Marty Grunder, president and CEO of Grunder Landscaping Co. (GLC) and The Grow Group began part two of his webinar, “Don’t Panic — Plan! Practical Tips and Tactics for Responding to the Coronavirus and Keeping Your Business on Course,” with a big announcement.

“Due in large part through the advocacy of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, specifically Andrew Bray, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added landscapers to the critical work list on Saturday, March 28,” Grunder said.

“This is great news, this means that you have a legal right to be on properties, doing albeit a limited amount of services, but it is essential,” he added.

Grunder advised that this isn’t a federal mandate and that states may still come forward with their own guidance, but most states have deemed landscapers approved to do maintenance work.

Getting back to business

In response to news from CISA, on March 31, GLC reopened for business after a week of being closed, following the coronavirus protocols they developed over the last several weeks, as outlined in the company’s webinar from last week (link). A laminated copy of both the CISA order and a document outlining current operating protocols are placed in each truck.

GLC is communicating with its team to make up for lost time. The most current plan and the ongoing need to adhere to advanced safety protocols are the primary message. The company is also communicating with customers by sending emails to clients explaining current operating procedures.

“We think a good mindset to be in here is overcommunicate,” Grunder said.

“You have got to operate safely so you don’t spoil it for everyone else,” he added. “We all have to do our part and be a professional.”

Federal Relief

Vince Torchia, vice president of The Grow Group, reviewed the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA), which went into effect on Wednesday, April 1 for all companies of up to 500 employees. The program provides for emergency paid sick and family leave. Employees are eligible for up to 2 weeks emergency sick leave and up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave, 10 of which are paid. This is available to employees who are unable to work on-site or telework because they are:

• subject to a quarantine on a federal or state level;
• experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
• caring for a quarantined family member; or
• caring for a child whose school or daycare provider is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19.

If your team members don’t meet any of the above requirements but are required to be home to take care of their children, the FFCRA still provides relief. Torchia directed landscape companies to the Department of Labor’s website for more information.

On the employer side, companies are able to receive 100 percent reimbursement for leave taken under the FFCRA — either at the end of the calendar quarter or, some could receive advance payroll tax credit (subject to limitations).

Torchia reviewed the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act which will provide direct payments of $1,200 to adults and $500 to every qualifying child age 16 or under, and phased out for upper income brackets, starting with those making $75,000 per year.

The IRS is directly distributing this payment starting with those who have filled out 2019 tax returns. Torchia suggests encouraging your staff to ensure their tax returns have been filled out for the previous two years so they can take advantage of the CARES program.

Additional relief is also available through several provisions in the CARES Act:

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — companies of up to 500 employees in a single location can apply for a Small Business Administration-backed loan for up to $10 million and cover wages for up to $100,000 per year. This would apply to many businesses in the landscape industry.
• Small Business Debt Relief Program
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Emergency Economic Injury Grants

Find out more at sbc.senate.gov/public. Torchia recommends contacting your bank and starting the process to find out what you are eligible for.

The five P’s of a successful business

“We’ve told you there are four pillars for a successful business: platform, people, processes and profits,” Grunder says. “But it’s become clear to us during this challenging situation that there’s a fifth: positivity.”

Jim Cali, executive coach for The Grow Group, shared some of the positive things that are happening amongst companies that work with The Grow Group.

• An Auburn, Ala., landscape company joined with five other landscape companies in the area to contact hospitals and get the names of health care providers working long shifts. The group will start cutting the lawns of those providers.
• A Denver company was able to sell a huge construction project and received a $37,000 deposit for it. Large jobs are still selling, so don’t take your eye off the ball.

Finally, Grunder encouraged leaders to rally and stay positive, because they are being watched by their employees. “Hope is not a strategy, but the companies that endure through adversity and thrive over the long term stay positive,” he said.

The Grow Group is planning future webinars on business concerns related to the coronavirus. To learn more, visit https://growgroupinc.com/responding-to-coronavirus