The International Franchise Association (IFA) and members of the Franchise Action Network are urging Congress to take immediate steps to provide certain temporary and targeted protections to America’s small businesses that are navigating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in their local communities.
Franchise businesses are currently preparing their employees, management teams, facilities, equipment, products, and services as the nation’s economy gets set to re-open. The IFA stated they are concerned about efforts by trial lawyers to file unfounded lawsuits against small businesses, alleging that customers or employees were infected with COVID-19 because of the nation’s essential critical infrastructure businesses that kept operating. IFA has launched a petition to protect franchise small businesses.
“Given the historical efforts of Congress and the Administration to provide the necessary liquidity to franchise businesses so they can stay afloat during these critical days, it would be devastating to have these same employers facing a series of unjust lawsuits upon re-opening,” says IFA officials.
Through the petition, The IFA is asking Congress to serve and protect small businesses by enacting reasonable “Good Samaritan” legal protections as the country gradually returns to work.
To view the letter that will be sent to members of Congress, please click here.