Forward Planning: Managing Your Workplace After COVID-19

Welcome to the Primerus Webinar Series. As we navigate these new waters together without in-person meetings, we want to do all we can to ensure you still benefit from the Primerus knowledge base. If you would like to present or have a topic suggestion, please contact Chris Dawe at cdawe@primerus.com

 

Presented by: Dilip Gokhale, Scott Grubin, Tom Paschos, Karina Sterman, and David Walston

 

The Global Pandemic has led to hundreds of questions for employers as they manage their employees and workforce. As the world looks optimistically towards a future beyond the peak of the Pandemic, employers will be faced with another wave of issues as they return their people to the work place – whether physically or remotely. The panelists will look ahead to anticipate potential problems and share guidance how to smoothly return to business as usual. The program will address the below questions and more:

 

• What are the issues employers need to be mindful of as they reintegrate their workforce populations back in to the workplace?
• How should an employer handle an employee’s refusal to return to the workplace?
• What if any questions can an employer ask employees before allowing them to return to work e.g., where have you travelled, have you been exposed, have any family members been quarantined, have you/your family member recently been ill, family member who is an “essential” employee or healthcare provider?
• What are the employer’s practices upon “safe” to resume operations – operate normally or impose certain restrictions e.g. visitors, in-person meetings, etc.
• Are any limitations institutional or company-wide, business unit, local, individual employee driven?
• How to prepare for the anticipated mass telework requests after COVID-19?

The program will also feature a Charge Receipt/Technical Information Unit Supervisor at the EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office who will offer guidance as to the EEOC’s perspective on these issues.

Live Interactive Q&A – Bring/Submit Your Questions

The panelists will be reserving time to answer specific questions from attendees and encourage those in attendance to come with questions prepared. If you would like specific questions addressed, you are invited to submit questions in advance to Chris Dawe at cdawe@primerus.com.

About Dilip Gokhale

Dilip Gokhale is the Charge Receipt/Technical Information Unit Supervisor at the U.S. EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office. In this capacity, Dilip is responsible for providing investigative, technical, and administrative guidance to subordinate staff; ensuring that Charges are processed in accordance with Commission guidelines, rules, regulations, orders and precedent; and, serving as the initial EEOC point of contact for Charging Parties, Respondents, and their legal representatives at the Philadelphia District Office. Dilip received both a B.A. and M.P.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and he is currently pursuing a J.D. as an second-year evening student at the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

About Scott Grubin

Scott G. Grubin’s practice focuses on all aspects of employment law representing both individuals and institutions at Barton LLP. He has a unique multidisciplinary background as a senior human resources executive. Over nearly 20 years, Scott has built an exceptional career in employment law as both outside counsel and in-house counsel. Nearly half of his career has been on Wall Street in roles which include human resources management positions and as an in-house employment lawyer.

By applying his deep employment law experience together with his insight gained as an in-house attorney and human resources executive, Scott has forged trusted advisor relationships with both his individual and employer clients resulting in better and more effective client outcomes.

Scott is well-versed in the employment laws and business issues that face management on a daily basis. He counsels institutions regarding reductions in force and M&A workforce integration, complex performance management, leave and disability issues, and compliance with discrimination laws. Scott also represents employers in investigations, mediations, and litigation involving all aspects of the employment life cycle.

Scott also provides management with assistance in day-to-day counseling, employment training, preparation of policy and procedures manuals, and the integration of multistate and multinational workforces.

About Tom Paschos

Thomas Paschos practices in the fields of professional liability, employment litigation, insurance coverage, product liability, and complex commercial litigation. He represents, amongst others, corporate officers, physicians, dentists, nursing homes, lawyers, accountants, product manufacturers, insurance agents and brokers, architects and engineers, contractors, transportation companies, and insurance companies. He has been awarded an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which identifies a lawyer with a very high to preeminent legal ability.

As the managing partner of Thomas Paschos & Associates, P.C., attorney Thomas Paschos is responsible for managing the firm’s offices in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The firm is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms, and Tom is the current Chairman of the Professional Liability Practice Group. He also serves on the Executive Committee of Primerus’ Employment and Labor Group. Additionally, he was the past chair for the Lawyers Professional Practice Group of the Professional Liability Defense Federation. In 2004, 2014, 2015, and 2016, Thomas was voted by his peers as one of Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers. He is also an ARIAS–U.S. Certified Arbitrator.

Tom is the author of numerous insurance industry publications and the presenter of in-house presentations for insurance clients. He advises insurance companies in loss-prevention strategies and has provided in-house presentations in preventing and defending bad faith actions in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has been a moderator and/or a presenter in the field of professional liability and employment practices liability matters for Primerus, PLUS, CLM, and the Professional Liability Defense Federation.

About Karina Sterman

A creative and ardent advocate for her clients, Karina Sterman of Greenberg Glusker defends businesses in class action lawsuits as well as in discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other employment disputes. While she regularly defends companies in administrative proceedings in front of the EEOC, Department of Labor, California Labor Commissioner, and other jurisdictions, she leverages her significant experience in “behind the scenes” counseling to avoid or resolve pending claims.

A partner in both the Litigation and Employment Law Departments, Karina counsels her clients on wage and hour and other employment law compliance, drafting employment-related documents, and participating in a business-minded employment strategy to minimize the risks of litigation and costly long-term mistakes. She regularly provides employment law training, performs HR legal audits, and builds trade secret protection plans to maximize the value of her clients’ investment in their intellectual property.

In addition to being a published author and frequent guest speaker on employment law and intellectual property matters, Karina is proud to maintain a Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating of AV Preeminent. She is also honored to have been recognized by her peers for many years on the Southern California Super Lawyers list

About David Walston

David Walston is a partner in Christian & Small’s Labor and Employment practice group – practicing exclusively in this particular arena for more than 30 years. He regularly defends businesses in claims under Title VII, § 1981, § 1983, ADA, ADEA, and FMLA. With the growth of wage and hour litigation, David has spent a large part of his practice defending individual and collective actions under the FLSA. His experience further extends to advising and representing management regarding rights and obligations under the National Labor Relations Act, including response to employee complaints and other concerted activities, union organizational activity, and unfair labor practices charges. David authors the Christian & Small Employment Law update, a subscription-based e-newsletter through which he advises clients regarding new developments in labor and employment law, including new statutes and regulations.