Coronavirus: Updates For WKS Team Members
last updated 11/13/2020

Frequently Asked Questions

Face Coverings

The company provides comfortable, reusable face coverings for all employees. If a restaurant or District is running low on face coverings, orders for face coverings should be generated by the Brand Leader and should include a count of the masks needed for multiple stores within the District. The Brand Leader can order face coverings by sending an e-mail to Chris Magana at Christopher.magana@wksusa.com. The e-mail should contain (1) the number of face coverings needed. The Risk Management Department will identify the appropriate face covering by brand and will have the coverings shipped to the Brand Leader within ten (1) days.

What if I am unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition?

Your doctor can provide you with an exemption to the mask mandate and the company will consider a request from you to make an accommodation on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions will not allow employers to make the accommodation. In those cases, you would likely be furloughed until you can return to work and don a mask or the jurisdiction changes its requirements.

What if a restaurant needs plastic shields repaired or replaced?

The restaurant should contact the District Leader and make a request. The District Leader will contact the Facilities Department and coordinate the replacement or repair.

Will we be required to take our temperature at work?

The requirement for temperature checks will be determined by the State or local Health Department with authority to make the determination. The company provided all of the restaurants in a jurisdiction that requires the infrared, thermometers with a supply of the devices. Should a restaurant require a new device, a request should be made by sending an e- mail to Christopher.magana@wksusa.com. The number of devices needed should be included in the e-mail.

Someone I know has Covid-19 or has been in contact with someone with Covid-19, should I go to work?

It depends upon the nature of the “contact.” If an employee has been in close contact with a person that tested positive for COVID-19 the employee may be permitted to continue to work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community. Should the employee develop symptoms, they must report it immediately to their supervisor and begin a period of self-quarantine. The period of self-quarantine should be a total of 14 days depending upon the last close contact with the infected person. For example, if an employee last had contact with an infected person three (3) days ago, they should self-quarantine for a period of eleven (11) days to meet the 14-day quarantine requirement.

My restaurant is completely closed, how will I know when it is going to open?

You will be contacted by your manager, who will let you know when we expect the restaurant to reopen and when you can return to work.  Your manager will provide you with a high-level overview of what your restaurant’s “new normal” will be, including but not limited to hours of operation, schedule expectations, screening protocols and cleaning routines.

I haven’t been working because my restaurant is completely closed, how much time will I have before it opens to arrange my schedule?

That will depend on how much notice we receive from state or local jurisdictions about being able to reopen or reopen dining rooms.  We want to provide as much notice to team members as possible, but it may be that we only have 24 hours’ notice before we reopen and need to staff the restaurants. We will do what we can to be flexible in scheduling because we understand that team members may need to arrange for child or family care or take care of other issues before they are ready to return to work.

What should we do if guests are not following local rules regarding social distancing, the wearing of masks, etc.?

Remind the guest that the local health department requires that they wear a mask while on the premises.  However, it is not your responsibility to enforce the order beyond the reminder to the guest.  If the guest refuses to don a mask after your reminder, their non-compliance with the law is their responsibility.  Unless given directions by your leader to the contrary, do not ask the guest to leave the restaurant for failure to wear a mask.  As long as physical distancing is maintained, and your employees are complying with the mask order, it is highly unlikely your employees can be infected by the non-compliant guest.

Other restaurants near mine are opening dining rooms, can we?

Dining room reopenings will depend upon the governmental orders issued by State and local officials.  Every state is drafting and distributing a phased plan for reopening their economies.  A restaurant reopening will depend upon the timeline for each phase and the criteria we must meet for reopening a dining room.  Your brand leader will know what the reopening criteria are and approximately when we will be able to reopen your restaurant.

I am not comfortable returning to work at this time, even though my restaurant is reopening or there are hours available to me. What will happen to me/my job?

We understand that you may choose not to return to work at this time.  You will remain on furlough/leave of absence for the time being.  The hours that were offered to you will be offered to other team members. Please stay in touch with us about when you are ready to return to work. When you are ready, we will do what we can, but we cannot guarantee that the same hours will be available for you.  Finally, you should be aware that your failure to return to work at this time could impact your eligibility for continued unemployment benefits as we may be required to report to the state that you declined available work.

I am over age 65 or have an underlying health condition and that is why I cannot or do not want to return to work, what will happen to me/my job?

At-risk team members (those over 65 years old or with underlying health conditions) do not need to return as requested at this time. You may remain on furlough/leave of absence, but should communicate with management about your ability to return to work. When ready to return, we may need to request medical documentation clearing you to return to work.

How can I watch old videos posted on this site?

View a playlist of all previously posted WKS Coronavirus videos on our YouTube channel.

What should I do if someone in my family is feeling sick, but I feel fine?

• If you have been exposed to someone who is sick but has not tested positive for Coronavirus you can continue to work as long as you are not sick.
• If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus, you should self-quarantine for 14 days and wait to see if you develop symptoms.
  • If you do not develop symptoms, you can return to work.
  • If you do develop symptoms, you should be tested for Coronavirus and self-quarantine.

How is my 401(k) impacted by Coronavirus?

CARES Act WKS 401(k) Plan Updates

As part of the CARES Act, team members who participate in the WKS 401(k) Plan and who have financial concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis can take advantage of certain flexibility in dealing with their 401(k) accounts.  These include the following:

• Receive Coronavirus-related distributions;
• Increased loan limits;
• One-year extension of existing loan payments;
  • If interested in this option, please review the FAQs below and complete this Certification form ; and
• Waive (not take) 2020 required minimum distributions (RMD).

For additional information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from our 401(k) provider, TRI-AD, which can be found here. 

What is happening with my medical benefits?

The company will do everything it can to keep medical benefits active for as long as possible. You are still responsible to pay your portion of your premiums, currently deducted from your paychecks. Like we do for anyone on a leave of absence, we will provide information about payment of those premiums when due.

Please note that April benefit premiums have already been paid through payroll deductions. To the extent that premiums due to the medical carriers while you are on furlough are advanced by the company in your absence, to continue your coverage, your applicable deductions will be due from future pay periods following your return to work.

Additional questions about benefits can be sent to benefits@wksusa.com.

My location was temporarily closed, when will it be open again?

Based on the current situation, we cannot sure how long this furlough will last. We will continually monitor and assess the situation and will be in contact with you as soon as we can reopen the restaurant and have work to offer you. Our best “guess” at this time is that the restaurant will be closed between 3 and 8 weeks, but we are highly motivated to reopen the restaurant as soon as possible!

Is there anything else I can do to make some money?

Yes! If you would like to continue supporting the restaurant industry and supplement your income, you can sign up to become a delivery driver with some of our partners.

• Many companies are hiring for temp positions across the country
• DoorDash – Offering additional help to expedite onboarding of restaurant workers
• Postmates
• UberEats

Are there any other resources for financial or other assistance?

Many states are providing financial relief above and beyond what is normally available. Here are a list of resources provided by state.

Some additional resources can be found here: Download a PDF of helpful resources.

WKS also has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If you are experiencing unusual stress or anxiety or need to find resources, especially without leaving your home, consider reaching out to the EAP, which is provided by WKS at no cost to you. The EAP can be reached 24/7 via phone at (800) 538-3543 or on the web at cignalap.com. Download fliers in English and Spanish for more information.

Have any funds been setup to help?

The National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has created the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to provide grants to restaurant industry employees who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 financially, either through a decrease in wages or loss of employment.

Applications will open April 2, and each approved grant is $500, limited to one per person. Funds will be available for restaurant employees who can demonstrate that they:

• Worked on a part- or full-time basis in the restaurant industry for at least 90 days in the past year
• Have had a primary source of income in the restaurant industry for the last year
• Have experienced a decrease in wages or loss of job on or after March 10, 2020
• Live in the United States, an overseas U.S. military base, or any U.S. territory
• Are over the age of legal majority in their U.S. state or territory

Visit the NRAEF website (https://rerf.us/apply-for-aid/) for more information about the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund and how team members can apply.

Still have questions?

If you still have questions or need clarification on any of the above details, please send an email to People Services: ps@wksusa.com.

State Resources

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

Oregon

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Wisconsin