Doing business at Alert Level 1 means displaying a QR code poster, asking employees to stay home if they are sick, providing flexible working arrangements where possible, encouraging good hygiene and allowing for physical distancing.
All that said, we have every reason to step into this year with a bit of a swagger. Aotearoa has acquitted itself well compared with most corners of the world.
Workplaces are more equipped to deal with these Covid times too. If you or an employee has been told by a health official to self-isolate and cannot work from home, there is a Covid-19 Leave Support Scheme. Self-employed or sole traders can also apply.
Wage subsidy schemes have now ended but small or medium-sized business may be eligible for a Business Finance Guarantee Scheme loan. Banks can loan up to $5 million for a term of up to five years and non-banks can lend up to $3m for the same term.
These loans can support operating cashflow and capital assets and projects related to, responding to or for recovering from the impacts of Covid-19. The scheme is supported by the Government, which takes up to 80 per cent of the scheme loan's default risk.
The Inland Revenue also has more flexibility than ever for statutory tax deadlines and has extended tax-loss provisions.
Organisations and small-to-medium businesses, including sole traders and the self-employed, can apply for a one-off $10,000 loan with a term of five years if they have been adversely affected by Covid-19.
Additionally, the Companies Office offers relief for companies and other entities facing difficulties in complying with their statutory obligations, or obligations under their constitutions or rules.
Support is there to ensure our little-nation-that-could does in fact recover as well as anyone. Those returning to work this week are an essential part of that. Get amongst it.
