Employer liability during the COVID-19 pandemic; Local companies using tech to solve community problems; Military COVID-19 data still a mystery in Hawaii; Kauai County looks to connect residents with jobs
Employer liability during the COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus continues to spread in the Islands. On Oahu, the number of clusters of COVID-19 positive cases in workplaces is soaring. What can businesses do to keep their workers safe without impeding their rights? Can an employee sue their boss if they get sick? What is an employer's liability? Kalani Morse, a partner at the law firm Durrett Lang Morse LLLP and a board member of the Society of Human Resource Management, Hawaii chapter, tells us about workplace liability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local companies using tech to solve community problems
Hawaii Executive Collaborative's TRUE (Technology Readiness User Evaluation) Initiative is an effort to help solve problems across the community. Michelle Cheung, director of the TRUE Initiative, highlights the work underway. Click here to find out more about its webinar on local tech companies trying to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
Military COVID-19 data still a mystery in Hawaii
Commanders initially released COVID-19 case numbers on Hawaii bases until the Pentagon ordered them to stop. The state Department of Health has agreed to keep numbers secret, too. Civil Beat Politics & Opinion Editor Chad Blair tells us how this type of data is publicly available iin Guam, Japan and Korea but not here. Click here to read Kevin Knodell's story at CivilBeat.org.
Kauai County looks to connect residents with jobs
The pandemic shut down the state's economic driver, the visitor industry. When travel restrictions were lifted in June, employment on the Garden Isle saw a small increase of 1 to 5 percent, but those numbers are down again after the partial interisland travel quarantine was reimplemented on Aug. 11. Nalani Brun, director of the County of Kauai's Office of Economic Development, tells us about Kupaa Kauai, an effort to make it easier for its residents looking for jobs. Click here to learn more about Kupaa Kauai, Pulling Forward. Click hereto visit the state's Workfore Development Division website.
