Hello! How are you? I hope you’re healthy and taking care of yourself.  

Some people are good at taking care of themselves. If you’re one, I admire and secretly envy you. (Right… that’s not what you said about them this morning!) Amid the stress and craziness of turning your life upside down, working from home, and being isolated and almost never alone—both at the same time—you’re going for walks and taking mental health breaks every day. I decided to give it a try a couple of days ago, so I took a 15-minute break. When I got back to my desk, there were nine emails, four texts, and two voicemails screaming for my attention. That was an epic fail!  Continue reading

One week. Seven days. One hundred sixty-eight hours. As I sit at my desk in the corner of our living room tonight, I can hardly believe how dramatically the world, as I knew it, has changed in such a short period of time.

Last Friday—one hundred and sixty-eight hours ago—Becky and I ate a late dinner while commiserating about another “crazy” week. The country was coming to understand the Coronavirus as a serious threat, Becky had been immersed in one conference call after another with her employer’s emergency response teams, and I continued preparing resources for my clients. Hearing what she was involved with at a corporate level emphasized to me that small businesses don’t have the money, internal experts, employee teams, plans, or strategies in place to quickly and effectively address emergencies like the spread of the Coronavirus. Little did we know what a difference one hundred sixty-eight hours would make. Continue reading

Happy Friday!

What a freaking week, right? I wasn’t sure whether to start Fridays with Frank with my usual greeting. Then I realized, those two words might be the happiest thing many of us have heard all week!

So let me say it again, even louder, HAPPY FRIDAY! 

Since questions and information related to “the novel Coronavirus” have dominated every waking minute of my life this week, I didn’t have time to think about, or write, a witty and informative post (oh please, don’t hurt your arm patting yourself on the back) you’ve come to expect.  However, never fear, I’m sharing an equally witty and informative article I wrote (you’re shameless, aren’t you?) that was published in the Daily Record newspaper on Tuesday. With a title like, “HR compliance is easy and cheap, said nobody ever,” how could it be anything less than riveting! (Yep, completely devoid of all shame!) 

Stay safe and healthy, and send me a text if you find hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes anywhere! 

That’s a wrap on another Fridays with Frank. Thanks for spending a small part of your day with me, and have a great weekend! 

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Posted by Frank Cania, president of HR Compliance Experts LLC.

© 2020 HR Compliance Experts LLC

Please feel free to contact Frank at frank@hrcexperts.com, or 585-380-1566 with questions or for more information.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, does not constitute a legal opinion, and is not legal advice. The facts of each situation should be considered and analyzed individually. Therefore, you should always consult with competent employment counsel regarding any issues discussed here.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Frank Cania and HR Compliance Experts LLC.

Happy Friday!

It’s March, and I couldn’t be happier! I’ve never had a good relationship with February. Although it has the fewest days, February has always felt like the longest month to me. It may be time Becky and I start taking February vacations to warm tropical places. Maybe that’s where I’ll find the answer to a question that has vexed HR professionals since the dawn of time. That’s right, “On what planet was that OK?” 

Warning! The following should not be read by anyone offended by foul language, in the presence of children, in an area where others may be disturbed by the repeated muttering of “are you f-ing kidding me?,” or if one more story of reprehensible workplace behavior will forever destroy your faith in humanity. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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On Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) announced a settlement agreement with Ithaca, NY-based Porous Materials, Inc. According to the press release, the employer “will pay $93,000 and furnish other relief” to settle a lawsuit brought by the EEOC on behalf of the complainants. Continue reading