Coronavirus Update 8-21-2020: Back to school

Today is my kids' first day of school. Not virtual school. Not distanced learning. Not a hybrid model. In-person school. I just returned home from dropping them off for their respective first day of high school and middle school.

We are blessed to have the resources to send our kids to small, independent private school that is uniquely positioned to open for full-time in person learning in the midst of a pandemic. With approximately 400 students in the entire school across grades K-12, class sizes are already naturally small. With a 93-acre campus, many classes will be held outside. With no cafeteria, lunch time is greatly simplified. It's the perfect school to educate in-person while we live with COVID-19. And it has a great plan to keep my kids, the rest of the students, and its faculty and staff as healthy and safe as reasonably possible.

BLM vs. MAGA at work

Depending on your political perspective, Goodyear is either being praised or criticized after this slide from diversity training at its Topeka, Kansas, plant went viral.

BLM or LGBT messages on clothing okay; MAGA, Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, or other political symbols not okay.

Coronavirus Update 8-19-2020: Government watchdog says OSHA whistleblower claims up, investigations down during pandemic

According to a report released yesterday by the Office of Inspector General, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has been flooded with complaints by employees that their employers retaliated against them for making virus-related complaints. Yet, because of staffing shortages within OSHA's whistleblower protection program, the agency has been severely hampered in its ability to promptly investigate claims, resulting in significant investigatory delays.

Coronavirus Update 8-18-2020: Phishing attacks are yet another COVID-19 issue that needs to be on your radar

According to the Detroit Free Press, cybercriminals are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to try to access people's computers and steal their data.

The scheme? 

Coronavirus Update 8-17-2020: COVID-19 and protected concerted activity

Let's suppose you're a health care organization that terminates an employee after the employee refuses to wear a shared isolation gown and after the employee starts a group discussion with co-workers about the risks and dangers of shared gowns.

If that employee files an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the termination unlawfully violate his right to engage in protected concerted activity under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, do you win or lose the case?

Coronavirus Update 8-14-2020: Just call me Bob Villa

If you would have told me six months ago that I'd spend my summer building useful things out of wood, I'd have asked if you were drunk or high. But, 2020. So, after successfully conquering a dog house, my wife and I decided to tackle chairs for our new deck.

Fifteen days from now we will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. Colleen brought it my attention that the traditional 17th anniversary gift is furniture. Why not spend a weekend of togetherness building some?

Coronavirus Update 8-13-2020: The 7th nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … the no-mask mandator

Meet Billy Woods, the sheriff of Marion County, Florida. He loves youth ranches and senior services, and hates face masks.

Earlier this week, Sheriff Woods prohibited his approximately 900 employees from wearing masks or facial coverings while on duty. The Ocala StarBanner quotes the email he sent to his employees, "[W]hen you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office – masks will not be worn." (His directive also includes anyone entering any of his buildings.) 

In the meantime, central Florida is among the hottest of COVID-19 hot spots, and on the same day Sheriff Woods sent his email, Marion County hit its high for the number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day.