall Street Journal.
- Six tips for managing and supporting remote employees.
- 15 Questions about remote work, answered.
- > COVID-19 Network Mandates as of 4/9/2020.
- Vendors offering free access to products/services
- Free Ad Hoc Payroll reports from Revolution Entertainment Services
- GreenSlate Blog page with Payroll- and Employment-related info
- Revolution Entertainment Services COVID-19 page with payroll (including payroll company/production company relationship), workers comp, and CARES info
- Rethinking the open office
- Here's a list of travel restrictions by state
- Skills for working remotely - how to be both productive and healthy
- Bad wifi slowing you down? Fix yours without spending a dime.
- Going Back to Work: What Employers Can - and Can't - Require of Employees
- CDC Updated strategies and recommendations for employers seeking to resume operations
- CDC Decision Criteria for Opening Workplaces
- Here is introductory information and a current product sheet for Community Attire, an LA-based PPE distributor. Their products have FDA certifications available, they're warehoused in the LA area, and in-stock items ship in 3-5 days.
- Nissan has published tips on disinfecting vehicles
- Savills Building Reopening Checklist
- Return to the Workplace Considerations from Kauff McGuire & Margolis LLP:
Legal and Labor Information
- California Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
- California COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law
- New York COIVD-19 Paid Vaccination Leave Law
- California Employee Reimbursements
- Legal analysis - why not to ask employees to sign COVID-19 waivers.
- How Force Majeure provisions are being tested in New York.
- What employers should know about return-to-work surveys.
- Contract renegotiation vs. litigation concerning force majeure and frustration of purpose defenses.
- 10 Key considerations to negotiate or re-negotiate your commercial lease.
- Department of Labor issued a bulletin that requires covered employers to provide eligible employees with up to two weeks of paid leave to care for their children based on the closure of a summer camp, summer enrichment program, or other summer program for COVID-19 related reasons.
- > Here is a note from our labor and employment attorney and counsel, Patrick Butler, whose firm (Kauff McGuire & Margolis) has produced numerous updates on Covid-19-related laws and issues. A complete list of those and other articles can be found here.
- Force Majeure expert analysis for entertainment
- FAQs for Employers regarding Employee Furloughs, and Fear of Returning to Work.
- Rehiring workers post-pandemic
- EEOC Gives Employers Green Light to Test for COVID-19
- More info about EEOC-Authorized Employee Testing, including OSHA recommendations and correct storage of results
- Force Majeure and COVID-19: Legal Analysis of Early Cases
- An Analysis of Business Interruption Insurance Claims. Key quote: "There could be paths to recovery despite what may be a concerted campaign by insurers to indicate the opposite."
- What you should know about COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other EEO Laws - including info on testing employees and confidentiality of medical information.
- Return to the Workplace Considerations: Reasonable Accommodations and Leaves of Absence
from Kauff McGuire & Margolis LLP.
Government Resources
STATE OF CALIFORNIA:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has compiled CDC’s coronavirus recommendations for businesses and workers across the country. These resources will help employers prepare as organizations return to the workplace.
The Council of State Governments provides an interactive list of reopening plans by category, plus an interactive map of state-specific detailed plans.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA:
- CA State Guidance to Reopen your Business or Facility Safely
- CA State COVID-19 Industry Guidance - Office Workspaces
- CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers
- CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Workplaces (and other spaces)
- CDC Interim Guidelines on How to Clean Offices
- The CDC has published new Employer Information for Office Buildings, with recommendations regarding office design, employee symptom checks, commuting, and more. This NY Times article discusses the new recommendations.
- COVID-19 and the Fair Labor Standards Act Questions and Answers
- COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act Questions and Answers
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
- DOL Coronavirus Resources
- DOL COVID-19 and the American Workplace
- US DOL, EBSA Issues Covid-19 Relief and Guidance for Employee Benefit Plans, April 28, 2020
- EEOC Answers Questions about the Pandemic and Antidiscrimination Laws in Recorded Webinar
- EEOC ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
- EEOC Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the ADA
- NEW Cal/OSHA published new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards, effective December 5, 2021. All employers with 100+ employees must adhere to the new standards. See FAQ here.
- OSHA COVID-19 Information for Workers and Employers
- OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has compiled CDC’s coronavirus recommendations for businesses and workers across the country. These resources will help employers prepare as organizations return to the workplace.
- Coronavirus Communication Toolkit
- Customizable Workplace Flyer
- Coronavirus Workplace Tips for Employees
- Coronavirus Guidance for Employers
The Council of State Governments provides an interactive list of reopening plans by category, plus an interactive map of state-specific detailed plans.
Travel Info
- AmTrav COVID Travel Resource page provides updated State and Country travel restrictions; airline, hotel and rental car company policies. And AmTrav's Return to Travel Checklist contains info on how to keep travelers safe, informed, and happy while on the road; how to decide what travel is practical; and how to maximize your travel budget.
