HeadlinesJune 16, 2021 -- Gov. Baker Signs COVID-19 Policy Extensions Law and Alert for MA Lottery Sales Agents: Oppose Pending Cashless Lottery and Online Lottery Proposals The Retail Review -- 2nd Quarter 2021 Edition June 9, 2021 -- CALL TO ACTION: Support Extension of Important COVID-19 Measures Set to Expire on June 15th June 3, 2021 -- Baker Signs COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Law May 26, 2021 -- UI Tax Crisis Lingers as More Needs to be Done / Sample Signage for CDC Mask Guidance May 24, 2021 -- iVision Announcement May 17, 2021 -- MA to Fully Reopen on May 29th – All COVID Restrictions to be Lifted, Upcoming Action on Unemployment Insurance May 7, 2021 -- State Revises Retail & Restaurant Protocols / DOR Updates Timeline for Relief of Certain Business Taxes April 27, 2021 --Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plans for Continued Reopening, Face Coverings Update and Restaurant Revitalization Fund April 15, 2021 -- State Issues Delay in Employers’ Q1 UI Payments After Outrage over Solvency Fund Assessment April 14, 2021 -- REMINDER: TAKE ACTION NOW! Employers Experience Sizable Increases in Q1 UI Tax Bills April 9, 2021 -- RAM Employers to Experience Sizable Increases in Q1 UI Tax Bills April 2, 2021 -- MA Passes Unemployment Insurance Relief Law, Advanced Payment of Sales Tax Changes Effective TODAY - DOR Releases Final Guidance Sought by RAM & more The Retail Review -- First Quarter 2021 Edition March 18, 2021 -- Gov. Baker Announces Move to Step 1, Phase IV, Travel Order downgraded to Travel Advisory, Announces Vaccine Timeline for All Categories March 9, 2021- Early Remittance of Sales Tax – Changes Coming in April. Tell your legislators, Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Polito it’s not too late to fix, delay, or at least simplify it! March 3, 2021 -- Annual Health Insurance Survey February 25, 2021 --State Relaxes Restrictions, Returns to 50% Capacity and Biden Administration Announces Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program February 23, 2021 -- New Tax Credits for Establishing a Retirement Plan for your Business! February 17, 2021 -- MA DOR Draft Guidance on Upcoming Sales/Meals Tax Changes: Early Remittance for Many Coming Due April 25th and Update on Vaccination Roll Out February 4, 2021 -- Business Capacity Limits Eased, Employer Options for Workforce Vaccine Cite, State's Tourism Website Info, RAM Health Insurance Webinar January 29, 2021 -- MA Entering Phase 2 of Vaccine Rollout, RAM Health Insurance Cooperative Webinar, Small Business Administration PPP Webinar January 21, 2021 -- Governor Baker Eliminates 9:30PM Business Restrictions, Extends 25% Capacity Two More Weeks January 19, 2021 -- PPP Webinar, RAM Health Insurance Cooperative Webinar, Gov. Baker Signs $16.5B Transportation Bond Bill, Vetoes TNC Fee Increases January 15, 2021 -- MGCC Deadline Extended Thru Monday; SBA PPP Webinar on 1/25; Holiday Premium Pay Fix Signed Into Law January 14, 2021 -- Last Chance: MA Small Business Grant Application Period Closes Tomorrow at Midnight, Save the Date for SBA Webinar, RAM Health Insurance Cooperative January 7, 2021 -- Governor Extends Restrictions, December Holiday Sales Survey and Small Business PPP Update Webinar and Program Guidance January 4, 2021 -- MA Small Business Grant Application Period Is Open, Legislative Update, Wage and Labor Law Update, PPP Update and Holiday Sales Survey December 23, 2020 -- Governor Announces More than $650 Million in Small Business Grants, Updated RAM Employee Handbook December 22, 2020 -- Gov. Baker Announces Further Restrictions Effective Saturday Dec. 26th; Most Businesses, Retail, Restaurants Moving to 25% Occupancy Limit December 15, 2020 -- Five Months Late, Baker Signs FY21 Budget into Law, Retailers Unhappy with Sales Tax Changes December 8, 2020 -- Gov. Baker Announces New COVID-19 Restrictions, Rollback to Phase 3, Step 1 The Retail Review -- November/ December 2020 edition December 2, 2020 -- RAM Launches Holiday #BUYINMA Radio & Digital Campaign November 30, 2020 -- RAM Launches Weekly Holiday Sales Survey, State Issues Reminder to All Employers of Reporting, Contact Tracing Responsibilities as Cases Surge November 19, 2020 -- Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor, presentation at RAM Annual Meeting November 17, 2020 -- Prepayment of Sales Tax is Coming – Ask your Legislators to Make it Simple November 6, 2020 -- Annual Meeting, Holiday Sales Prediction, PPP webinar November 2, 2020 -- New COVID Advisory & Orders; RAM Annual Meeting Nov 19 October 27, 2020 -- Reminder for PFML Discussion Oct, 28 and PPP webinar November 10 October 22, 2020 -- Governor Announces Small Business Recovery Grants; Lower Sales, Higher Costs Endanger MA Main Streets October 16, 2020 -- Gov. Baker Submits Revised FY21 State Budget Proposal, Continues Pursuit of Troubling Sales Tax Changes October 6, 2020 -- Paid Family and Medical Leave: Two Online Opportunities to Prepare Your Business September 29, 2020 -- Electricity Program Deadline, Changes in Reopening, Dressing Room & Food Court Restrictions Relaxed September 24, 2020 -- RAM Electricity Programs, Retail & Restaurant Sector Guidance Updates, Boston Plastic Bag Ban, Survey Reminder September 16, 2020 -- State Leaders Announce Further Extension of Administrative Tax Relief for Businesses September 11, 2020 -- Updated order for outdoor dining, arcades The Retail Review -- Summer 2020 edition August 31, 2020 -- 2020 Sales Tax Holiday Impact Survey, My Local MA Campaign Launch August 19, 2020 - Updated Guidance and Sales Tax Holiday Reminder August 6, 2020 - COVID -19 July Survey on Sales and the Economy July 31, 2020 -- MA Legislature Extends Formal Session, Updated Survey on Sales and the Economy July 22, 2020 - State Authorizes Restaurant Sales of To-Go Cocktails, Gov. Baker Extends Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures July 14, 2020 - Oppose Local & Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives July 11, 2020 -- RAM Commits to Addressing Systematic Racism and Discrimination, DPH to End Reusable Bag Ban, Allow Municipal Plastic Bag Bans to Resume Effect July 5, 2020 - RAM's Multiple Employer 401k Plan allows you to keep your trusted financial advisor -- Learn how you can participate. July 2, 2020 -- MA Enters Phase Three of Reopening Plan on Monday, July 6th June 30, 2020 --Ask the Legislature to Honor their Commitment, Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Aug.29-30 June 19, 2020 -- Gov. Gives Green Light to Resume Indoor Dining on Monday & Allows Use of Fitting Rooms (by appointment), Extension of Sales & Meals Tax Relief June 10, 2020 - New Member Survey, SBA Webinar, MassInc Survey June 5, 2020 -- Gov. Baker Will Announce Phase 2 Reopen Date on Saturday, Joint RAM Pioneer Institute Survey, Congress Approves Changes to Paycheck Protection Program June 1, 2002 -- Gov. Baker Issues New Executive Order in Advance of Phase 2, Releases Rules, Checklist & Guidance for Retail Reopening May 29, 2020 -- Governor Talks Phase II of Re-opening, Releases Guidance for Restaurants & Lodging, Retail Guidance Expected Early Next Week May 27, 2020 -- Phase One: Retail Curbside Pickup & Remote Fulfillment Rules...But what’s next? May 22, 2020 -- RAM Members Eagerly Await Rare Weekend Changes to Essential Services FAQs: Curbside Pickup & Remote Fulfillment Rules Expected May 21, 2020 -- All Essential Businesses are Required to Self-certify by May 25th to Remain Open, Paycheck Protection Program Relief May 18, 2020 -- RAM Disappointed by Reopening Plan May 15, 2020 -- Reopening Plan Due Monday / Q&A with RAM President / PPP, PFML and EBT Updates May 8, 2020 --Please Participate In This Important RAM Survey On Reopening the Economy, COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs - Updated May 4, 2020 -- Gov. Baker Updates “Essential Services” Guidance, Allow for Remote Fulfillment in Closed Stores and Warehouses May 1, 2020 E-news -- RAM First to Appear before Gov. Baker’s Economic Reopening Advisory Board, Statewide Face Covering Order, NRF Guidance for Retailers NRF Foundation Now Offering Free Online Skills Training During Health Crisis AG Healey Launches Resource Site for First Responders & Relief Programs Aimed at Small Business RAM Facebook Page for MA Retail Relief Essential vs. Non-essential Services Federal Paid Sick Time & Leave Requirements President's Letter -- April/May 2020 The Retail Review - March/ April 2020 edition April 7 E-news -- Gov. Baker Issues New Grocery Store Customer Limits, Preempts Local Boards of Health; Updated Essential Services FAQs; Meals for Heros Restaurant List April 3 E-news -- Governor Signs Law Allowing for Immediate Restaurant Beer/Wine Sales with Takeout Meals April 1: E-News update on SBA's Paycheck Protection Program March 31 E-news update -- Gov. Baker Extends Order Limiting Operations to COVID-19 Essential Services, Provides Updated Guidance and FAQs on What/Who is Essential March 27 E-news update -- MA AG Issues Employee Rights and Employer Obligations, SBA Express Bridge Loan Program, CARES ACT Update March 25 E-News: State Issues FAQs, Further Guidance on Defining Who/What is “Essential” March 24 E-news: Updates, Emergency Orders and Guidance March 23 - Non Essential Businesses to Cease in Person Operations March 19 E-news -- Sales, Meals and Room Occupancy Tax Remittance Delay March 18 E-news --COVID-19 Update March 15 E-news -- An Important Message to RAM members, COVID-19 Survey and Resources NRF/ Coronavirus Resources for Retailers Massachusetts STEM Summit 2020 The RAM Health Insurance Cooperative is NOW thriving – and growing – in 2020! Why sales tax revenues are soaring (CommonWealth Op -Ed, 1-22-2020) DFML Small Employer Advisory Group Hurst and Hudson Appointed By Governor Baker to Merged Market Advisory Council The Retail Review -- January/ February 2020 Edition Legal Update: MA Adopts Distracted Driving Law 2020 MA Wage& Hour Posting from AG's office. Paid Family and Medical Leave Contributions Due January 31, 2020 December is Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month The Retail Review -- November/ December 2019 edition U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Overtime Rule Attorney General Certifies 12 Initiative Petitions to Continue on Path to 2020 Ballot For previously posted headlines, click here. |
