How to Discuss Race & Social Issues With Your Employees

Your employees are discussing race and social issues in your workplace. They look to you for leadership. What do you say? How do you contribute to the conversation without unintentionally making things worse? Michelle Sourie Robinson, CEO and President of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) discusses this question with Oregon Business Lawyer Alan Thayer. After viewing Ms. Robinson's sage advice, you will have confidence to join the discussion. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV01QDD_W7A

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Keeping people safe in your business | 13 things you need to know

 

Business people have asked how they should manage the health risks of doing business during the pandemic. They also have asked about employee health screening and what happens if an employee tests positive for COVID-19.

As part of my legal webinar series, Ask Alan Anything, Austin Ramirez, Lane County Economic Development Manager, consulted with Lane County Public Health and the Oregon Health Authority to answer 13 questions from business people.

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Reopening Your Business

The US Chamber of Commerce invited Alan to be the legal expert on a national webinar on best practices for a safe and successful return to business. We may be biased but the program was very good, particularly the contributions by the other panelists. You will want to watch this.

https://www.uschamber.com/co/events/co-blueprint-reopening-your-business

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Ask Alan Anything | May 15, 2020

As we look forward to Phase 1 of reopening Oregon and reopening Oregon businesses, there are questions to consider and new policies to implement. Bring your questions to this week's Ask Alan Anything.

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Lane Co. DA Race Vital

You can watch the third and final Virtual Town Hall between the candidates for Lane County District Attorney on demand at the link below. The candidate we elect will determine law enforcement and prosecution policies for the next four years. That makes this race one of the most important races on the ballot. Alan had the privilege of hosting this online forum.

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PPP Loan Forgiveness

You (like everyone) may have questions about loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program. A friend wrote an article for Forbes that is very good. You can access Neil's article at the link below.

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Latest State Guidances

 

Phase 1 of the Governor’s plan to reopen Oregon comes with all kinds of strings attached. Ignore these directives at your own peril. We gathered the latest Oregon guidances here for your convenience. 

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Ask Alan Anything | May 8, 2020

Ask Alan Anything webinar from Friday May 8, 2020 on demand. Details are set out below.

Topics covered include the ultimate goal of PPP loan forgiveness, face mask policies, a BOLI trap for unsuspecting employers, gettig employees to return to work and more.

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OFLA Sick Child Leave Expanded

Sick Child Leave Expanded to Include School Closures

Oregon's Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle announced an emergency rule amending the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA)’s sick child leave rule to include leave to care for a child when schools have been closed due to a public health emergency.

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Governor Brown's Stay at Home Order

"Daffodils and cherry blossoms" by OregonDOT is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Oregon Governor’s latest Coronavirus Executive Order was issued today (March 23, 2020).This order is fundamentally different than what has been done by Governors in other states. As discussed below, this is a good thing.

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Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act) was enacted by Congress and signed by the President on March 18, 2020. An initial guidance was published by the U.S. Department of Labor one week later on March 25, 2020. The Act goes into effect April 1, 2020. Employers have little time to adjust to this new law is short.

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Are You Ready for Oregon's New Distracted Driving Law?

Oregon's new Distracted Driving Law (HB 2597) goes into effect October 1st. Are you ready? Are your employees that drive as part of their jobs ready? 

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Oregon Sick Leave: Employer Requirements

This video is a summary of the requirements for Oregon employers, large and small, under Oregon's new sick time law, SB 454. It covers what employers must do and what employers with existing vacation, paid time off (PTO) and sick leave policies must do to comply.

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If You Like Your Drug Free Policy You Can Keep Your Drug Free Policy!

Oregon's recreational marijuana law goes into effect next week. What does this mean for employers? What can you do to protect your workplace? Three steps for prudent, take-charge Oregon employers are set out below.

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