Preparing Employees For Transitioning From Quarantine Back To The Workplace
COVID-19 forced many employers in New York and across the country to dramatically change the way they do business. Since March, many employees have had to work from home instead of the office. Now many employers are seeking to bring these quarantined employees safely back into the workplace. The timeline and number of employees may vary, but each employer will make similar physical changes (i.e. masks, physical distancing, etc.) to the workplace to ensure the safety of its employees. However, a successful return to the workplace will depend on employers ensuring that employees’ anxieties and stress about returning are identified and addressed.
- November 17, 2020
- 12:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
- 2.0
- 2.0
- Virtual Participation
12:00 – 12:10 p.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Ronald Weisenberg, Esq.
Law Office of Ronald B. Weisenberg, P.C.
New York, NY
12:10 – 1:50 p.m.
Panel Discussion
The panel will speak on these topics of interest:
Dr. Leo Flanagan and Dr. Roger Sherman, who specialize in assisting people build resilience after returning from traumatic experiences, will explain why the high stress and anxiety among returning employees is so dangerous and importance of identifying and addressing these issues.
Employment Law attorney Ronald Weisenberg, Esq. will discuss the sensitive conversations about anxieties and other concerns about returning to the workplace within the contours of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination Employment Act, state anti-discrimination laws, as well as the Coronavirus specific laws and guidance issued by the federal government.
Dr. Flanagan and Dr. Sherman will return to speak about tools and behaviors available to employers and employees to address stress and anxiety about returning and to build resilience for the challenges. These include Mindfulness practices, Pragmatic Optimism, and the importance of being agile amidst turmoil. Dr. Flanagan and Dr. Sherman will also explain how managers play an important role in anxiety management in a crisis with subordinates and even clients through empathy and modeling their own stress management as an example.
Karen Simmons, Esq., the Executive Director of the Children’s Law Center of New York, will speak about her experiences within her own law firm about addressing the anxieties and other concerns of returning employees and discuss, with Mr. Weisenberg, the legal challenges that arose during the return process.
1:50 - 2:00 p.m.
Questions and Answers
- Ronald B. Weisenberg, Esq., Moderator, Law Office of Ronald B. Weisenberg, Esq.
- Leo F. Flanagan, Jr., PhD., Speaker, The Center for Resilience, LLC
- Dr. Roger W. Sherman, Speaker, Simmons College, Department of Behavioral Sciences Systems
- Karen Simmons, Esq., Speaker, Children’s Law Center of New York
- Webinar
- 0JV71
- Labor & Employment Law Section
