Pub 2 2020 Issue 4

This summer, as all of us wait to see what the fall semester will bring for automotive programs at both the high school and post-secondary levels, please remember that the summer auto program classes at the CCSNH locations are now being held.

Now that Governor Sununu has lifted many of the COVID-19 Stay at Home restrictions, we thought this would be a good time to review the laws governing the employment of individuals under the age of 18 in New Hampshire.

A common question we get here at NHADA — WCT is, “why is my injured worker getting bills for his workers’ comp injury” or “my employees’ treatment bills went to collections; why didn’t you pay them?” This is, unfortunately, an inquiry with a common denominator. They can’t bill us if they don’t know about us.

Come spend a day on the green and support the NHADA Education Foundation during the Annual “Drive for a Tech” Golf Tournament on Friday, September 18, at the Pease Golf Course in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Worker health and safety has never been more visible. For months on end, there have been daily briefings from politicians and infectious disease experts leading the news cycle. In many ways, COVID-19 has been the tipping point for heightening the status of employee health and safety.

First, NHADA helped ensure that all New Hampshire auto businesses were essential under the stay-at-home orders. Then NHADA provided the needed guidance and PPE equipment to help you operate COVID-safe.

We have seen our industry face tough times, with businesses having to furlough employees and employees having to file for unemployment due to COVID-19. Their health care coverage could be of great help to them at this time if they have an HSA plan. Half of Americans say they do not know much about HSAs, and many believe HSA funds are lost if not spent by the end of the year. Employees struggle to understand what an HSA is and how it can help them save money tax-free for medical expenses now and in retirement.

Nobody could have predicted, nor would we have believed it if they had told us, that by the middle of March in the year 2020 there would be no sports, no theater, no indoor (or outdoor) dining, no proms, all schools would transition to remote learning, a large part of the workforce would pivot to working from home, and oddly enough, there would be a national shortage of hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Indeed, 2020 has thrown us a few curveballs; we have had to swing for the fences, rethink our lineup and adapt to a new normal. While we have struck out on occasion, for the most part, we have been able to keep our heads in the game and even knock a few right out of the park. Lakes Region Community College’s Toyota T-TEN graduate and LRCC Class of 2020 Valedictorian, Stephen Brackett, has, without a doubt, hit a home run this year! He has been a model student and sets the clear example that the desire to learn, a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, grit and having the right people in your corner is a recipe for success.

In June, as the state began to slowly open back up under Governor Sununu’s guidance, so too did the New Hampshire Legislature. The 400-member House of Representatives met twice at the Whittemore Center at UNH and the 24-member Senate met in Representatives Hall at the State House to accommodate for social distancing and COVID-19 precautionary measures. This was the first time since the Civil War that the legislature had met outside of the State House in Concord. Policy Committees met remotely as well, and they developed a method for public input and testimony during the committee hearings. The 2020 session finally wrapped at the end of June. This is about one month later than planned. It is an election year, so the legislators need to get campaigning, even if it is virtually.