Editor’s Note

George Floyd's death, in police custody, has sparked a massive outrage not just in the US, but also across the world. It has yet again brought to the fore the discussion about racial disparities that exist in workplaces, as well as in the society.

The outcry against anti-Black racism is causing more employers to address social issues, including the experiences of Black employees and other ethnic and racial groups, in their organizations.
 

Featured on the cover, this month, is Valerie Bolden-Barrett’s Racism In Workplace: Addressing The Social Issues that talks about what companies are doing to understand, address, discuss, and solve this issue.

As with many states, Texas and the cannabis plant have a long, complex history – from the first citywide cannabis ban adopted in El Paso in 1915, to the enactment of state laws in 1931 that made possession of any amount of cannabis illegal statewide, to imposing in 1955 sentences of up to life imprisonment for cannabis possession by repeat offenders. Read Low-THC Cannabis: Easing The Pain by Yvette Mabbun and Kelly Vazhappilly to get an overview of the cannabis-related legislation and regulations applicable to Texas cannabis operators and consumers.  

Returning to work during the global health crisis could be the toughest HR management challenge of our times. Bringing employees back to their offices does not just involve health and safety risks; but also business continuity, business transformation, and employee experience challenges. Though we are excited to reunite with our work besties, a lot of us are in fear of being exposed to the virus. Srikanth Varma, in his article, Return To Work Amid Coronavirus: HR's Toughest Challenge And Best Opportunity highlights key safety procedures to consider while implementing a safe return to work program.

It has become apparent that despite the UK Government introducing the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to ease the pressure many are currently facing as a result of COVID-19, this is no "silver bullet". While this temporary measure has undoubtedly assisted numerous businesses maintain headcount in the initial few months of the pandemic, it cannot alleviate the ongoing effects Covid-19 will inevitably have on the workplace long past the end of the scheme. What are the correct redundancy process employers need to be aware of? Tina Chander’s article COVID-19: Are Redundancies Inevitable? will help you with the answer.

This is not all! This month’s issue of HR Legal & Compliance Excellence brings to you the best practices and tools to keep yourself protected and compliant.

Stay Safe. 
 

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