GREG TUMOLO, an attorney for Providence-based firm Duffy & Sweeney Ltd., recently received the 2020 Volunteer of the Year award from the Rhode Island Society of Human Resource Management. Tumolo was recognized for spearheading and developing content for the RI SHRM COVID-19 Resource Center, a collection of articles, checklists, forms, frequently asked questions and public health guidance.
What is your reaction to earning this award from the Rhode Island Society of Human Resource Management? I was deeply honored and humbled to learn that my colleagues on the board of directors of Rhode Island SHRM had awarded me the Volunteer of the Year award. This award is Rhode Island SHRM’s highest honor. It recognizes the valuable contributions made by one volunteer leader to serving human resource professionals, advancing the HR profession and enhancing the community.
What was the impetus in creating the COVID-19 Resource Center for RI SHRM? As the pandemic started to take hold in southern New England last February, HR professionals began to realize that nothing in their professional training and experience had prepared them to respond to a global pandemic. They were tasked with reimagining what their workplaces and workforces would look like in our “new normal,” without a single, easily accessible source of advice, information and best practices to consult. Many SHRM members were left feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information coming at them on a daily basis, much of it confusing and conflicting. Recognizing an unmet need for simplicity and clarity during these difficult times, I leveraged my experience as an employment law attorney to offer advice and assistance.
What information does the COVID-19 Resource Center provide the public in addressing the pandemic? The COVID-19 Resource Center is a centralized repository of articles, checklists, forms, FAQs, public health guidance and webinars that area HR professionals need to respond to the unprecedented challenges facing them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource center is updated regularly because the issues raised by the pandemic are ever evolving.
What are some of the employment law challenges and trends that employers can expect in the coming months? I anticipate an uptick in wage and hour claims stemming from the unprecedented shift to remote work during the pandemic. Employers can expect to see claims from employees classified as nonexempt regarding off-the-clock work and overtime. I also expect to see whistleblower claims by employees who allege that they were subjected to retaliation for raising concerns about unsafe working conditions (e.g., failure to follow COVID-19 mitigation protocols); claims that an employer failed to reasonably accommodate an employee’s alleged disability or sincerely held religious beliefs with respect to the COVID-19 vaccination; and violations of paid leave laws, including the Rhode Island paid sick and safe leave law and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
