MORRIS COUNTY — Valuable services and resources designed to support business recovery for employers as they adapt operations and readjust their workplaces to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic are being offered by the Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Development Board.

The board can advise help businesses on finding employees with unique skills, covering costs of employee training, re-tooling your workplace, and other important items.

The Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Development Board is responsible for planning, policy guidance, and oversight of the workforce development system in the three-county region of Northwest New Jersey.

For information on services, contact Beth Rodgers, Associate Director of Business Services at (973) 631-5145 or brodgers@co.morris.nj.us

REMOTE BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

WHERE CAN I FIND EMPLOYEES WITH SPECIAL SKILLS?

Recruitment and Hiring Initiatives
Virtual meetings to discuss business needs
Assistance with job posting and talent search- local, state, and national labor market exchange, click here.
Recruitment & marketing events to jobseekers
Virtual Job Fairs – Promotion to jobseekers

CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THE COSTS OF HIRING?

On-the-Job Training(OJT)

Partially Paid Salaries

To help cover the costs of OJT training for new hires. We’ll reimburse you up to 50% of the salary for up to six months

CAN YOU HELP ME WTH  COSTS FOR TRAINING MY EMPLOYEES?

Training/Re-tooling
Funding is available to support training

Existing Employees
Initiatives for upskilling/cross-training
Growth and competitiveness

WHAT ELSE MIGHT STRENGTHEN MY WORKFORCE?

Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Receive a federal tax credit to hire employees with employment barriers including, but not limited to, the disabled, certain veterans, and general assistance recipients.

Other support services:

New Jersey Career Connections: Comprehensive support for employers and job seekers. Click here

Employers in critical industries should submit information about openings with urgent hiring needs related to COVID19 by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 181, which permits gyms and health clubs, as well as amusement and water parks, to reopen their indoor premises to the public on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 a.m., provided these facilities comply with the health and safety standards issued by the Department of Health.

“Gyms are among the most challenging indoor environments to prevent the transmission of COVID-19,” said Governor Murphy. “Given where we are in this fight and the overwhelming personal responsibility demonstrated by gym owners and gym members over the past several months, we can confidently take this important step on our road back.”

“Exercise is very important for the body and the mind, but it needs to be done in a healthy environment to protect not only those in the facility but the community at large,“ said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. “Given the potential for transmission indoors, this guidance provides strict guidelines for staff and customers to follow closely to stay healthy while enjoying their workout or class.”

Under the Department of Health’s Executive Directive, gyms and health clubs who reopen will be required to adhere to the health and safety standards listed in the “Guidance for Health Clubs/Gyms/Fitness Centers”. These standards, which will also apply to other recreational businesses that offer fitness classes and activities, include the following, among others:

• Limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 25 percent of the stated maximum capacity;
• Conduct a temperature screening and questionnaire of staff and clients upon entrance to the facility;
• Limit indoor group activities (e.g., classes) to no more than 1 individual per 200 square feet of accessible space or less, with all individuals being able to maintain 6 feet of distance from other individuals during the entire class;
• Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings at all times, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health, such as when in the water and in other situations where the presence of a mask would pose a risk to the individual’s health, or where the individual is under two years of age;
• Demarcate six feet of distance between equipment, or blocking off equipment (e.g. every other machine) to maintain six feet of distancing between individuals using equipment;
• Require that reservations, cancellations, and pre-payments be made via electronic or telephone reservation systems to limit physical interactions;
• Limit occupancy in restrooms to avoid over-crowding;
• Inform clients to arrive dressed to workout/train and bring their own hand towel, water, yoga mat, boxing gloves, and any other equipment;
• Not permit the use of showers, with the exception of gyms with pools, which can have individually partitioned showers or communal showers with installed barriers/partitions at least six feet apart;
• Limit locker room use to hand washing and restroom use only; and
• >Adopt infection control practices and enhanced sanitization protocols.

Activities such as swimming in an indoor pool, tanning, outdoor dining, pick-up of food or beverage, and retail sales, which are otherwise permitted but which are not governed by the guidance, remain subject to applicable standards outlined in Executive Orders, Executive Directives and guidance.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 181, please click here.

For a copy of the Department of Health’s Executive Directive, please click here.

For a copy of the Department of Health’s Guidance for Health Clubs/Gyms/Fitness Centers, please click here.