​Federal courts have temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s three different rulemaking actions on COVID-19 vaccine requirements affecting private employers, prompting a growing number of businesses to fill the void with their own vaccination policies to protect workers and customers.
During Wednesday’s virtual meeting of NJBIA’s Human Resources Council, Fox Rothchild labor employment attorney Brian McGinnis shared best practices for COVID-19 workplace vaccination policies and how employers should handle requests for a “reasonable accommodation” from unvaccinated employees who say they cannot get the shot for medical or religious reasons.

“You want to set clear definitions, clear dates of compliance, and clear expectations” in any written COVID-19 policy, McGinnis said. “You also want to make sure your COVID-19 vaccination policy expressly outlines a form of accommodation process. Something as simple as stating the employer will comply with the requirement under applicable law to provide a reasonable accommodation to this policy.”

The policy should require the employee to report his or her vaccination status directly to Human Resources, not their supervisor, to protect the businesses from discrimination lawsuits later, he said. The supervisor should only be looped in about the employee’s vaccination status if Human Resources decides to grant the employee a reasonable accommodation related to the vaccine requirement.

Various state and federal laws require employers to make reasonable accommodation for employees who have a disability, are pregnant or have a sincere religious belief that prevents them from being vaccinated. A disability accommodation request, for example, could arise in the context of an employee who is immunocompromised from cancer treatments.

The accommodation might be to require the unvaccinated employee to wear a mask and be tested weekly in the workplace. Remote work might be another reasonable accommodation, but only if the employee’s essential job functions do not require direct interactions with co-workers, clients or customers.

“You are not required to grant an accommodation that would remove a job’s essential functions,” McGinnis said. “The goal of accommodation is to allow people to continue to do these essential functions in a different way that accommodates them.”
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Article Posted Compliments of  NJBIA 

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Small Business Continuing to Raise Wages at Record Rate - NJBIA - New Jersey Business & Industry Association

The Silent Partner on the Front Line during the Pandemic

By DeLoise Gambrell


A Respiratory Therapist is the other professional in the trenches, and on the frontline risking their lives alongside the doctors and nurses who are keeping patients alive who have contracted COVID-19. Oftentimes we do not hear about Respiratory Therapists, they’re the silent partners in this fight to heal the patients stricken with CoronaVirus. It is my intention in this article to educate those who are unaware of the role of the Respiratory Therapist and to say thank you for all that you're doing for your patients.


The CoronaVirus is a respiratory disease, which affects the upper respiratory and lower respiratory tracts. The nose, sinus, and throat are part of the upper tract, and the windpipe and lungs make up the lower tract. COVID-19 can cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS. It causes damage to the lungs such as scarring. This damage causes fluid to leak into the lungs making it difficult for oxygen to transfer from the bloodstream.


Through a questionnaire, I had the opportunity to ask several Respiratory Therapists questions about what is a Respiratory Therapist, their role, and to help us understand what it means to be on the frontline during this CoronaVirus Pandemic. They also answered questions about what they want the general public and elected leaders to know about the seriousness of the virus. Finally, I wanted to know how they de-escalated from the day to day routine and seeing the growing numbers of deaths from COVID-19.


A Respiratory Therapist, RT, is a certified medical professional that provides specialized care to help patients with chronic cardio-pulmonary illnesses. Many have associate, bachelor, and master’s degrees in respiratory care. Their role is to work in collaboration, as part of the patient’s team, alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers to treat, care, and help improve the patient’s outcome. They administer respiratory medication, operate ventilators, and review and test the patient’s lung capacity, among other duties. The use of a ventilator helps to get more oxygen into the bloodstream.


I asked what made these dedicated professionals decide to become Respiratory Therapists? The majority agreed it was their desire to help people suffering from cardio-respiratory illnesses, and the ability to save lives. One question asked, what does it mean to be an RT during the COVID-19 pandemic? The overwhelming answer was scary, yet rewarding. One RT said it was the most unexpected, scary, and very demanding time in their life. Another RT answered it’s unbelievable, and heartbreaking to not be able to do as much as you can to save a life. Sadly, the answer to this question by one brave RT said it meant being there for a patient who is ill and without family present.


I wanted to know the emotional, physical, and mental issues that they faced during this time. Many answered watching patients die, especially without family. They all agree that staff shortage and long working hours caused physical exhaustion. Another question put to them was how do you as an RT prepare yourself mentally each day before work in such an environment? They responded praying, listening to music, just do it, and happy to see their dedicated co-workers beside them. Others responded making sure they take proper precautions, and most importantly to eat well and take care of themselves so that they can be effective in doing their jobs. I asked what do they do to deescalate after their shift? Some answered that they relax by hiking, counting their blessings, listening to music, spending time with family, and reading.


I inquired about what they wanted the general public or elected leaders to know about the virus. The majority said to take this virus more seriously, to educate yourselves about the virus, stop making it political, and follow the CDC’s recommendations.


I want to end this article with a thank you and a word from Tosha Lawson, a Respiratory Therapist whom I had the pleasure of speaking to in a telephone interview. She agreed to share her thoughts about being an RT during the early stages of this pandemic. “This pandemic is scary for everyone involved, patients, family, and health care workers. We, as Respiratory Therapists, do everything we possibly can for our patients. We never neglect any patient even though we are afraid of the virus, and its uncertainties. A typical day would start with a shift of 8-9 therapists, geared up in bunny suits, N95’s, face shields, head, and shoe coverings. We see every patient and do everything required as a respiratory therapist. This is our job, and we do the best that we can as dedicated RT’s.”


To the silent partners on the frontline, saying thank you doesn’t seem sufficient enough to express our sentiments for what you are doing to save lives. Thank you for sharing your experiences and educating us about what you do, and how you are doing it.   BE SAFE

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AS WE ENTER INTO THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, ADVENT, AND CHRISTMAS; IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR ATTITIUDES AND HOW THEY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO BE GRATEFUL OR SHALL I SAY DEMONSTRATE GRATITUDE.

            THE YEAR 2020 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE COIVD-19 PANDEMIC, FOR THE OVER 11 MILLION LIVES AFFECTED BY A DEADLY VIRUS AND OVER 250,000 SOULS LOST DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND THAT IS JUST IN THE UNITED STATES.  DUR THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE HAD TO LEARN NEW NORMS: QUARENTINE, STAYING SIX FEET APART/SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING A MASK, AND TO WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.  WE NO LONGER HUG, SHAKE HANDS, PARTICIPATE IN LARGE GATHERINGS; BUT THAT IS ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS REAL.
          
  OUR CHILDREN FOR THE MOST PART ATTEND SCHOOL ON-LINE, OUR COMMUNITES HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY DUR TO UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, ISOLATION, AND THE INABILITY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS INCREASED.

            ACCORDING TO JAMES MOORE IN HIS BOOK: ATTITUDE IS YOUR PAINTBRUSH: IT COLORS EVERY SITUATION; “THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE GRATEFUL PEOPLE; THE STRONGEST, MOST FULFILLED PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE THANKFUL PEOPLE.” (p. 10, 1998).

            THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT LIKE THIS:” GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:18).  IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS, PAUL SAYS.  IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE THANKS.  

            THIS PASSAGE IS VERY PERSONAL AS I USED IT IN A EULOGY FOR MY MOM WHO WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD ON 10/23/18.  I REMEMBER CRYING THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TOUCHED BY THE PRAYERS, THE SONGS AND THE PRESENCE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  WHEN I STOOD UP TO SPEAK MY ATTITUDE WAS ONE OF GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE LOVE I FELT, THE GRATITUDE FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT DURING MY TIME OF BEREAVEMENT.  I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH GRATITUDE AND I KNEW I WAS NOT ALONE.
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            HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE IS INTENTIONAL.  IT TAKES TIME; TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER, TIME IN GOD’S WORD, AND TIME WITH OTHERS- VIA ZOOM, FACE TIME.  HOWEVER, YOU CAN CONNECT KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE, WE ARE NOT ALONE, AND YES, WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.  VIEW EACH DAY AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS GOOD, HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING, AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS. (PSALM 100).
                                                                                                REV. DEBORAH WEST-JONES
                                                                                                NOV. 19. 2020