I filed for unemployment. I never thought I’d say those words again. The last time I did was during the mortgage industry collapse more than a decade ago, which put millions of us out of work. Those were desperate times, and I thought of unemployment as a resource to...

Quarantine Day #????
Captain’s Log: Day—I have no idea—of quarantine. The people of Earth are secluded in their homes, coming out only at night wearing gloves and masks to scavenge for food or stretch their legs…. Okay, I’m getting a little punchy—not because I’ve got nothing to do like...
Remote Work: How to Navigate Virtual Leadership
Leadership during the COVID-19 crisis has taken on a new face. For many, it is the face of confusion and uncertainty. But it doesn’t have to be that way. My team has been virtual from its inception—not because I was so forward thinking, but because I didn’t want to...
Employers and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): Document, Document, Document
As of Wednesday, April 1, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) goes into effect, and employees are now eligible to file for an additional 80 hours of sick time and/or expanded FMLA leave. Several of my clients have asked for clarification...
More on COVID-19: What if an Employee Tests Positive or is Exposed?
It was only a matter of time until I received a call from a client saying that one of their employees had been exposed to the Coronavirus. Here’s what I told them about how to proceed, how to avoid HIPPA violations, and how to protect the rest of their staff. What...
Coronavirus Q&A: What do Employers Have to Pay For Under the New Guidelines?
If I have to temporarily close my business, do I have to pay my employees during this time? Not generally, but here are the rules: Nonexempt hourly employees do not have to be paid during business closures provided they don’t perform any work at all during the closure...
What is your Telecommuting Strategy?
Can employers require employees to work from home as an infection-control strategy? Should they? Absolutely, and it is recommended. Creating a telework policy will ensure your...
Furlough, Layoffs, RIFs, Oh My!
I wanted to create a short informational piece that can help give you data through this time of uncertainty. There are a lot of terms floating around and people are struggling to know the difference. And more importantly, to know which one fits their situation....
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
As many of you know, on March 18, 2020, President Trump signed H.R. 6201 – the Families First Coronavirus Response Act - into law. I have spent most of the day with my clients answering questions about the changes. To help us all navigate the changes, we have...
What’s Your Sick Leave Strategy?
You have to be truly off the grid not to know about the corona virus. Coverage of the pandemic saturates news cycles with the increasing number of cases, school closures, travel advisories, and recommended precautions. Hand sanitizer is sold out in many cities (though...