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Preparing Policies, Internal Comms for Public Health Crises

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Preparing Policies, Internal Comms for Public Health Crises

March 12, 2020
Caroline J. Berdzik

Caroline J Berdzik, Peter J. Woo, and Kristin Klein Wheaton, leaders in Goldberg Segalla’s Employment and Labor group, along with Aidan Ryan, strategic communications advisor at the firm, wrote an article for Law360 discussing how employers can navigate challenges regarding workplace safety, employment law, and internal communications related to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises.

In “Preparing Policies, Internal Comms For Public Health Crises,” the group talks about how employers should handle an evolving crisis with flexibility and course corrections regarding employment policies and practices. They also provide high-level executives and front-line managers with recommendations on how to navigate their coronavirus response through timely, consistent, and tonally appropriate communications. Their advice covers internal communications on all channels, including direct internal email, interoffice mail, emergency communications systems, video displays, the intranet, and social media.

“As the coronavirus continues to impact our lives more every day, we urge employers to exercise measured but deliberate actions by contacting health authorities and legal counsel for guidance on how to take affirmative steps towards maximizing its chances at protecting against the spread of the virus for as many employees and other persons as possible.”

 

Read the full article here:

Preparing Policies, Internal Comms for Public Health Crises,” Law360, March 11, 2020

More about Goldberg Segalla’s Caroline J. Berdzik, Peter J. Woo, Kristin Klein Wheaton, and Aidan Ryan:

Caroline J. Berdzik, chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor and Health Care groups, devotes her practice to helping businesses, organizations, and management navigate the panoply of employment law issues, from proactive counseling through alternative dispute resolution and trial. She represents companies in diverse industries such as health care, transportation, retail, construction, insurance, and finance, as well as nonprofit organizations and educational and religious institutions.

Peter J. Woo is a highly experienced attorney who is the vice chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor group, a member of the Leadership Committee of the firm’s Management & Professional Liability group and a member of the firm’s Diversity Task Force.  Peter is a trusted counsel to his business and corporate clients who have benefited from his vast legal knowledge and experience gained in his litigation, trial, and outside general counsel practice.

Kristin Klein Wheaton counsels and defends the interests of clients facing employment and labor issues, civil rights and discrimination claims, and complex commercial disputes. A skilled problem solver with over 20 years of legal experience in both the private and public sectors, Kristin’s wide-ranging practice includes labor and employee relations, contract negotiations, and assisting clients with Human Resources and employment counseling, as well as the creation and maintenance of compliance policies and strategies for state and federal laws.

Aidan Ryan is a strategic communications advisor, working collaboratively with attorneys across the firm’s practice areas to provide clients with guidance on crisis and issues management, litigation PR, and community and stakeholder relations in matters involving disease outbreak, sexual abuse, civil rights claims, workplace misconduct, high-profile disputes, and other sensitive concerns. His experience includes working with clients in industries ranging from trucking to water treatment, as well as school boards, municipalities, and nonprofits.


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