As we return to the workplace after more than a year of pandemic restrictions we may need to redefine the term ?normal.? A dictionary definition of the term normal is: ?conforming to a usual, typical or expected standard,? but for many of us, the usual or typical have shifted and the unexpected is now the usual. Along with some of the more familiar responsibilities and obligations of employees and employers, many of us will need to navigate:
Re-acquainting with colleagues after a long separation,
Avoiding or resolving disagreements over use of face masks, social distancing, vaccines, and other sometimes divisive coronavirus-related issues,
Dealing with heightened tensions regarding ethnic background, gender, immigrant status, and political views, and
Ramping up again into a more structured, conventional work environment than what one might have grown accustomed to at home and/or while working in a less conventional workspace.
This presentation will touch on employment law pitfalls as employees return to the workplace, including how to navigate vaccination requirements, health and safety concerns for colleagues and clients, and paid sick leave and other leave issues. These concepts will be presented in the context of how we can take care of ourselves and others during this disconcerting transition with patience, kindness, and appropriate attention to the inevitable discomforts and proverbial bumps in the road.