OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare Settings
Earlier today (June 10, 2021), OSHA issued COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) Subpart U applicable to healthcare settings. While OSHA has indicated that future guidance may be provided for other industries, today’s guidance is limited to the healthcare setting. The first question: Does the ETS apply to your organization...
Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Forms
As many readers know, on May 28, 2021, An Act Providing for Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave was passed. The Act creates a fund for the Commonwealth to reimburse eligible employers who provide employees with COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave. This statute provides that between May 28, 2021...
This Week's Show: Change Leadership
On Saturday, June 5, Tawny interviewed Mary Axelsen, WeMaax Consulting Founder & CEO, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Mary discuss CARE Change Framework and the work that WeMaax Consulting does in the Change Leadership arena. Mary comes with 20 years of experience...
This Week's Show: Navigating the Medical Minefield Today
On Saturday, June 5, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Dr. Shantanu Nundy , Chief Medical Officer of Accolade, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Dr. Nundy discuss how to navigate the medical minefield of today. Shantanu is a physician, entrepreneur...
Public Accommodation Laws and Vaccination Inquiries
Last week, the EEOC provided updated COVID-19 guidance to employers on vaccines and vaccine incentives in the employment realm. One area, however, in which the agencies has been silent is in the public accommodation space and what organizations can/must/should do to protect themselves and their employees from claims of...
ICE Extends I-9 Compliance Flexibility
Those responsible for employee onboarding can breathe a sigh of relief after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week announced that they would extend flexibilities that were instituted last year as a result of COVID-19. Specifically, the announcement extends the agency’s previous rules until August 31, 2021. The rule...
This Week's Show: Identifying Impairment in the Workforce
On Saturday, May 29, Tawny interviewed Scot Mattox, CEO of Dirigo Safety, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Scot discuss identifying impairment in the workforce. Scot Mattox retired in September 2013 as a Sergeant with the Portland Police Department after 26 years in...
This Week's Show: What is Covering?
On Saturday, May 15, Tawny interviewed Elizabeth Johnston, Associate in Verrill's Employment & Labor Group, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Liz and Tawny discuss what it means to cover in the workplace, as well as HR best practices for diversity and inclusion. A regular...
“Policies to Guide Employee Conduct and Respond to Misconduct,” a chapter in MCLE’s Drafting Employment Documents in Massachusetts
Scott Connolly , partner in Verrill’s Employment & Labor Group, has authored the chapter “Policies to Guide Employee Conduct and Respond to Misconduct” in MCLE’s book, Drafting Employment Documents in Massachusetts (4th Edition 2021). The book is published by MCLE and is an essential resource for Massachusetts employers, employment...
COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: Top 4 Legal Concerns
There are many unresolved legal questions to consider when it comes to COVID vaccination employee policies. Employment and labor attorney Tawny Alvarez and MP’s HR consulting team have compiled key advice for reducing legal risk when it comes to COVID vaccination. To learn about four major areas of legal...
The COVID Vaccine: HR Policy Development Playbook
In March 2021, we worked with MP HR & Payroll Solutions who created an eBook as a resource for employers, "The COVID Vaccine: HR Policy Development Playbook," that assists employers on what to do about the COVID-19 vaccine and employees begin to return to work. The guide covers vaccination...
NLRB General Counsel Says “Rat’s It”: Scabby the Rat Here to Stay
Who is Scabby? Scabby is an inflatable rat, sometimes installed by unions at protests and on picket lines. Scabby has been around since the late 1980s and is a well-known symbol to passersby of an ongoing labor dispute. At the beginning of February, the General Counsel of the National...
Are You Paying Attention to your Classifications?
DOL Scraps Trump-era Interpretative Letters and 60,000 U.K. Uber Drivers Entitled to Worker Benefits It has been a big day for changes on the worker classification front. In the last 24 hours, Britain’s highest court found that Uber drivers are entitled to minimum wage and overtime and the U.S...
This Week's Show: Everything Owners Need to Know About Boards
On Saturday, February 13, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Colleen McCracken Strategic Business Advisor of Everything Owners Need to Know About Boards , for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Colleen discuss everything owners need to know about boards. Colleen McCracken...
This Week's Show: Why Location Matters in DEI Initiatives
On Saturday, February 6, Tawny interviewed James Dinkle, Executive Director of Kennebec Regional Development Authority, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Tawny and Jim discuss why location matters in DEI initiatives. Jim Dinkle is the Executive Director of the Kennebec Regional Development Authority in Oakland...
This Week's Show: Reset, Refuel, Renew
On Saturday, January 30, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Coleen Greco, Joyologist and Founder of Reset Refuel Renew , for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David and Coleen discuss her coaching practice that develops health and well-being programs for both corporations and...
This Week's Show: Maintaining Mental Health at Work
On Saturday, November 21, Tawny interviewed Lindy Graham, LCSW and Founder of Wellspace Maine, and Celine Frueh, Human Resources Director of Allagash Brewing Co., for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Lindy, Celine, and Tawny discuss maintaining mental health for your employees, especially during this time...
This Week's Show: COVID 19 and Workers’ Compensation
On Saturday, January 16, Tawny interviewed Elizabeth Smith, Counsel in Verrill's Employment and Labor Group, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Beth and Tawny discuss what COVID-19 means for workers' compensation Beth has litigated numerous employment and labor law matters in the course of her...
This Week's Show: Helping Employees Meet New Year’s Resolutions
On Saturday, January 9, Tawny interviewed Shelby Turcotte, Author and Personal Trainer of Shelby Trained, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Shelby and Tawny discuss how employees can meet New Year's resolutions. Shelby is an author, performance consultant, and owner of Shelby Trained – a...
FFCRA Leave Extended In New COVID-19 Relief
Congress’s 5593-page Consolidated Appropriations Act, passed by the Senate on December 21, 2020, and signed by the President last night (December 27, 2020), includes an extension of employer tax credits for leave provided under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA), first instituted in March 2020. Specifically, employers should be...
What Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Mean for My Business?
With the first inoculations of the COVID-19 vaccine making headlines over the past few weeks, employers are starting to plan for the impact this will have on their businesses. The development of a vaccine inspires hope that a return to normalcy (and for some workers – a return to...
DOT Service Animal Final Rule: No More Service Snakes on Planes
Those dreaming of taking to the skies next year with scaled, feathered, or furry friends may want to take a look at the recent DOT Service Animal Final Rule before making travel plans. In an employment setting, there is no federal law that specifically restricts the type of service...
This Week's Show: Maine Election Results’ Impact on Business
On Saturday, November 21, Tawny interviewed Mike Saxl, Counsel at Verrill and Managing Principal of Maine Street Solutions, and Robert Reynolds, Government Relations Specialist of Maine Street Solutions, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Mike, Robert, and Tawny discuss Maine's election results and its impact...
NWCDN Workers' Compensation in a Post-COVID World
Join the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN) and the WorkersCompensation.com Center for Education Excellence for a live virtual seminar on November 12, starting at 10:00AM E.S.T. This year, due to COVID-19 concerns, the organization has partnered with WorkersCompensation.com to bring you two virtual stages, offering panels that will...
This Week's Show: Real Small Business Lessons From 2020
On Saturday, November 7, David Ciullo, co-host of HR Power Hour, interviewed Rob and Nadra Edgerley, Owners of Nadra Photography; Maine Life Real Estate; and Dale Carnegie Training , for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, David, Nadra and Rob discuss small business lessons from 2020...
Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement: Deciphering Between Diversity Inclusion and Equity (Part 8 of 12)
This is the eighth post in a 12-part series on how companies can show support for the Black Lives Matter movement by changing company policies and practices. This post focuses on educating senior leadership about the differences between diversity, equity, and inclusion. If someone were to ask how your...
Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement: Affinity Groups at Work (Part 7 of 12)
This is the seventh post in a 12-part series on how companies can show support for the Black Lives Matter movement by changing company policies and practices. This post focuses on creating effective affinity groups to assist in attracting applicants and maintaining productive employees. An affinity group is an...
Does Your Business Have New Tax Obligations Because of a Work-From-Home Policy?
This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upheaval to nearly every aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally. Virtually every sector of our society has been impacted. In response, companies were forced to quickly adapt or face near-certain failure as government mandated “stay-at-home” orders impacted millions of “non-essential&rdquo...
This Week's Show: Employment Law and Elections
On Saturday, October 31, Tawny interviewed Liz Johnston, Associate in Verrill's Employment & Labor Group, for this segment of HR Power Hour. For this episode, Liz and Tawny discuss employment law and how it applies to the upcoming election. A regular contributor to Verrill’s Taking Care of HR Business...
What Employers Need to Know About The Families First Coronavirus Response Act - An Animation
Navigating the ins and outs of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) can be difficult for employers. This animation seeks to illustrate some of the most important takeaways. Transcript: Hi, I'm Tawny, a partner in Verrill's Labor & Employment Practice Group. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides...
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