Monday, November 23, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-23-2020: Thankful


2020 has certainly been a year like no other. People are sick and dying. Hospitals are filling up. Our essential workers are stressed and tired.

I'm tired, too. Part of what's making me tired is continuing to hear people complain about "2020" when we have so much for which to be thankful.

Here's my list of everything for which I have been and continue to be thankful during the pandemic.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-20-2020: The 12th nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … bad bettor


Do you remember that scene from The Deer Hunter where Christopher Walken plays Russian roulette in a betting parlor, while the patrons place bets on whether he'll live or die with every pull of the revolver's trigger? That's what I thought of as I read the allegations in Fernandez v. Tyson Foods, and not in a good way.

According to the lawsuit, while COVID-19 was running rampant through Tyson's Waterloo, Iowa, facility, the Plant Manager "organized a cash buy-in, winner-take-all betting pool for supervisors and managers to wager how many employees would test positive for COVID-19."

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-19-2020: Cuyahoga County issues four-week stay-at-home advisory


Yesterday afternoon, Cuyahoga County, Ohio's largest, issued a four-week stay-at-home advisory. It took effect immediately, and is in addition to the 21-day 10 pm – 5 am statewide curfew Governor DeWine implemented yesterday and which takes effect tonight. 

Let's examine why it was issued, what is says, and what it means for your business.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-18-2020: WFHH (work from home harassment)


For last night's dinner, I decided to use the leftover meatballs from the prior night's spaghetti dinner to make meatball subs. The only problem? No hoagie rolls, which led to the following conversation with my wife:
Me: I need to stop and get buns for dinner.

Her: Ooh, will you toast them?

Me: I'll toast your buns alright.

Her: That's sexual harassment!

Me: Take it up with HR.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-17-2020: Retaliation under the FFCRA is as illegal as is retaliation under any other employment statute


MaryJo Delaney is suing her former employer after it demoted her from her management position following her return from a Covid-related layoff, for which she had volunteered so that she could stay at home with her 9-year-old son whose school was closed.

Monday, November 16, 2020

The 11th nominee for the “worst employer of 2020” is … the horrific human traffickers


Today's nominee for the Worst Employer of 2020 is beyond description. NBC Bay Area provides the details:
A Gilroy couple has been charged with human trafficking after forcing a man to work 15-hour shifts seven days a week for no pay at their liquor store and then locking him inside the store overnight, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said Monday.

Friday, November 13, 2020

Coronavirus Update 11-13-2020: Closing restaurants and bars is NOT the solution to fixing the spread of COVID-19


During his most recent scolding of Ohio's citizens, Governor DeWine threatened to close restaurants and bars if the state's Covid numbers don't quickly improve. He figures if people can't behave responsibly he'll close the places they are mass-congregating to slow the spread. 


His approach is wrong and dangerous.