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BRITTAIN RESORTS & HOTELS
PANDEMIC ASSOCIATE LAYOFF NOTICE (COVID-19)
As you all know, we are experiencing a time like never before in the history of our nation. The impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is effecting both individuals and companies in ways no one imagined. Our associates are the heart of our business and we wish there were things we could do to avoid the business disruptions this has caused; but unfortunately, these disruptions have forced us to make the difficult decision to temporarily reduce staffing levels, including layoffs. Our customers drive every aspect of our business, and when they are not here, we are severely impacted.
Our associates are very important to us and our plan is to bring back all associates who are impacted as quickly as possible. In the meantime, the following resources and benefit options are available to assist you through this difficult time:
Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Full time associates may request to utilize Paid Time Off (PTO) during this layoff period, up to their regular schedule worked. If you are requesting PTO, you need to notify your manager so he/she can enter those hours in Paycom. For example, if your weekly schedule typically is a 32-hour schedule, you should request no more than 32 hours of PTO each week. It is not required to utilize your PTO during this time.
- Associates returning to work will have their seniority date grandfathered for PTO purposes
Unemployment Benefits
OVERVIEW:
Beginning Sunday, May 24th, 2020, the Company will no longer complete the weekly filing for associates. Associates that continue to be impacted by reduced hours are still able to receive unemployment benefits through SCDEW, however, associates will “take over their claim” by visiting the SCDEW website and certifying their benefits each Sunday.
Associates will have to answer the standard questions and report their own earnings. Note that this will be more questions to answer than when the employer filed the claim. Once associates have answered all the questions, SCDEW will make their eligibility determination based on their allowable amounts.
The “pay period” defined by SCDEW runs from Sunday to Saturday. SCDEW has reported the average time to receive payment is 7-10 days.
Your Responsibilities To Receive Unemployment Benefits
- What to do when your employer files your unemployment claims:
- To get started, you must register/create an account on the SCDEW website: https://dew.sc.gov/
- If you had an account within the last two years, you will need to utilize the same user name and password you had previously. Do not create a new account if you already have one.
- If you forgot your password, click on “Forgot your username/password”.
- If you forgot your answers to the security questions, you will need to contact SCDEW at 866-831-1724.
- You may need additional information ready to complete your account, such as direct deposit information. If you do not have direct deposit, SCDEW has a debit card program.
- You are also required to verify whether or not you would like taxes deducted from your unemployment benefits as you would be responsible for taxes on this income.
- Once your account is set up and the company has submitted your information with SCDEW, you MUST go in and “certify” the information as soon as possible to receive your unemployment benefits in a timely manner. You do have up to two weeks to complete this process, but your payment would not be paid until you certify.
- You must follow all steps SCDEW outlines and complete any job searches the site requests.
- How to Certify Your Weekly Claims:
We do not determine your eligibility to receive unemployment benefits or the amount provided. If you have questions regarding this, you can visit the SCDEW website and review the Applicant Reference Guide: https://dew.sc.gov/docs/default-source/worksearch/work-search-all-rev-10-9-17.pdf?sfvrsn=7a452724_18 or call SCDEW.
If an associate on layoff is called back to work and refuses work without a valid reason, it will be considered he/she has abandoned the job and employment would be terminated. SCDEW would be notified and the associate may lose unemployment benefits.
HELPFUL HINTS:
- There have been a few issues with mismatched names and social security numbers. We have learned if you add your middle initial, it may create this issue. You will receive an error message and only SCDEW can resolve the issue.
- If you are unable to certify your weekly benefits, look for the “Reactivate My UI Claim” button when logging in or under “Smart Links” on your homepage.
Health & Dental Benefits
Full-time associates on layoff can continue to maintain their health and/or dental benefits through the next 90 days.
- For those who currently have health and/or dental coverage through the Company’s Plan, the Company will continue to pay the Company’s contributions of the premium AND the associate’s premium for the next 90 days or until you return to work.
- If this layoff continues for more than 90 days, associates may be offered the opportunity to extend their medical coverage through COBRA. When associates with COBRA return to work, their insurance will change to “active” on the first day of the month following their return. Associates who did not choose COBRA to extend will have to wait to reapply as the plan guidelines allow.
AFLAC Benefits
At Aflac, we recognize that what we do is critically important to local and national health care systems. Rest assured that we remain dedicated to serving our customers. We know many of you have been laid off or have had a significant reduction in hours.
At this time Aflac will not lapse any Alfac policy until at least June 1, 2020. This is ONLY a grace period and premium will not be totally forgiven; however, policies will not lapse due to lack of payment. ALL CLAIMS WILL BE HONORED. The Aflac disability policy will pay for a diagnosis of COVID-19 the same as any other sickness and wellness benefits on the Aflac policies will also pay for COVID-19 testing. If you are not working, but can still submit premium payments to Aflac, it will be in your best interest to do so, so you will not be responsible to catch up on premiums in the future.
The local Aflac office will assist you in sending in premium and can give you any information on your policies and policy premium.
PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL AFLAC FIRST, there will be a box at our back door that you may drop off any information that you need to drop off in person. Nanette Winkler, Aflac office administrator, and Pebbles Stewart, Aflac agent, are here to help you in ANY WAY WE CAN. We will get through this together. Please take care of yourself and we are committed to you!
Pebbles Stewart – Aflac Agent
Nanette Winkler- Aflac office administrator
PO Box 2207
Myrtle Beach SC 29578
Office: 843-448-5877
Fax: 843-448-0913
401(k) - Extended Options Under CARES Act
In these difficult times, we are reviewing every possible option to assist our associates who are severely impacted by the events surrounding COVID-19 and may experience serious financial hardship as a result. For those who qualify (qualifiers included in the attachment), the Company has decided to allow the two provisions available in the CARES Act, which are:
- Withdrawals can made up to $100,000 of the associate’s vested account balance, without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. There are also options for payment of the 20% tax rate.
- An increase in the loan amount will be available in the lesser amount of 100% of the vested account balance or $100,000, with an extended loan repayment upon request.
- Downloadable PDF
These options are explained in more detail in the attached document and will be available, starting on April 20, 2020.
Associates considering either of these two options can contact Transamerica directly. There are forms specifically created for these options, under Coronavirus, that can be obtained online at Transamerica.com or one of the Transamerica representatives can email them.
Website: Transamerica.com
Plan Participants: 800-401-8726
Participant Web Support: 877-717-8858
Eemergency Assistance Loans
We realize this difficult time may create stress and financial hardships for some of our associates. Ensuring our associates remain safe and healthy is a priority for us. To assist our associates severely impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is offering emergency assistance loans to help you meet the most crucial financial obligations when no other options or resources are available.
Emergency situations may include, but are not limited to:
- Rent or mortgage – to avoid evictions and foreclosures
- Automobile – to avoid repossession
- Utilities – to avoid shutoff
- Medical obligation – to enable health care for serious health issues.
- Downloadable Request Form
Associates that have been working for the company for 6 months or more can request an emergency assistance loan by completing the Emergency Assistance Loan Request Form and emailing it, along with supporting documentation for the loan to: [email protected].
Each request will be reviewed to determine eligibility and must be approved. Loans will be distributed to those with the most pressing, emergency financial needs. The Company will arrange repayment options with each individual.
Returning To Work
5/14/2020 –
As many of you know, we have been blessed with the opportunity to reopen the resorts and food & beverage outlets. We have been working through enhanced policies and procedures to reduce the spread of the virus, keeping the safety and health of our associates and guests as our top priority.
In the last couple of weeks, we have been reaching out to either invite associates back to work OR discuss possible return dates with everyone as our guests return and business increases. If you have not been in contact with your manager, please reach out to them! If you cannot reach your manager, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 843-282-6698. This is a very important process to ensure each associate has his/her offer to return to work. If an associate does not return to work or cannot be reached to return to work, he/she could be marked as a resignation. This could result in being ineligible for unemployment benefits. Your managers are required to report an offer to return to work to the unemployment office so please reach out to them TODAY if you have not spoken with them.
Again – if you cannot reach them or have any questions, you may contact me. Have a wonderful day and stay safe!
~Melissa
Latest News & Updates
5/25/2020 – IMPORTANT:
Beginning Sunday, May 24th, 2020, the Company will no longer complete the weekly filing for associates. Associates that continue to be impacted by reduced hours are still able to receive unemployment benefits through SCDEW, however, associates will “take over their claim” by visiting the SCDEW website and certifying their benefits each Sunday.
Associates will have to answer the standard questions and report their own earnings. Note that this will be more questions to answer than when the employer filed the claim. Once associates have answered all the questions, SCDEW will make their eligibility determination based on their allowable amounts.
The “pay period” defined by SCDEW runs from Sunday to Saturday. SCDEW has reported the average time to receive payment is 7-10 days.
5/14/2020 – IMPORTANT: Please see the information included under the “Returning to Work” section regarding offers to return to work.
4/22/2020 – IMPORTANT: Many of you may have a yield sign on your Claimant Homepage for unemployment related to the job search requirement. That is because the exception for actively searching for open positions had an expiration date of 4/18/2020. According to the unemployment office, this is still NOT a requirement, but you may see this message as it will remain open until they are advised by the Governor on next steps. They have stated this will not stop payments to you in the meantime. Please note that they have posted on their site that you still have to register on the SCDEW site as if you were going to search, but don’t have to actually complete the searches.
4/13/2020 – All unemployment claim information has been successfully uploaded from our office to SCDEW on Sunday, April 12th for the week of April 5 – April 11, 2020, so you should be able to log in to your accounts and “certify” your information for the week.
4/6/2020 – All unemployment claim information has been successfully uploaded from our office to SCDEW on Sunday, April 5th for the week of March 29 – April 4, 2020, so you should be able to log in to your accounts and “certify” your information for the week.
3/31/2020 – Did you know? Many service companies are offering economic initiatives for those experiencing financial hardship – for more information, visit the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce website, which includes a list: https://www.myrtlebeachareachamber.com/news/ways-to-help
3/31/2020 – All unemployment claim information has been successfully uploaded from our office to SCDEW on Sunday March 29th for the week of March 22 – 28, 2020, so you should be able to log in to your accounts and “certify” your information for the week.
3/27/2020 – Please ensure your contact information in Paycom is current. This includes your phone number, mailing address, and email address and these can be updated through Paycom’s Employee Self Service. If you need assistance with your user name and/or password, please see your manager.
3/27/2020 – All future paychecks will be mailed to your home address that is listed in Paycom for anyone that does not have direct deposit.