7/31/2021
To Our Market Broiler Ontario Team,
Please be advised that out of an abundance of caution we have decided to close our Ontario location as of Saturday, July 31, 2021.
Due to the Delta variant and the spike in Covid-19 cases, specifically in San Bernardino county, we have made the decision to temporarily close our Ontario location with plans to reopen as soon as we feel it is a safe environment for our employees and guests.
As of today, July 31st, there have been a number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at our Ontario location and we are monitoring any direct contact with these employees carefully. PHI management will contact you directly if they suspect that you have been in extended close contact with one of the confirmed cases. We are taking these cases very seriously to ensure that our employees receive the care and support they deserve during their recovery.
The health and safety of our employees and guests will always be our top priority, which is why I have made the difficult decision to temporarily close our Ontario location. This will give us the time to perform a deep cleaning and sanitization, provide more training and development for our management and employees, give staff time to self-quarantine, and observe the case-rate within the county.
At this time, this closure is specific to Ontario and will not have any impact on the other MB locations.
We strongly encourage each of you to self-isolate during this closure and monitor for any symptoms. According to the CDC, most people infected with COVID-19 have mild to moderate cold and flu-like symptoms, including:
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Fever
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Cough
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Shortness of breath
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Recent loss of taste or smell
Should you begin to exhibit symptoms, we do encourage that you get tested right away. For a convenient COVID-19 testing site located within Ontario Mills please visit the following link:
https://testbeforeyougo.com/store/simon-mall-covid-19-test-site-196/
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your management team.
Ontario Market Broiler Email: ontario@phi.team
HR Email: hr@phi.team
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding and looking forward to seeing you soon!
3/19/2021
To Our PHI, Market Broiler & Provider Family,
As you may have heard, California has included Food Workers in the Phase 1B vaccination group. California has defined Food service workers as anyone working in the food sector including restaurants, cafeterias, fast food, and convenience stores. Individuals in this group are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Although we are not requiring any employee to receive this vaccine, we want to ensure that you are aware of your eligibility, and understand the requirements, including documentation, necessary to receive the vaccine.
Below you will find on-line county specific information regarding vaccine eligibility and how to make an appointment.
For all counties please be aware that you may have to present proof of eligibility by occupation and residency in the county. Documents you should be ready to present:
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Signed letter from employer on facility letterhead AND a photo ID OR
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Payment stub with your name AND a photo ID
You may obtain a letter from your employer by making an email request to: hr@phi.team. When making your request please specify your work location. You may obtain a copy of your pay stubs online through your Paylocity self service portal.
Riverside County
https://vaccine.riversideca.gov/
Orange County
San Bernardino County
https://sbcovid19.com/vaccine/locations/
Alameda County
https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines
Ventura County
https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/v accine-information/portal/
San Diego County
Los Angeles County
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/
Contact your location Manager or email HR@phi.team if you have any questions.
Thank you
1/26/2021
To My MB Family,
As you may have heard, California lifted the Regional Stay-At-Home Orders yesterday! Because of this, I am elated to announce, we will be reopening all of our restaurants for outdoor dining beginning Monday, February 1!
My hope and prayer is that this is a true turning point for California in the fight against COVID-19. I know so many of us have been impacted by this vicious virus, from a physical, mental, emotional and economical standpoint. The impact has been devastating, but your resilience, hope and patience has been humbling to witness, and I am honored to have each and every one of you be a part of our MB Family!
We will be using the next week to prepare our restaurants to greet you, and our guests, in the safest ways possible. We understand that although the Stay-At-Home Order has been lifted, the risk of COVID-19 remains. We are working to ensure we are providing the safest environment possible, and I can assure you that your safety, and the safety of our guests, remains our top priority.
In the coming days, your management team will be reaching out to you directly, to welcome you back, confirm your availability, and answer any questions that you may have. I encourage you, should you have any questions or concerns, please use this opportunity to speak with your managers. We want to ensure that you are not only comfortable returning to work, but confident in the environment and precautions we are taking.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for your continued trust in my leadership, and commitment to Market Broiler. You are the reason we have fought so hard to keep our doors open during these immensely challenging times. I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you very soon!
Until then, stay safe!
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
1/8/2021
To My MB Family,
First and foremost, I hope this letter finds you, and your family, healthy and safe. As we enter
into 2021, there is a renewed sense of hope. But, along with that hope, is the reality that
although we are starting to see the light, we still find ourselves in the tunnel.
As many of you know, California is experiencing an unprecedented surge in Coronavirus cases.
I hope you will join me in praying for the healthcare professionals, as well as the individuals and
families, who continue to battle this virus.
The current surge has put immense pressure on our healthcare system, and thus has extended
the State’s regional Stay-At-Home order. This Stay-At-Home order requires restaurants to close
both indoor and outdoor dining, and remains in effect until the region’s ICU capacity reaches at
least 15%.
When we closed our restaurants in December, it was my hope we would be reopened within
three to four weeks. However, it is evident now, that not only will we not be permitted to reopen,
it would be simply irresponsible to do so at this time.
Based on what we know today, and the current projections, we are optimistically hoping to
reopen our restaurants by Valentine’s Day. At which point, we will begin reinstating employees
who have been furloughed. However, the situation remains extremely fluid. Timing will remain
dependent on hospitalizations, and any further changes to the State’s restrictions on restaurant
dining. Your safety, and the safety of our guests, continues to be our top priority. Your executive
leadership team and I are working tirelessly to ensure we are ahead of the guidelines, and
prepared to reopen safely, as soon as we are allowed.
These are truly unprecedented times, but, we remain committed to seeing this pandemic
through, and reopening our restaurants when possible and safe.
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
12/23/2020
To My Market Broiler Family,
Once again, we have found ourselves preparing for another holiday that will look so different than what we are used to. We have gone through Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Thanksgiving, all while being impacted by COVID-19. Although these holidays may look different, I hope that you have found the time to hold your loved ones close and cherish the quieter holiday. I find myself with a renewed hope that 2021, will bring with it, the needed relief we have all anticipated since the beginning of this pandemic.
As you may have heard, Congress has passed a $900 billion coronavirus relief plan. The package is set to send direct payments of $600 to most Americans, with families also getting $600 per child.
Additionally, the plan would add a $300 per week federal unemployment insurance supplement through mid-March. The plan would also extend the federal eviction moratorium through Jan. 31. It would put $25 billion into a rental assistance fund, which state and local governments would allocate to people to use for past due and future rent or utilities payments.
And with the vaccine distribution underway, there is light at the end of this tunnel, and hope that we will be able to return to life as normal in the very near future.
As hopeful as I am, I have not lost sight of the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in today. I am continually praying for our entire MB Family, as I realize how impactful this pandemic has been on each of you. From our restaurant closures, to losing loved ones, and dealing with the unique challenges that 2020 brought with it, each of you have shown resiliency and grace.
I am so humbled by your trust in me and our executive leadership team. We hope that we will be able to reopen our outdoor patios soon, and even our dining rooms, when safe. I pray that each of you are able to use this time off as an opportunity to rest and recharge, spending cherished time with your families.
I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Until we are able to come together again, please stay healthy and safe!
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
12/11/2020
Please find below the WARN Letter for your specific company.
December 5, 2020
To Our Market Broiler Family,
It is hard to believe that the majority of this year has been spent dealing with a global pandemic that has continued to impact nearly every aspect of our lives. The restaurant industry in particular has been devastated by the restrictions put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
I want to commend each and every one of you for staying the course with us, continuing to make adjustments, and proving just how resilient the MB Family truly is. The efforts you have made to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are beyond commendable. From donning PPE to serving our guests outdoors, you have taken every update in stride, and I cannot put into words how much I appreciation your dedication.
As many of you know, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that California will begin implementing regional stay-at-home orders, which would go into effect 48 hours after hospital ICU capacity drops below 15%.
On Friday, the Bay Area Health Officers announced that they will start implementing the State’s stay-at-home order almost immediately. Specifically, Alameda County announced that the order will take effect Monday, December 7, 2020 and run through January 4, 2021. It was announced Saturday that the Southern California region’s ICUs had dropped below 15% capacity, and the stay-at-home order will go into effect there as well.
Unfortunately, according to the stay-at-home order, restaurants will only be permitted to operate to-go service. All dining, whether indoors or outdoors, will be banned.
I am gutted to have to announce that this stay-at-home order will require us to temporarily cease foodservice operations at our restaurants once again. As the stay-at-home order goes into effect, locations will only be open a very limited number of hours, and will be staffed solely by the restaurant’s General Manager to sell holiday gift cards and watch over the property.
This would be an especially difficult announcement to make at any time, but there is an undeniably deeper sting knowing that we are in the midst of the Holiday Season.
Please know that your executive leadership team and I grappled with this decision immensely. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, I want you to know that if there was any way for us to stay open, operating to-go only, we would have chosen that route. But the reality is, the risk of staying open far outweighs any reward. Not only is the health risk too high, but temporarily closing our restaurants for now, ensures we will have restaurants to re-open once this is over. If we were to stay open for to-go only, there is a very high probability that our restaurants would not survive.
With this being said, all Market Broiler & MB Grille locations will amend schedules and close at the end of business this Sunday, December 6, 2020.
As always, the health and safety of our team members and guests is our top priority, followed by the drive to survive this pandemic and continue operating our restaurants for another 30 years.
We know that these changes will have a significant impact on you and your family. We want to support you with a list of assistance programs made available through our Human Resources Department as well as additional government support you may qualify for.
Paid Sick Time and Paid Time Off (PTO)
We continue to remind all employees of the importance of staying home when ill. Current Paid Sick Time and PTO programs provide compensation for absences due to illness. Moreover, we have learned the Federal Government may have passed emergency legislation to extend paid sick leave for 14 days. Once we learn of these new benefit requirements we will share that information as soon as possible.
State Support Programs
Under current California Labor code, if you have lost your job or been temporarily laid off, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI). More information on UI and other resources available for workers is available at labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
If you realize a reduction in your hours, or your location has temporarily shut down operations, due to COVID-19, you can file a UI claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers. If your child’s school is closed, and you have to miss work to be there for them, you may also be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Currently, eligible workers can collect UI benefits for the first week they are out of work
Disability Insurance (DI)
If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim which will provide you with benefits for full or partial wage loss. Eligible workers will be able to collect benefits the first week they are off work.
Paid Family Leave (PFL)
If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. Currently, PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to caring for an ill family member.
For the most complete information regarding each program, including instructions on how to apply for benefits, please visit: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm. You may also reach the offices of Human Resources for further information and assistance.
In an effort to continue open communication, we will once again be posting updates on our Team Member Webpage, www.marketbroiler.com/team-member-updates.
Thank you for your continued trust, understanding, and loyalty. I am eternally humbled by our MB Family, and know that we will come out of this stronger than before.
Sincerely,
Rodney Couch,
Founder & CEO
July 8, 2020
To Our MB Family,
I can’t help but smile with pride thinking back over this past week and the resiliency shown by each and every one of you. When faced with another hard blow by Governor Newsom shutting down our dining rooms, rather than closing up and heading home, you rolled up your sleeves, got to work, and built beautiful patios that far exceeded my expectations.
I have such a deep appreciation for all of our team members who are continuing to adapt to this ever-changing environment. From working the pit in a cloth face-covering to serving a completely outdoor “dining room”, what is being asked of you was not in your original job description. And yet, each of you continues to prioritize the health and safety of those around you, and for that I commend you.
I am hopeful that after these most recent dining room closures expire, we will be able to once again serve our guests inside our restaurants. With temperatures rising, outdoor dining may not be the most comfortable for our guests or team members, and so I thank you for your continued dedication and understanding as we navigate these changes.
I want you to know that our commitment to your health and safety has not waivered, and we are committed to doing our very best to stay ahead of the recommendations and best practices for providing a safe working environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your management team.
Thank you again for your resiliency. I could not be more proud of the MB Family.
Rodney Couch,
Founder & CEO
July 2, 2020
To My Dear MB Family,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our Market Broiler dining rooms, due to Governor Newsom’s latest restrictions on dine-in seating. But I am also excited that our locations are adapting once again to this “new normal”, offering patio seating, contactless curbside pick up, family take-out meals, and new batch cocktails to-go.
Our top priority continues to be the health and safety of our team members and guests. We are continuing to closely monitor the current situation at each of our locations, and making adjustments as necessary. We are eager to provide the safest environment possible while keeping our doors open, in accordance with the new county restrictions. Although our dining rooms will be closed, we will still be offering our guests the high quality, fresh seafood that they have come to expect from our Market Broiler locations.
Our Fresh Fish Markets will be open for guests to come and select premium fresh fish and seafood. Our Orange, Ontario, and Fremont locations will welcome guests to dine al-fresco on our patios. Our Huntington Beach and Simi Valley locations will be offering our guests the safety and convenience of contactless curbside pick up, utilizing our new online ordering platform! All locations will be offering our new family take-out meals, along with batch cocktails and wines by the bottle to-go.
These new programs would not be a success without you, our dedicated team members. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to each and every one of you, for staying the course with me. Your trust, loyalty and continued support are truly priceless. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Your management team will be providing specific location updates including scheduling changes. Please reach out to them with any additional questions or concerns.
We will get through this together!
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
June 23, 2020
To My MB Family,
I want to take this opportunity to reach out and thank each of you for returning to service in our restaurants. There is a lot going on in our world and it is fairly easy to allow stress and anxiety to attempt a hostile takeover. I hope you will find comfort in knowing that we as a leadership team are doing everything in our power to keep you safe and be as transparent as possible.
From the start of this pandemic, we have made decisions with your health and safety as our top priority. We have gone to great lengths to mitigate risk as best possible and provide a protected environment for you to work within. These include increased sanitation protocols, supply chain protocols, Personal Protective Equipment, social distancing best practices standards, wellness check-ins, all provide ways to keep each other safe.
We also realize that despite our best efforts, there is still the potential for exposure, and I want to reaffirm that we are taking every potential threat seriously. We are doing our best to investigate and vet each potential case, and will communicate openly and honestly should any case be confirmed. Please know that due to health privacy laws, we are restricted from giving out certain details. However, we will provide the details allowed.
I hope that in our thirty years of service together, you have come to trust in my leadership. I truly have all our of best interest at heart and as such will continue to do my best to provide a safe work environment.
Please reach out to your management team with any questions or concerns that may come up as we navigate through this “new normal” together.
Very Sincerely,
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
June 11, 2020
To My Market Broiler, Provider and PHI Family,
I could not be more excited to announce that all of our Southern California Market Broiler locations will officially reopen on Monday, June 15!
Never in a million years would I have imagined that all of our locations would close for nearly three months, yet here we are. These past few months have been the most challenging I have ever faced as a business owner. Your confidence and trust have been invaluable to me during these uncharted waters. I want you to know every decision we made was based on what was best for our MB, Provider & PHI families. Each and every one of you are the heart and soul of our company and we would not be who we are without you. As our MB locations begin to reopen, I can’t wait to see all of your (properly covered) faces very soon!
I also have great news for those of you who work for our Provider division. I am happy to report each of the clients we serve are motivated to reopen as soon as possible and plan to have residential students and a “new normal” opening for the fall semester.
We are just awaiting an update from Alameda County regarding when our Fremont Market Broiler will be able to reopen. Please know that we are actively working to ensure we can open our doors as soon as permitted.
Thank you again for all of your trust and support.
Very Sincerely,
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
5/20/2020
May 16, 2020
We are very excited to see restaurants in our neighboring states begin to reopen their dining rooms, and are watching them carefully to learn best practices in this “new normal”. We know that California is getting closer to reopening, as our state legislature has started releasing guidelines for many sectors, including in-restaurant dining.
Your management team is back in the restaurants, planning, and organizing to ensure we meet and exceed COVID-19 procedures and guidelines. This includes many facilities changes to accommodate the updates required for reopening, and ensure your safety and well being.
As we prepare for reopening, our HR team has created a Return To Work Questionnaire that should be completed by every employee as soon as possible. The link was sent out to every email on file, as well as posted to HotSchedules and Paylocity. You can also find the link on this webpage below. You will be receiving a subsequent questionnaire regarding your future availability as well. Please take the time to complete both questionnaires, as their completion is necessary prior to returning to work.
Throughout the closures, we have been humbled to have given away nearly 2,000 care packages! We hope these care packages have been a blessing to those who have received them and we will continue to share updates, including care package giveaways, on this page.
We are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to reopen our businesses, and are excited to launch with many improvements including mobile ordering! We will share more details as we get closer to a reopening date.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and from the entire leadership team, we can’t wait to welcome you back to work soon.
Stay Safe & Well,
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
May 13, 2020
Return to Work Questionnaire
As we prepare for the re-opening of our restaurants we ask that you please click on the following link: Return to Work to complete a short questionnaire. Your response is required if you wish to be considered to return. All responses must be submitted by 5pm on May 20, 2020.
Please submit only one response.
Thank you
May 6, 2020
I want to personally thank each of you for your trust and patience as we continue to navigate this “new normal”. As California begins to transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the Governor’s four-phased approach to reopening, we are eagerly awaiting a timeline regarding when full-service restaurants will be allowed to reopen. We hope to receive more information from the Governor and local leaders later this week.
While we wait, we are proactively working on plans to ensure we are providing you with a safe environment when we reopen. One-time use, disposable menus, social distancing signage, and new sanitation procedures are just a few of the changes we have already begun to implement as we begin to prepare for reopening. I want to assure you that your health and safety, along with the health and safety of our guests, will continue to be our number one priority.
I am happy to announce that the fourth WECare Package pick up will be happening this Friday, May 8! Your managers will be reaching out directly with more information on the location and pick up times. I truly hope these packages are a blessing to you and your family during these challenging times.
Lastly, I would like to personally say Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mothers who are a part of our company. I hope all of us, whether together or apart, are able to make the mothers in our lives feel special and loved this weekend.
Stay healthy and I hope to reach out to you with more details very soon!
God Bless,
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
April 29, 2020
I hope each of you are staying safe and well as we continue to wait for the approval to re-open our locations and serve our wonderful guests again.
I have been humbled by the outpouring of support from our MB Community. As our guests began to reach out to see how they could support you, the team members that our guests know and love, we looked for a way that would allow them to support our MBCares program. As your leadership team and I brainstormed ideas, we came across an opportunity to sell a limited edition MBCares T-Shirt, with all proceeds benefiting the MBCares Program.
Since launching last week we have sold nearly 175 MBCares shirts! With 5 more days left of the sale, we hope to sell over 200 shirts!
Now we need your help! Once we re-open, when a guest comes in wearing one of these shirts, we hope you as the beneficiaries of the Wecare program, will make every effort to thank that individual for their generosity and support during the pandemic. We as a company will be offering special “thank you gifts” to these guests, but we know a thank you from each of you will be even more special to these supporters.
Also, if any of you, your family, and friends are interested in a limited edition shirt, feel free to share the link below with them. We will also welcome any team members to wear this shirt during their shift for a limited time after we re-open, more details to follow on that!
Continue to stay healthy and well!
Rodney Couch
CEO & Founder
April 22, 2020
Two months into the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope you share my view that along with the sun and warmer weather, we are beginning to see glimmers of good news on the horizon. Even as we mourn the tragic human and economic impact, I am optimistic that the worse is behind us, and we will soon begin the journey back to a semblance of normalcy for our families and communities. For our MB Family that will mean reopening our doors once again to our wonderful guests. I am working with your leadership team to ensure when we get the approval to open, we have taken extraordinary measures to ensure our team members and guests will remain safe and well. I can assure you your health and safety are of utmost importance to me.
I am also excited to continue our MB Cares program, with another care package pick up event this Friday, April 24th. Your managers will be reaching out today and tomorrow to share the details with each of you. I hope these packages provide some relief and support to you and your families during these extremely challenging times.
Thank you for your continued trust and confidence, I look forward to greeting you all soon at our locations’ Grand Reopenings! Until then, stay healthy and safe.
Rodney Couch
Founder & CEO
4/17/2020
Perhaps inspired by the welcome warmer weather, this week we shift our focus to what’s next for us. Inevitably this will end and people will be allowed to sit down in a restaurant again. When that is and what that looks like is still up in the air, but it will happen. At that time our restaurants will emerge ready to create an environment both for guests and employees that is unique and memorable as there will be a new found appreciation for going out with friends and loved ones and enjoying life.
You all, as our employees, play a critical role in the success of our return. Undoubtedly that return may include changes in our customary practices of providing service. Trust that your management team will equip you with the necessary tools and training to get back to doing what you do best – delivering superior service every guest, every meal, every time!
Continue to check in with us weekly on our websites and Paylocity for any updates. Information regarding the next scheduled WEcare Package Pick-up will be posted early next week. As always, should you have any questions or need any assistance don’t hesitate to reach us at HR@phi.team.
Stay safe and stay healthy!
4/10/2020
To My PHI, Provider & Market Broiler Family,
Although Easter is always a symbol of restoration and renewal, my hope is that this Easter Season provides each of you with hope for a brighter tomorrow and the promise that we will get through these challenging times.
The hospitality industry is notorious for requiring so many nights, weekends and holidays away from those we love, and it is through these times we are reminded of what truly matters. Time with our loved ones is such a precious gift, and I hope each of you are able to spend quality time with your family this season, remembering what this holiday truly celebrates.
Happy Easter, I am looking forward to working with each of you again soon.
God Bless,
Rodney Couch
Founder
4/9/2020
To our PHI, Provider, and Market Broiler Family
Its been about three weeks since the closure of our restaurants and by now we are all slowly adjusting to a different way of life. We are thinking of you all and we strive to remain in communication with you through the weeks to help provide you with information as things continue to quickly develop.
The office of Human Resources is receiving daily correspondence regarding each Unemployment Claim that is filed. Trust that we are promptly responding to each claim so as to do our part in ensuring benefits are not unnecessarily delayed. Should you have any questions or need assistance with your claim do not hesitate to reach out to Human Resources at HR@phi.team.
Please be reminded that tomorrow, April 10th, is our second distribution of WEcare Care Packages. Detailed information regarding location and pick up times has been previously distributed on Paylocity and the Market Broiler and Provider websites.
We hope you have a splendid Easter with your immediate family!
4/9/2020
4/1/2020
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
By now you may all be familiar with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and its Emergency Paid Leave and expanded Family Medical Leave provisions, signed into law on March 18, 2020.
Upon its initial passing we worked to quickly become familiar with the details of the law to ensure we can continue to provide you with the most current and accurate information. FFCRA and its provisions are applicable to employers who employ less than 500 employees. The law provides benefits for employees who are off work due to specified COVID19 related circumstances (which do not include furloughs or business closures).
As we have gained more knowledge about the new law we have learned that each Market Broiler, along with Provider Contract Food Services Inc and Preferred Hospitality, in the aggregate, currently exceeds the 500 employee maximum threshold specified in FFCRA. This means that Preferred Hospitality, Provider Contract Food Service, and each Market Broiler are not subject to FFCRA and no employee in any of these groups is currently able to request benefits under FFCRA.
Please know that while you may not be able to request such benefits, you still can, and should, apply for Unemployment Benefits, which have been expanded due to recently passed legislation to provide for a weekly payment of $600 in addition to your state weekly unemployment payment.
For the most up to date information on Unemployment benefits and how to file your claim please visit the Employment Development Department (EDD) at: https://edd.ca.gov/claims.htm
Thank You
3/26/2020
Please find below the FFCRA Poster.
3/25/2020
To My Market Broiler Family,
I hope this note finds you healthy, home (as much as possible) and well. I want to assure you that your leadership team and I are working tirelessly so that as soon as we are given approval from Federal, State and local governments, that it is safe to reopen our doors, we are ready! My personal goal is to get each and every team member back to full operation as soon as possible. Obviously, due to the Coronavirus and the crisis that has engulfed not only our company, but our entire industry, and the world, there will be challenges. But I am confident that we will face those challenges together with the resiliency and determination that has gotten us through the last thirty years.
I also want you to know that we as an organization are coming together to develop support programs for you during these difficult times. It is from these meetings that our WEcare program was born, and we hope that through this program we are able to continue to bless and support you until we are back together again.
I am humbled to announce that our inaugural WEcare event will happen this Friday, where we will be giving away over 500 WEcare care packages! Our management team is in the process of reaching out to each and every team member to ensure we have enough packages for everyone who requests one. We hope this small gesture will provide you and your family some relief and comfort during these difficult times.
It is my hope that we are able to announce more opportunities like this one very soon! Please continue to check this site for the most up to date information.
Stay healthy and well!
God Bless,
Rodney Couch
Founder
3/20/2020
Please find below the WARN Letter for your specific company.
3/19/2020
Today, based on what we know at this time:
The Senate has passed a bill and at this time we only have access to the press released information - without the actual law itself, we are unable to field questions in regards to the specific benefits you may qualify for - as soon as we get the formal letter we will be in a position to ascertain what additional benefits will be available to you.
Please continue to access this site for the latest information.
3/16/2020
To our PHI, Provider, and Market Broiler Family,
I want to personally thank each and every one of you for the valiant effort you have made as we all do our part to help stifle the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). You have demonstrated the dedication and commitment that makes this company so great. I know each of you understands the fluidity of the situation and I am so grateful for your flexibility as our company makes adjustments to protect the health, safety and overall wellness of our team members and guests.
Although fear can be overwhelming, I want to remind us all that our nation is resilient and I know that we will unite together, leaning from one another, in order to get through this challenging time.
I have been in constant communication with our executive leaders, and together we have stayed abreast of the many changes, requirements, and guidance provided by the CDC, WHO, our educational partners and local Public Health Authorities. These updates have included removing self-service stations at our educational dining facilities, as well as reducing the seating capacity of our dine-in retail restaurants.
As the nation grapples with the effort to contain the coronavirus, the hospitality and dining industry have been challenged, and our company is no different. Business demand has decreased significantly, and because of this we have had to make very difficult decisions regarding scheduling and location operations. We know that these changes may have a significant impact on you and your families, and we want to support you with a list of assistance programs made available through our Human Resources Department as well as additional government support you may qualify for.
Paid Sick Time and Paid Time Off (PTO)
We continue to remind all employees of the importance of staying home when ill. Current Paid Sick Time and PTO programs provide compensation for absences due to illness. Please see your manager if you have exhausted your sick pay/pto for possible extension. Moreover, we have just learned the Federal Government may have passed emergency legislation to extend paid sick leave for 14 days. Once we learn of these new benefit requirements we will share that information as soon as possible.
State Support Programs
Under current California Labor code if you have lost your job or been temporarily laid off, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI). More information on UI and other resources available for workers is available at labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
If you realize a reduction in your hours, or your location has temporarily shut down operations, due to COVID-19, you can file a UI claim. UI provides partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers. If your child’s school is closed, and you have to miss work to be there for them, you may also be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Currently, eligible workers can collect UI benefits for the first week they are out of work
Disability Insurance (DI)
If you’re unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 you can file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim which will provide you with benefits for full or partial wage loss. Eligible workers will be able to collect benefits the first week they are off work.
Paid Family Leave (PFL)
If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. Currently, PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to caring for an ill family member.
For the most complete information regarding each program, including instructions on how to apply for benefits, please visit: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm. You may also reach the offices of Human Resources for further information and assistance.
Going forward, our team member updates will be posted on our websites. Please find the links below, to check on the most up to date status of the situation regarding your company.
www.marketbroiler.com/team-member-updates
www.providerfoodservice.com/team
I hope you will join me in praying for all those working diligently to keep our nation safe. From our President and government leaders to the frontline responders and healthcare professionals working around the clock. We also want to keep all of those who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in our hearts and prayers.
It is in these challenging times that our great nation comes together to support one another, and in this, I find comfort and hope.
Sincerely,
Rodney Couch
Founder
3/14/2020
Dear Market Broiler, Provider & PHI Families,
When I started this company thirty years ago, I tried to imagine every possible hurdle. Yet over the last week, I have learned that there are some things for which the playbook has not yet been written.
The safety of our customers and you, our valued team members is, and will always be, my top priority. We are working hard and taking measures to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), while also maintaining our best-in-class dining experiences.
We have activated our entire leadership team to “Flu Season High Alert Protocol” with steps including increased cleaning and sanitizing of all locations, employee wellness checks prior to the start of every shift and increased hand sanitizer stations available to our employees and guests.
We want to remind all employees of the importance of staying home when ill, as well as practicing the highest level of personal hygiene. Our Paid Sick Time and PTO programs provide compensation for absences due to illness. If you have used up your Sick Pay/ PTO, see your manager for a possible extension.
We understand that many of you may be dealing with new challenges such as child care demands due to unexpected school closings and supporting elderly family members. Our Human Resources department will be sending a separate letter with a variety of assistance programs listed.
We are so thankful that, at this time, there are no reported cases of COVID-19 affecting any of our employees. We'll continue to share information as it becomes available and do our best to keep you informed about what we are doing as a company and how best to prevent the spread of the virus. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your immediate Manager for additional details.
We want you to know how much we appreciate your flexibility and commitment. We're here for you, and we'll get through this together – just as we always do.
Rodney Couch, Founder