The CEO of a Clearwater, Florida-based advertising and marketing firm brought on a storm of concern when she urged her workers to work within the workplace throughout Hurricane Ian.
Within the electronic mail, PostcardMania supervisor Pleasure Gendusa downplayed the severity of the hurricane, calling it “nothing burger,” and advised workers to convey their pets and youngsters to headquarters on Tuesday. and Wednesday in the event that they wanted to evacuate.
Social media backlash erupted, nonetheless, prompting Gendusa to vary course. She introduced that the top workplace would shut and as an alternative be used as a spot the place workers may shelter in place, in accordance with the
Tampa Bay Climate, noting that the constructing is “in an evacuation-free zone and constructed to face up to Class 5 winds.” The corporate employs greater than 290 individuals and has a 69,800 sq. foot campus, in accordance with the
Time.
Gendusa issued an apology to employees in a memo on Wednesday, apologizing to those that felt his earlier feedback “appeared insensitive,” the
Time reported. The hurricane, which
made landfall on Wednesday, devastated Florida. President Biden mentioned it
might be the deadliest in state historical past.
SHRM on-line collected the next information articles and assets on this subject:
Employees urged to get to workplace forward of Hurricane Ian
As Hurricane Ian headed for Tampa, Fla. this week – the primary main storm to threaten the world in a century – PostcardMania’s normal supervisor urged workers to return to work and produce their kids and pets from firm.
Gendusa insisted she was not afraid, Vice reported, at the same time as Pinellas County, residence to her Clearwater-based headquarters, ordered evacuations starting Monday.
(The hill)
Florida CEO faces backlash after asking workers to work throughout Hurricane Ian and produce pets and household to workplace
“It isn’t going to be that unhealthy,” Gendusa mentioned in a video recording of the assembly obtained by
The Washington Submit. “Clearly it is of the utmost significance that you simply really feel protected and cozy, however I truthfully wish to maintain delivering and I wish to have finish of time period,” added Gendusa. “And when that turns into nothing, I do not need it to be like, ‘Nice, all of us stopped producing due to the media and [thought] perhaps it was going to be horrible. “
Staff acquired an automatic textual content message after the assembly encouraging them to convey family members to the workplace in the course of the peak of the storm on Tuesday and Wednesday.
[SHRM members-only resource:
Weather and Natural Disasters]
Who has to work throughout a hurricane?
There ought to be clear protections for employees following evacuation orders because of climate circumstances. Whereas PostcardMania initially pressures its workers to work by Ian; the corporate later I backed up after being referred to as out by Labor Notes author and activist Jonah Furman.
(Slate)
Within the occasion of a catastrophe: compensation, go away and associated points
When enterprise is suspended or workers can’t come to work, many employment legal guidelines are concerned.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are harmful and might trigger vital injury from storm surges, wind injury, rip currents and flooding. They’ll happen alongside any US shoreline or in any territory of the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. Storm surges are traditionally the main reason for hurricane-related deaths in the USA. Listed here are some assets and suggestions from the US authorities.
(Prepared)
Employee security throughout hurricane season
With storm surges, excessive winds, massive waves and flooding, hurricanes might be extraordinarily harmful to anybody of their path. In response to Congressional Funds WorkplaceHarm from hurricane exercise prices American companies $9 billion annually.
Listed here are 5 steps to maintain your employees protected.