USA Employers Resources

As a result of these unprecedented times, The Mandy Team has created a dedicated resources page for employers, providing a wide range of information and support material to help your business run as smoothly as possible during lockdown! Here you will find useful material from your government, information on how your tax may be affected, resources to help you manage your employees’ workload and mental well-being and much more.

Information, Support and Claiming Funds

Stay on top of developments in the industry and remain informed with the latest updates from the Government, information on claiming funds for your business and more.

As states across the US reopen for film, TV and commercial productions, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and Teamsters have created a Safety Guidelines document as a path for employers to provide a safer workplace for their cast and crew members in a pre-vaccine COVID-19 world, ensuring our industry navigates this climate with mitigated risk.

With much of the creative industry on pause during lockdown, many professionals are struggling to make ends meet. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, has written an op-ed piece on how the streaming giant is addressing the production of its shows across the world. From South Korea to Sweden, he has delved into their process on how they are safely working around the pandemic.

Representing over 160,000 creative professionals in the industry, SAG-AFTRA has recently released an urgent safety notice to all members. Due to the global pandemic, they urge members to not return to work under an existing contract or accept a contract for new employment without first securing the approval of the union. You can read the full notice here.

Lionsgate is a giant in the entertainment industry and they have released their safety guidelines, regarding new productions. The document is an effort to protect our cast and crew from the spread of COVID-19, and they continue to establish new policies and practices to provide a safe working environment for all productions. You can read their guidelines here.

If you are looking to understand more about coronavirus Federal Small Business Aid Programs, then you are in the right place. Several packages have been approved by Congress that offers a variety of assistance to businesses. Help is out there, and here you can understand how your business can take advantage of these relief efforts.

Do you want to know how you can get a coronavirus emergency paycheck protection loan? Rest assured, you aren’t the only one. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act set aside $350 billion for small business loans to provide economic relief in 2020. Click here to understand how you may be able to get one of these loans.

The U.S. Department of Labor has resources to help workers and employers prepare and navigate through the current pandemic. You can find out more information here on workplace safety, wages, hours and leave, unemployment, the latest news and much more.

Americans for the Arts’ mission is to build recognition and support for the arts and to lead, serve and advance the networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America. They continue to support their staff and members across the country and have created a dedicated page that they are updating daily with relevant news and information for professionals in the arts.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) continues to regularly update their website with the latest news and information in the current pandemic. With interim guidance for businesses and employers, guidance on preparing workspaces and more. We urge you to visit their page and stay informed.

The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York's citizens. On their website, you can find out more information on emergency funding, business and legal support and useful webinars. Visit their page here.

Additional Content for Employers

While we are all self-isolating, many businesses remain open. Here we have provided useful material on how your business can stay on top of employee well-being, productivity and more.

*NEW* Safe Sets International is a collective of industry leaders advocating for health and safety on sets by providing resources which will aid the sector when productions begin post-pandemic. Their website is a dedicated space where professionals and employers can find resources to ensure their sets are safe during the pandemic, production guidelines from professional bodies and opportunities for COVID-19 Compliance to find work.

*NEW* Health Education Services is a significant contributor to the improvement of health and safety throughout the sector, and they have a dedicated class that offers professionals a certification that allows them to become a COVID-19 Compliance Officer. This non-union class informs producers, coordinators, production assistants and 1st ADs about on-set protocols related to COVID-19, as well as providing tools and resources for the new COVID-19 Compliance Officer position.

As companies continue to implement full-time remote work policies due to COVID-19, there are plenty of smart ways to keep employees engaged in their jobs. From hosting regular video meetings or conversations to the avoidance of micromanaging and obtaining employee feedback, we would suggest checking out this article on how to implement best practices for your business and teams.

Working remotely from home in the current climate can for some be a welcome retreat from a traditional office set-up, but for others, it can be difficult to stay motivated and on top of your mental health. The shift in circumstances may negatively impact yours or your employee’s mental health. Check out this post here on how to cope with this - you will find useful information on maintaining normal work hours, designated workspace and more.

For companies that do not regularly operate under remote working conditions, the task of keeping employee morale up and ensuring everyone stays connected can pose its difficulties. You can find great advice on how to combat this here, including relaxing policies and guidelines and improving communication procedures.

Did you know that before the current pandemic, only 24% of U.S. employees did some or all of their work from home? Because of this, it can be difficult for employees and employers to navigate through these trying times. It is important that employers are prepared to advance their business in the coming weeks to work through the pandemic, and here you can find out more information on this discussion.

Founded in 1972, A.R.T./New York assists over 400 members in managing their theater companies effectively, so they can realize their artistic visions and serve their audiences well. Valuable for employers, they have compiled resources for theatre companies, independent producers, freelance artists, and the general public in light of the spread of COVID-19 in New York City. You can visit the page here.

It can be tricky to remain connected with colleagues and employees during these unprecedented times, especially if your team has not historically operated under remote conditions. Check out this great list of fun virtual team building activities, guaranteed to bring everyone together! From gif battles to virtual lunches, you can find a whole host of inspiration here on how to keep your team connected.