Jonathan A. Segal is a partner at Duane Morris LLP in the Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group . He is also the managing principal of the Duane Morris Institute . The Duane Morris Institute provides training for human resource professionals, in house counsel, benefits administrators and managers at Duane Morris, at client sites and by way of webinar on myriad employment, labor, benefits and immigration matters. Read Jonathan's blog at the Duane Morris Institute or follow him on Twitter @Jonathan_HR_Law .
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) redefined “close contact” for purposes of potential higher risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Until yesterday, the CDC had defined closed contact generally as 15 consecutive minutes within six (6) feet of someone who having (or suspected as having) COVID-19. The operative word for this blog is “consecutive.”
When the pandemic first hit hard in the United States—a lifetime ago, early March—we focused on travel from China, then South Korea, then Italy and so on. Our focus was on the quarantine of employees who had engaged in international travel.
If you want to avoid a painful and unproductive July 6, read this:
For many of us, pets are part of the family. In the era of COVID-19, the centrality of pets to many of lives has become even greater.
Our pets have helped many of us through a hard day. This weekend we need to protect them.
Of course, I am talking about fireworks. Simply put, they terrorize many animals.
Most employers are engaging in some sort of screening for COVID-19 before an employee can enter the workplace.
In some jurisdictions, the screening is required by law. Even where not required by law, most employers have some screening program to mitigate the risk of infection (and liability).
“Don’t be afraid.”
The leader who says this to an employee either is very much afraid or lacks even a scintilla of empathy. In either case, the statement (or response) is so bad.
First, it is remarkably disrespectful. Don’t tell people how to feel!
We all know that the initial purpose of Valentine’s Day was for individuals to express their love to those whom they love in a non-platonic way. I was tempted to say romantic, but I once had a manager deny there was any romantic relationship because “it was only sex.”
One of the many conventional wisdoms in HR is that it is important to increase the diversity of the applicant pool by posting positions and recruiting externally. I could not agree more, except when I disagree.
Let’s look at the case of the vacant Marketing Director position of Company ABC. Renee is a Vice President of Marketing and wants to promote Alexa into the vacant position.
This week is suicide prevention week. The problem is much more serious than many realize.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports, in 2017:
When I used to eat meat, my favorite food was a hamburger (with French fries). I don’t think I would have been as enthusiastic if I had to order chopped cow.
I had dinner with someone eating sushi. I asked them if they would enjoy it as much if they had ordered raw fish. I owe them a dinner.
If you want to avoid excessive absenteeism on July 6, read this:
Fireworks on July 4 terrorize animals.
Every year, pets (particularly, but not only, dogs) left outside run away. Some are killed by cars. Others end up in shelters with uncertain fates.
Please keep your pets inside during fireworks. Consider putting in a room with shades closed, soft music, favorite food, etc.
Some suggestions for staying out of trouble as you have fun at the 2019 SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition (#SHRM19) in Las Vegas:
Connecting
Want to connect with someone?
Make sure you talk about meeting up, not hooking up.
Less you wish to be the subject of a “metoo” claim.
Extracurricular activities
Every year, I write a blog for SHRM on Holocaust Remembrance.
This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) is next week on May 2, 2019.
This year, we are posting the blog early. Reason: so HR has time to consider some sort of Holocaust commemoration.
Let’s take a journey back to the Flintstones in Bedrock. Think of the Grand Poobah (without putting on your hat).
Now, no reasonable leader would ever refer to themselves as an employee’s Grand Poobah. Actually, some do much worse.
Marla: “Did you know that Sally is sleeping with Gregg?”
Todd: “I heard that. How long has this been going on?”
Marla: “Not sure. Jeff?”
Jeff: “I have no idea but I do know they are a couple.”
Karen: “No kidding. Have you noticed how Sally recently is going on business trips with Gregg for no business reason.”
Jeff: “It depends on how you define business.”
We are approaching Valentine’s Day and the risks that go with it.
Of course, everyone should know that it is inappropriate to send a card with a sexual or suggestive message. This is particularly problematic where there is a power disparity, but it is not limited to such occasions.
Effective December 31, 2018, the minimum salaries to be exempt from overtime under New York State law under the executive and administrative exemptions were increased to the following amounts:
For many years, around the holiday season, I have written cautionary tales from “The Jewish Guy Who Wear A Chai.” Chai is the number 18 in Hebrew and means life.
This year, I was reluctant to use the title. For the first time in a long time, I have been the target of antisemitism. Then, there was the massacre of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue.
Important reminder that, effective today, October 15, 2018, under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), employers must engage in a “cooperative dialogue” with applicants or employees in New York City with regard to reasonable accommodations in four (4) circumstances. More specifically, an employer must engage in the “cooperative dialogue” with:
