Can Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations?

Employers and employees alike are wondering… can vaccines be required for workers to return to the office? Seems like an easy answer since the law is clear that COVID-19 vaccination can be required as a condition of employment (with certain caveats). However, as the saying goes, nothing is as simple as it seems.

There are many complications, including the allowed exemptions under which an individual can refuse vaccination. Suppose employers do require vaccinations as a condition of returning to the workplace. In that case, they must be prepared to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities (per the Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA) and religious objections (per Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.) This protection excludes non-religious beliefs. It also doesn't exempt individuals who object to vaccination because of political views or personal reasons.

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Human Capital & Emergency Succession Planning

Human Capital & Emergency Succession Planning

The pandemic certainly has changed things - work, home life, school, socializing, etc. - in ways we would never have imagined. We work at home, school at home, socialize over Zoom, have our groceries delivered, and take all the precautions needed to keep ourselves and our families safe. At present, there is no real end in sight to COVID-19 and no view into what “normal” might look like in the future because the situation changes all the time. It’s hard to know if anyone has figured out the real impact of the pandemic on our home and work lives. For this reason, business continuity planning takes on even more importance since poor planning can hurt our ability to continue day-to-day operations. 

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Meetings & Events

October 30, 2019 - As meeting planners, you are constantly planning for everything, but we hope you don't forget to plan for unexpected disturbances and crises. Especially in this day and age, we all need to have plans and strategies for dealing with terrorists, active shooters, strikes, and other disruptions. These articles may help you develop those emergency and crisis plans.

"Woulda-coulda-shoulda" regrets are never more painful than when we must admit, in retrospect, we didn't have a contingency plan in place. (Item #1)

The reality is that while you can't foresee and prevent many crises, there are steps that every planner should take to ensure they are prepared to handle any issue that comes along, as part of their "duty of care." (Item #2)

A strong and up-to-date plan should be in place to ensure the safety and security of attendees regardless of where a meeting is held. (Item #3)

No matter the size or location of the area you are trying to protect, following these steps will help you have a safe and enjoyable event for your attendees and staff. (Item #4)

These resources may be helpful when developing your emergency/crisis plan for meetings. (Item #5)


For the full issue, click here.

Fire Preparedness and Prevention

September 25, 2019 - October is fire prevention month, so we need to start thinking about what steps we need to take both to prevent and prepare to respond to fires. You probably do occasional fire drills but do you to any training for employees on how to prevent or escape from a fire? Is there some sort of annual review of the office to identify fire hazards? If not, some of these articles should be helpful to you.

Here are some useful tips for you to avoid a fire in your workplace. (Item #1)

Here's how to create a business continuity plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such a disaster.  (Item #2)

Can you answer these fire safety questions? (Item #3)

Sure you have fire extinguishers at work; but does anyone know how to use them? Or IF they should use them? (Item #4) 

Here are five of the most common office fire safety issues and how you can take steps to protect your business. (Item #5)


For the full issue, click here.

Business Continuity Planning -- Whether It's Weather Related or Not

September 11, 2019 - Business continuity planning requires knowledge of all the risks you could encounter, especially -- at this time of year -- hurricanes. This week's articles can help you better prepare to be able to mitigate the risks and recover from weather-related and other disasters.



Facilities also need to have a comprehensive plan in place that outlines what they'll do after the fire trucks, hazmat team, utility companies or camera crews leave. (Item #1)   The Disaster Recovery Institute's 2019 Predictions Report included the following disasters and major disruptions. (Item #2)   Here's how to create a business continuity plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such a disaster. (Item #3)


 The best way to do mitigate hurricane disaster? Have a plan. Here are our five best business continuity tips for hurricane season. (Item #4)   There are several resources freely available to help organizations adapt to climate change, such as those listed in the references of this guide and in  the further reading sections of each chapter. (Item #5)   Here's what to know about hurricanes to create a preparedness plan. (Item #6)

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Are You Prepared for an Active Shooter Event?

August 28, 2019 - An active shooter in your workplace? It may never happen, but you just can't be sure. For this reason, you need to be sure that you and your employees know what to do in the event such an event occurs. The articles below can provide some help as will the DHS video in #6. May you never need to put any of these actions to use.

The three things that DHS emphasizes over and over is either get out, hide out or, if necessary, take the shooter out. (Item #1)   Hiding under a desk might be a natural response to an active shooter in your building, but it may actually increase your chances of being shot. (Item #2)   Because active shooter situations are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation. (Item #3)

Technology can assist in your effort to detect and respond to an active shooter. (Item #4)  To recover from an active shooter event, restore business operations, and retain employees, experts say that business continuity planning, communication strategies, and personnel issues should be among the top priorities for organizations. (Item #5)   This Homeland Security video can help everyone determine what to do in the event of an active shooter event. (Item #6)

For the full issue, click here.

Safety and Security in the Workplace

July 24, 2019 - It's not just your premises and your data, but your most important asset - your employees - that you have to ensure remain safe and secure. This week's articles discuss the benefits of a safe workplace as well as ways to determine the health of your workplace through an assessment. If you don't do everything you can to ensure safety and security, you could risk lawsuits or even the reputation of your business.

Learn about what comprises workplace security, why is security important and how you should go about creating a safe and secure workplace. (Item #1)   Healthy employees who feel safe and comfortable in their work environment will work more productively than employees who become injured or sick in the workplace. (Item #2)   Risk management-based interventions are common in most workplaces. They are central to effective occupational health and safety prevention and response. (Item #3)

Employees should be trained to respond appropriately to each scenario that is applicable to their workplace. (Item #4)   Here are a few questions from OSHA's Evacuations Plans and Procedures eTool, a checklist for designing and analyzing EAPs that is dedicated to producing the best EAP for work possible. (Item #5)   As a leader, you are responsible not only for your own safety, but for the security and safety of those you lead. (Item #6)

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Weathering the Weather in Hurricane Season

May 15, 2019 - We just observed hurricane preparedness week, and hurricane season will begin June 1. What's the status of your preparedness for the coming storms? As we have seen with recent weather, lack of preparedness can spell disaster, so take some cues from this week's articles and ramp up your plans in advance of the storms ahead.

While there's no way to stop the storm, we're here to tell you that you can ease hurricane-related burdens with a little help from your friends. (Item #1)   As another hurricane season ramps up, here's a rundown of what businesses should know about business continuity and disaster recovery planning. (Item #2)   Here is a sample emergency preparedness checklist to have on hand during storm season. (Item #3)

During the recovery period after a hurricane, organizations should focus on these areas. (Item #4)    Here are four steps to take to maintain technology business continuity during a disaster and when to act -- starting now. (Item #5)   The impact of a storm on the workforce often is not adequately considered, thus downplaying the importance -- and central role -- of the human contribution to an organization's recovery.  (Item #6)


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Workplace Violence

February 20, 2019 - Just one year and a day after the anniversary of the Parkland shooting, another workplace active shooter took five lives in Illinois. Such violence has become so commonplace that it's critical we know what to do in the event of an active shooter or other violence -- and also how to recognize potential trouble and what to do about it. This issue can be helpful in determining your policies with regard to workplace violence.

This article about workplace violence answers these questions for the health and safety of your employees. (Item #1)   For some occupations, violence is the 3rd leading cause of death. (Item #2)   Where there is awareness of workplace violence, there is prevention. (Item #3)

Workplace violence prevention policies must be carefully crafted and legally balanced to offer support for victims and consequences for perpetrators. (Item #4)   With mass shootings on the rise, experts share best practices for training employees how to react in an active shooter situation at work. (Item #5)   You're at work and suddenly you think you hear a gunshot. What do you do? (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

How to Deploy an Emergency Response Plan for Your Meetings & Events

February 14, 2019 - Event-Aware is a mobile application from Attainium Corp that simplifies building and deploying emergency response plans for meetings and events by putting the information literally at your fingertips. The service is the first of its kind, combining hands-on guidance with an easy-to-use consumer-style app that makes meeting and event emergency response plans actionable and visible.

Users of the Event-Aware app can retrieve all relevant plan components through an interface that is simple, powerful and intuitive. Whenever on-site event staff launch the app, it downloads the latest updates to plans, contact lists, schedules, and links to emergency services, venue staff, and local authorities. This ensures that event personnel on the ground have access to the current version of the plan whenever and wherever they need it, especially in a crisis situation.

“Every event organizer knows the importance of having an emergency response plan, but making that plan available to everyone who needs it and keeping it updated has always been an issue,“ said Bob Mellinger, Attainium CEO. “Event-Aware gives all users access to vital information even when their mobile devices are not connected to wireless or cell networks.”

The app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices, is supported by the Event-Aware team, who create tailored and relevant emergency response plans based on industry best practices. The team is available to assist users throughout the development and deployment process, incorporating the unique issues of various events.

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If your next meeting/event needs:

- an Emergency Response Plan -
- a more prepared on-site team -
- venue, hotel, and local resources -
- immediate access to response procedures -

then check out Event-Aware.

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Meetings and Events 2019

January 9, 2019 - It's a new year and you're likely already planning for upcoming meetings, conferences, and other events. The articles herein focus on some of the trends that are changing the meetings industry and how you might use them. Plus, Item #4 focuses on some events that went badly... some of the changes might help you avoid such chaos.

Prevue's editors picked their favorite five top meeting industry trends for 2019. (Item #1)   Here's how the meetings industry is changing the events game. (Item #2)   What are some of the trends in event venues that you need to be aware of? (Item #3)

These disasters are a reminder that designing meetings and conferences isn't for the inexperienced. (Item #4)   This article highlights six meetings and events technology trends to try in 2019 and tips to implement each in your future programs. (Item #5)   In this guide, EMB shares how trends all come together for the benefit of the planner and the audience. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

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Holiday Safety at Home and Work

December 12, 2018 - The holiday season is here and decorating, shopping, cooking, entertaining, eating and other holiday doings are on our to-do lists. We get so busy that we sometimes rush right by some of the important safety concerns of the holidays -- accidents, fires, stress, and other things. These articles are aimed at helping you ensure your safety and those of your family, friends, and co-workers so everyone can have happy holidays.

Remember to consider safety when decorating in the office and celebrating on the job. (Item #1)   There are steps you can take to reduce the risks of death and injury from a home fire this holiday season (Item #2)   To keep your "fa-la-la-la las" from falling flat, here are some important crime prevention tips to remember. (Item #3)

Here are some safety concerns to consider during this holiday season. (Item #4)   Here's how to avoid some of the pitfalls of the season. (Item #5)   Here are some tips to beat the holiday blues. (Item #6)

For the full issue, click here.

Planning for Winter Weather

December 5, 2018 - With winter on the way (and, in some cases, already hitting hard), we should definitely be reviewing our plans to keep things running if the worst weather strikes. What if employees can't get to work? What if your building has no power or is flooded? Do you know what your winter weather risks are? This week's articles could help refine your plans for the weather ahead.

When snow, ice or other weather threatens to keep people off the roads this winter, telecommuting could help keep your business running. (Item #1)   Old ways of protecting data centers against winter weather are no longer adequate in today's always-on business world. (Item #2)   Here are the steps you can take now to prepare for extreme winter weather and mitigate the risks for your small business. (Item #3)

Here's how to get ahead of storms with planning and teamwork. (Item #4)   What's your liability if an employee is injured on the way to work in a snowstorm? (Item #5)   We can hope this winter won't bring 100 inches of snow, but here are some lessons from Boston when that happened in 2015. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

It's Flu Season - What are you doing about it?

November 28, 2018 - After last year's terrible flu season, many of us are concerned about what the 2018-2019 flu season will bring. Experts pretty much agree that it's impossible to predict what this year's flu season will be like. While flu vaccines have been improved, flu germs are constantly changing so there are no guarantees. For this reason, there are a number of things you can do in the workplace that can help prevent the spread of flu. These articles will provide some guidance.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) provides guidance for keeping employees healthy in order to successfully get through the flu season. (Item #1)  Flu season 2018 is already starting to take lives. Are you protected? (Item #2)  So if we don't plan and prepare adequately for the non-IT types of problems, we are leaving ourselves vulnerable to many problems that are not all that rare. (Item #3) 

All employers can implement a combination of controls to protect workers and reduce the transmission of the seasonal flu virus in the workplace. (Item #4)  This emergency preparedness outline will serve as an excellent roadmap for managing an epidemic in your work environment. (Item #5)  There is a wide range of cleaning products available that can help control workplace flu germs; companies should be aware of the differences in these products and how they perform against flu germs. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

The Holidays: To Party or Not to Party?

November 14, 2018 - The holidays are creeping up on us, and it's time (or maybe past time) to consider the holiday party. Should you have one? What kind? Are there other options to show your gratitude to your employees than by having a drunken bash? If you have one, how can you keep it under control? These articles address these questions and offer some ideas on how to have a great party or what to do instead. Happy Holidays!

Following these tips should help ensure that employees not only remember your holiday party, but remember it for all the right reasons. (Item #1)   In short, while company parties can be genuine fun, there are minefields to navigate here. (Item #2)   If your company wants to continue its holiday office party tradition, you need to think in advance about how to manage holiday parties to avoid potential hazards. (Item #3)

The holidays are a time to celebrate, but we need to be careful because any misdeeds (perceived or otherwise) can be quickly cataloged online -- and cause lasting reputational damage. (Item #4)   Here are 76 ideas to take your company holiday party to the next level.  (Item #5)   Here are some ways you can reward employees at the holidays without having a party.  (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

The Changing Face of Terrorism

October 31, 2018 - This past week has been a sad reminder to us that terrorism is no longer just something we need to fear from foreign enemies. At a grocery store in Kentucky (and almost at a church there), at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and at any number of locations across the country targeted with bombs by mail, we have seen domestic terror at work. It would seem that it's time -- if we haven't done so already -- to learn more about the changing face of terrorism and to incorporate some terrorism training into our orientations at work (see Item #4). See what this week's articles have to say about terrorism today and how we can help our employees deal with this threat in the workplace.

The ability of organizations to adapt to the changing pattern of terrorism is essential if they are able to limit the effects of terrorism on their operations and employees. (Item #1)   The changing nature of terrorism has impacted the world in many ways; today businesses need to understand the risk posed by terrorist attacks on their people, property, and technology. (Item #2)   If the government started seeing violent anti-Semitic or white supremacist groups as more like jihadist groups, several things could change. (Item #3)

The workplace will continue to be an ideal target for international terrorists---even more so due to a lack of preparedness and a perceived lack of employer emphasis on workplace preparedness for terrorism. (Item #4)   With terrorism affecting the Western world like never before it's imperative to keep employees feeling safe. (Item #5)   Terrorism is an act of desperation rather than real power. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Fire Prevention, Preparedness & Safety

October 3, 2018 - National Fire Prevention Week, this year Oct. 7-13, has been observed since 1922 in the week in which Oct. 9 falls to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred Oct. 8-10 and killed more than 300 people. October also is National Fire Prevention Month. Each year at this time we like to focus on fire safety, prevention, and preparedness. Take a look at this week's articles to see how to prepare and stay safe at work and at home. Don't take your safety for granted.

All companies should create a basic fire prevention plan for fire safety. (Item #1)  To protect yourself, home, and loved ones, follow this fire safety guide, so you're prepared for the worst. (Item #2)  Having your door closed makes a 900 degree difference in a fire. (Item #3)

Fire takes more lives in the workplace than anything else... here are some tips to prevent such fatalities.  (Item #4)  Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep (PASS)... do you know to what this refers? (Item #5)  Fire evacuation procedures are critical... make sure everyone knows them. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meeting & Event Emergency Management Planning

September 26, 2018 - Every event or meeting is both an opportunity for success and a possible potential for failure; you just never know what might happen. But planning can help ensure success, or at least, help deal with disasters to avoid catastrophe. These articles identify many possible pitfalls and ways to overcome them.

What's your "Convention Misery Index" number? (Item #1)   Here is a list of nine threats to your event and how you might overcome them. (Item #2)   Here are 10 painful moments every event manager will have experienced at one time or another and how to tackle them. (Item #3)

Here are some lessons learned from event planning failures. (Item #4)   What makes great events so memorable, and how can we bottle up that magic and replicate it in the future? (Item #5)   Being prepared is the #1 way to avoid a crisis when you can and mitigate the damage when you can't. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Workplace Terrorism

September 12, 2018 - Workplaces are good targets for terrorism. There may be activities or policies that prompt terror attacks, but sometimes workplaces are chosen as targets simply because many people are there. And sometimes the terrorist is an insider about whom nobody saw suspicious behavior. Regardless of the causes or actors, there are things you can do to mitigate your risk or prevent terrorist attacks and to learn how to recognize potential problems and deal with people afterward. This week’s articles provide some help.

This short guide will help employers understand the preventative actions they can take and the latest guidance should they, and their employees, be caught up in a terrorist attack. (Item #1)   Although a terrorist attack is not likely to strike your workplace, it is important to be prepared mentally and emotionally. (Item #2)   What can you do to reduce the chances of terrorism happening to you, within your own workplace? (Item #3)

If you feel like you need to talk about your grief over recent terror attacks, here’s how to broach the subject with your coworkers. (Item #4)   After a terrorist attack anywhere, people are overwhelmed by the tragedy; here are some ways people cope at work. (Item #5)   Some violence in the workplace is more accurately classified for what it really is--terrorism. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Preparedness

August 29, 2018 - September will be the 14th annual National Preparedness Month. This year's theme is "Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How." Having a plan for dealing with disasters is the most important thing, and this week's articles can help you focus on ways to prepare your business, your employees and everyone's families for various disasters and situations.

Ready.gov offers suggestions and links to resources to employ before and during the observation of National Preparedness Month. (Item #1)   The EPA offers valuable information on protecting health and the environment. (Item #2)   Smart911 identifies the six most common disasters and how to prepare for them. (Item #3)

Here are a few things your business might consider in order to take advantage of the national focus on preparedness. (Item #4)   Here are 10 ways to champion the value and importance of business continuity planning. (Item #5)   Planning and training for all potential emergencies will help both you and your employees be ready for unexpected situations. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.