We are all getting used to adapting to a new “normal” right now and adjusting our daily routines. For many with the opportunity to do so, that means working from home, which may be an entirely new undertaking. Working from home can sound appealing (many of us may have wished for this opportunity in the past) but it requires discipline and thoughtful consideration to be successful. ✏ We are now confronted with creating new work spaces and designating parts of our home where we can conduct business from, while limiting outside distractions from our personal lives. For many with children at home this can create a whole new set of challenges. As we settle in for what will likely be several more weeks of ‘work-from-home’ mode, we wanted to send along a few tips we’ve crowdsourced from local business professionals who have experience being productive from home. 1) Be adaptable and take it in strides. You might be adjusting to life without that morning chatter with coworkers over coffee, instead beginning your work days by logging in remotely to check your inboxes or joining Zoom meetings. This is new territory for many so approach it with patience and flexibility, also think of it as an opportunity to learn new things. 2) Establish a routine and schedule that will work for you (and your family if they are with you). This will set you up for success and will set boundaries between work and home life. This includes thinking about the time you’ll start and finish work, as well as scheduling your breaks for meals and stretching. 3) If space allows it, set aside a work space that is solely for work. This allows you to commit to work more thoughtfully and know that if you’re in your work space, you should be doing just that–working. Finding a spot where your laptop lives and you can comfortably work from for a few hours a day without massive distractions is key. 4) During this time, communicate more - not less - with your team. If you’re leading a team, they need to know that you have a plan in place to prepare for the season, and need to know you stand by them at this time. 5) Get comfortable with video calls. Just as we do regular business with people face to face, thankfully we have ways to do that nowadays without being in the same place, thanks to video conference platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and others. There are many free options available to keep us connecting virtually, take advantage of them. 6) Manage expectations. Your kids might be at home full time now, so be realistic with your work schedule. Don’t assume you’ll be getting the same eight to ten hours of work done - again, be realistic.
Transcript
We are all getting used to adapting to a new “normal” right now and adjusting our dailyroutines. For many with the opportunity to do so, that means working from home, which maybe an entirely new undertaking. Working from home can sound appealing (many of us mayhave wished for this opportunity in the past) but it requires discipline and thoughtfulconsideration to be successful.
✏ ️We are now confronted with creating new work spaces and designating parts of our homewhere we can conduct business from, while limiting outside distractions from our personallives. For many with children at home this can create a whole new set of challenges. As wesettle in for what will likely be several more weeks of ‘work-from-home’ mode, we wanted tosend along a few tips we’ve crowdsourced from local business professionals who haveexperience being productive from home.
1) Be adaptable and take it in strides. You might be adjusting to life without that morningchatter with coworkers over coffee, instead beginning your work days by logging in remotelyto check your inboxes or joining Zoom meetings. This is new territory for many so approach itwith patience and flexibility, also think of it as an opportunity to learn new things.
2) Establish a routine and schedule that will work for you (and your family if they are with you).This will set you up for success and will set boundaries between work and home life. Thisincludes thinking about the time you’ll start and finish work, as well as scheduling your breaksfor meals and stretching.
3) If space allows it, set aside a work space that is solely for work. This allows you to committo work more thoughtfully and know that if you’re in your work space, you should be doing justthat–working. Finding a spot where your laptop lives and you can comfortably work from for afew hours a day without massive distractions is key.
4) During this time, communicate more - not less - with your team. If you’re leading a team,they need to know that you have a plan in place to prepare for the season, and need to knowyou stand by them at this time.
5) Get comfortable with video calls. Just as we do regular business with people face to face,thankfully we have ways to do that nowadays without being in the same place, thanks tovideo conference platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and others. There are many freeoptions available to keep us connecting virtually, take advantage of them.
6) Manage expectations. Your kids might be at home full time now, so be realistic with yourwork schedule. Don’t assume you’ll be getting the same eight to ten hours of work done -again, be realistic.
7) Get proper sleep and stay well rested. This is a trying time for all and the uncertainty of ourdays can be stressful. Do your best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, by going to bedat a reasonable hour and waking up at the same time each day. This will help keep you onschedule, while keeping an element of normalcy. Health is our top priority right now andgetting proper rest is essential to your overall productivity.
8) Take breaks and don’t feel bad about it. Go for a walk around your neighborhood or dosome mid-day stretches or yoga on the lawn after lunch. Take time to breathe and refocus inorder to sustain your health and wellness.
9) Limit the amount of time you spend reading the news and being on social media. There aremore distractions than ever online right now. We all want to stay informed but it can beoverwhelming. To avoid being sidetracked by the latest news story or social post designate acouple of times a day to check on these things and limit your time there. If you don't, yourentire day can easily be consumed.
10) Go easy on yourself. There’s a lot of reasons why many of us won’t be able to get asmuch work done over these next few weeks, and that’s OK. Do the best you can do and don’tget down on yourself. We’re all in this together, and while some people may be able to bemore productive others will need to step back. Figure out what you need to get through thisand just do the best that you can.
WebinarsREPLAY: Webinar withSenator James Maroney
In case you missed our COVID-19Update with Senator JamesMaroney last week, here is arecorded version of our live Q&A.There is a ton of importantinformation in here!
Replay Q&A Here
Join the Meeting Here
WEBINAR Ask the Experts:Cyber Security Issues forRemote Work on April 7 @2pm
Join us for a Webinar with Vancord, aCT-based cybersecurity servicescompany, is a division of TBNG Inc.
Leading the panel discussion will be:Jason Pufahl, Vice President of SecurityServicesMatt Fusaro, Senior Security EngineerIan Rogers, Senior Security Engineer
WEBINAR: BusinessDuring & After Covid-19 onApril 8 @ 10am
Join us for a joint webinar hosted with theMilford Economic DevelopmentDepartment and David Salinas & PeteSena of Digital Surgeons and DistrictNew Haven.
Companies of all industries and sizesmust think differently about businessmoving forward. Some things areexpected to go back to the usual, whileothers will likely stay in the new normal.
Join us for a panel discussion where JulieNash, Director of EconomicDevelopment, David and Pete discusswhat is going on, and answer submittedquestions.
Join the Meeting Here
WEBINAR: Coronavirusand Your Small Business-Live Q&A with SCOREMentors on April 9thSmall businesses have been hurt deeplyby the coronavirus, and the impact will befelt for months. We know you havequestions and need help now. SCORE ishere for you with our trusted businessmentors and resources.
Join SCORE’s expert, business mentorsfor this LIVE Q&A webinar where we’lladdress your questions and concernsregarding the current crisis to help youadapt your business and weather thestorm.
You can submit your business-related questions during registration andduring the LIVE webinar.
Register Here
Members' Corner
Is your business open? Have you modified the way you do
work? Please email [email protected] with yourphotos, videos and stories so that we can share!
The MACThe MAC has taken it all online, offering freeexhibits, performances, and activities throughthe end of May.
Learn More Here.
Mojoes GymMojoes Gym is offering complimentaryworkout live videos on a daily basis at 7amand 4pm daily through their Facebook page.All videos are then accessible on Youtube foranyone that could not join live. Here are the links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mojoesgymct/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AQhN7pWPX0IYueZUxbSFw
Pantochino Productions"LET'S LEARN STUFF" is Pantochino's newLive Streaming series for kids and kids of allages. Let's learn and have a laugh. Tuesday& Thursdays at 2pm! FREE on Facebook!
Aiping Tai Chi SchoolAiping Tai Chi School will be taking a freshnew approach to online live classes with afree live streaming channel we're launchinglater next week. This channel can beaccessed around the world and videos will besaved on the channel for 60 days poststream. The channel is twitch.tv/aipingtaichi.
Coronavirus EmergencyFunding Options for SmallBusinesses
Federal and state government programs aretargeting small businesses with emergencyloans and grants designed to mitigate theimpact of the coronavirus pandemic. ReadMore Here.
CT Shared Work Program
Connecticut’s Shared Work program offersan alternative — a way to keep your skilledworkers on the job while reducing thefinancial pressure on your business. Insteadof cutting employees, you cut hours,enabling employees to collectunemployment for the time they’ve lost. Seewhy a majority of employers who’ve usedthis program would do so again.
FAQ: Small BusinessPaycheck ProtectionProgram
The Internal Revenue Service hasannounced that small businesses and soleproprietorships can apply beginning April 3,2020. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can applybeginning April 10, 2020. All of your PaymentProtection Program answers Here.
State Extends SmallBusiness Sales TaxDeadlinesConnecticut's Department of RevenueServices March 30 granted small businessesan automatic extension of filing and paymentdeadlines for state sales and room andoccupancy taxes.
As business owners make decisions to navigate the Coronavirus epidemic, they should bearin mind how those decisions can affect their retirement plan and plan participants. Aside fromgeneral concerns regarding the economy and the stock market, business owners should alsobe aware of other plan related issues including:
Participant anxiety – Business owners should address participant concerns about marketvolatility, the benefits of long term investing and dollar cost averaging, and plan features. Thiscan be done through planned webinars, distribution of relevant educational materials or directcontact with the plan advisor. The goal should be to mitigate participant concerns and to keepthem focused on long term savings needs.
Workforce reductions – In the event any employee layoffs or furloughs occur or are planned,employers should address the current and future status of participants. In particular, relevantissues such as vesting, payment or suspension of loans, accessing retirement assets andtaxable distributions should be considered.
Employer contributions – Any discussion of or intention to modify Employer contributionsshould be done in the context of the current plan design (Safe Harbor 401(k), Simple IRA) oris it entails a Cash Balance or Defined Benefit plan. Changes to the prescribed employercontributions can have a potentially adverse effect on compliance testing and the ability ofowners/highly compensated employees to contribute to the plan.
Governor Lamont and Banking Commissioner Perez announce a 90 daymortgage grace period for those impacted.
More details are located here.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, andEconomic Security (CARES) Actallocated $350 billion to help smallbusinesses keep workers employedamid the pandemic and economicdownturn. Known as the PaycheckProtection Program,the initiative provides 100% federallyguaranteed loans to small businesses.
Here are the questions you might beasking and what you need to know.
Click Here for a Checklist + Guide for Small Business
Most basic business coverage companies seem to be denied their claim do to "natural" or"act of god" argument. I contacted the State Department of Insurance and they said that if acompany believes their insurance coverage does indeed cover this loss of business, theyshould file a claim with the Insurance department.
Coronavirus and Business Interruption Insurance – FAQs
CTPrepares - Mobile AppDownload the CTPrepares App so you have all the important information in the palm of your
hand in the event of an emergency or loss of power.
The SBA is offering low interestloans to small businesses effected
by the Corona virus epidemic. If anyof your members are effected, they
should call 1-800-659-2955 for further
Effective Immediately: DRS ExtendsFiling Deadline for Certain Annual
State Business Tax Returns
information. For the full press release click here.
Northeast Governors FromConnecticut, New York, New JerseyAnnounce Collective Measures to
Combat Spread of COVID-19
Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut,Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of NewYork, and Governor Phil Murphy of
New Jersey today (March 16)announced a regional approach to
combatting the novel coronavirus – orCOVID-19 – throughout the tri-state
area.
Read the full press release here
DECD Defers Loan Payments onSmall Business Express
The Lamont Administration and theDepartment of Economic and
Community Development (DECD) arebeing proactive to ensure support for
businesses and their employeesfinancially hit by the pandemic. For
those with loans from the SmallBusiness Express Program:
DECD will defer Small BusinessExpress loan payments for the nextthree months to allow employers to
focus on their payrolls.
COVID19: Tips for SmallBusinesses
As Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID19) spreads, it createsconcerns in all our communities both inrelation to staying healthy and safe, butalso in terms of how local businessesmay be impacted. We have assembleda list of tips and resources to assistyou.
This guidance providesrecommendations on the cleaning anddisinfection of rooms or areas of thosewith suspected or with confirmedCOVID-19 have visited. It is aimed atlimiting the survival of novelcoronavirus in key environments.These recommendations will beupdated if additional informationbecomes available.
