MASSACHUSETTS RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
​COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE TO RE-OPEN
MANDATED POSTERS
Massachusetts General Business Guidance and Mandatory Posters
Minimum Standards for all business opening in Massachusetts regardless of industry. Businesses operating to provide Essential Services, may remain open and have until May 25, 2020 to comply with these mandatory safety standards.
Required:
Click here to for link to standards and posters: Massachusetts Standards and Posters
We have also included a link to a hand-washing poster here. While this is not required to post, it does serve as a best practice reminder.
The complete Massachusetts Reopening Website can be found here.
Temporary Rule: Paid Leave under the Families First Coronairus Response Act
On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective April 1, 2020. For more information, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/ffcra.
Employee paid sick leave law can be found here.
Employee and Employer Summary can be found here.
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CHECKLISTS
State Announces Reopening Guidance and Checklists for Food and Beverage Industry
The Administration today issued workplace safety standards for restaurants and lodging. These workplace specific safety standards are organized around four distinct categories covering Social Distancing, Hygiene Protocols, Staffing and Operations and Cleaning and Disinfecting.
Restaurants:
Outdoor dining will begin at the start of Phase II. Phase II is expected to be announced after the review of the public health data collected between June 1 and June 6. Indoor dining will begin later within Phase II, subject to public health data. When indoor seating is permitted, use of outdoor space will be encouraged for all restaurants.
Additionally, there are a number of cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, in accordance with CDC guidance. This includes closing an establishment temporarily if there is a case of COVID-19 in an establishment.
The MRA is developing best practice checklists for different segments of the re-open process. Those will be available in the coming days.
The Governor also announced that he is working with the Legislature to streamline the ABCC process to allow for expanded outdoor dining opportunities. Local license authorities should assume that this legislation will be passed and should work with operators ASAP to get them approved.
Lodging:
Hotels, motels and other lodging businesses will be allowed to expand their operations in Phase II. Lodging safety standards apply to all forms of lodging including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, short term residential rentals including Airbnb and VRBO.
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GUIDANCE RESOURCES
1. NRA ServSafe Re-Opening Guidance is a comprehensive guide to offer you direction and provide a framework for best practices as you reopen.
Click here for the NRA ServSafe Re-Open Guidance document.
ServSafe Reopening Guidance: COVID-19 Precautions aligns with the content provided in the COVID-19 Reopening Guidance document created by the National Restaurant Association, ServSafe, and subject matter experts.
Video topics include:
2. Ecolab Resources
Expertise to help you prepare your restaurants, enable staff, and reassure guests:
Return to Normal Operations Checklists: Recommendations at the restaurant level to help you make plans for resuming operations after a partial or full closure.
Updated Cleaning Procedures: Expert procedures to ensure your locations are using the most up-to-date cleaning procedures for COVID-19.
Top Considerations Post-COVID: Guidance to help identify gaps and provide direction as you navigate reopening and returning to fully operational
3. Employee Health Survey Template is a baseline COVID 19 questionnaire for your employees to complete before engaging in work for their scheduled shift.
Click here for more info.
4. FoodCode-Pro COVID-19 Reopening Action Plan & Self Inspection ensures that you are following Local Health Departments Inspections will allow for a much more seamless transition to on premise dining. The following COVID 19 Reopening Action Plan and Self Inspection is a detailed and educational tool to ensure you have hit all the key areas.
Introduction
Registration
Access Reopen Plan
Start RAR Inspection
5. The Role of Architecture in Fighting COVID-19
Mass Design Groups Research on Spatial Strategies for Restaurants in Response to COVID-19. The following design strategies guide restaurants in spatial literacy as they work towards reopening safely, viably, and vibrantly, and position restaurants at the heart of the public realm. Click here for more info.
Massachusetts General Business Guidance and Mandatory Posters
Minimum Standards for all business opening in Massachusetts regardless of industry. Businesses operating to provide Essential Services, may remain open and have until May 25, 2020 to comply with these mandatory safety standards.
Required:
- COVID-19 control plan template – Template that satisfies the written control plan requirement for self-certification
- Compliance attestation poster – Poster that customer facing businesses are required to print, sign, and post in an area within the business premises that is visible to workers and visitors
- Employer and Staff posters – Posters that businesses can print and display within the business premises to describe the rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, and cleaning and disinfecting
Click here to for link to standards and posters: Massachusetts Standards and Posters
We have also included a link to a hand-washing poster here. While this is not required to post, it does serve as a best practice reminder.
The complete Massachusetts Reopening Website can be found here.
Temporary Rule: Paid Leave under the Families First Coronairus Response Act
On April 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective April 1, 2020. For more information, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/ffcra.
Employee paid sick leave law can be found here.
Employee and Employer Summary can be found here.
_________________________________________________________________________________
CHECKLISTS
State Announces Reopening Guidance and Checklists for Food and Beverage Industry
The Administration today issued workplace safety standards for restaurants and lodging. These workplace specific safety standards are organized around four distinct categories covering Social Distancing, Hygiene Protocols, Staffing and Operations and Cleaning and Disinfecting.
Restaurants:
Outdoor dining will begin at the start of Phase II. Phase II is expected to be announced after the review of the public health data collected between June 1 and June 6. Indoor dining will begin later within Phase II, subject to public health data. When indoor seating is permitted, use of outdoor space will be encouraged for all restaurants.
- Social distancing guidance includes spacing tables six feet apart with a maximum party size of six people.
- Tables may be positioned closer if separated by protective / non-porous barriers (e.g., structural walls or plexi-glass dividers) not less than 6 feet high installed between tables and high foot traffic areas
- The use of bars, except for spaced table seating, will not be permitted.
- Utensils and menus should be kept clean through single use or with strict sanitation guidelines
- Reservations or call ahead seating is recommended and contactless payment, mobile ordering or text on arrival for seating is also encouraged.
Additionally, there are a number of cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, in accordance with CDC guidance. This includes closing an establishment temporarily if there is a case of COVID-19 in an establishment.
- For full restaurant guidance: click here
- Restaurant checklist: click here
- Restaurant safety standards: click here
The MRA is developing best practice checklists for different segments of the re-open process. Those will be available in the coming days.
The Governor also announced that he is working with the Legislature to streamline the ABCC process to allow for expanded outdoor dining opportunities. Local license authorities should assume that this legislation will be passed and should work with operators ASAP to get them approved.
Lodging:
Hotels, motels and other lodging businesses will be allowed to expand their operations in Phase II. Lodging safety standards apply to all forms of lodging including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, short term residential rentals including Airbnb and VRBO.
- Event spaces, like ballrooms and meeting rooms, will remain closed.
- On-site restaurants, pools, gyms, spas, golf courses and other amenities at lodging sites may operate only as these categories are authorized to operate in accordance with the phased re-opening plan.
- Lodging operators also must inform guests of the Commonwealth’s policy urging travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days when arriving from out-of-state.
- For full lodging guidance: click here
- Lodging Checklist: click here
- Lodging Safety Standards: click here
_________________________________________________________________________________________
GUIDANCE RESOURCES
1. NRA ServSafe Re-Opening Guidance is a comprehensive guide to offer you direction and provide a framework for best practices as you reopen.
Click here for the NRA ServSafe Re-Open Guidance document.
ServSafe Reopening Guidance: COVID-19 Precautions aligns with the content provided in the COVID-19 Reopening Guidance document created by the National Restaurant Association, ServSafe, and subject matter experts.
Video topics include:
- Knowing COVID-19 symptoms and preventing its spread
- Recognizing actions to reduce risk to employees and guests
- Guidelines for face coverings, hand washing, and food handling
- Guidelines for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
- Physical and operational changes to maintain social distancing
2. Ecolab Resources
Expertise to help you prepare your restaurants, enable staff, and reassure guests:
Return to Normal Operations Checklists: Recommendations at the restaurant level to help you make plans for resuming operations after a partial or full closure.
Updated Cleaning Procedures: Expert procedures to ensure your locations are using the most up-to-date cleaning procedures for COVID-19.
Top Considerations Post-COVID: Guidance to help identify gaps and provide direction as you navigate reopening and returning to fully operational
3. Employee Health Survey Template is a baseline COVID 19 questionnaire for your employees to complete before engaging in work for their scheduled shift.
Click here for more info.
4. FoodCode-Pro COVID-19 Reopening Action Plan & Self Inspection ensures that you are following Local Health Departments Inspections will allow for a much more seamless transition to on premise dining. The following COVID 19 Reopening Action Plan and Self Inspection is a detailed and educational tool to ensure you have hit all the key areas.
Introduction
Registration
Access Reopen Plan
Start RAR Inspection
5. The Role of Architecture in Fighting COVID-19
Mass Design Groups Research on Spatial Strategies for Restaurants in Response to COVID-19. The following design strategies guide restaurants in spatial literacy as they work towards reopening safely, viably, and vibrantly, and position restaurants at the heart of the public realm. Click here for more info.
