>>> FUNDING PROVIDED BY -- >>> THIS WEEK ON NJ BUSINESS BEAT, RELIEF FOR RESTAURANTS AND MORE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY REACTS AS GOVERNOR MURPHY EASES COVID-19 RELATED RESTRICTIONS.

PLUS, STARTLING UNEMPLOYMENT NU NUMBERS AS WE LEARN WOMEN MAY BE BARING THE BRUNT OF THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

AND NO LONGER TYPICAL 9:00 TO 5:00 N OUR DEEP DIVE, WE DIG INTO THE NEW NORMAL INSIDE THE OFFICE AND FIND OUT WHY MANY COMPANIES ARE TURNING TO PERMANENT REMOTE WORK EVEN AFTER THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>>> HELLO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" F YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH ANOTHER BABY STEP TOWARD A FULL REOPENING OF NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESSES.

GOVERNOR MURPHY RAISED THE STATE'S STRICT INDOOR CAPACITY LIMITS ON BUSINESSES FROM 25% TO 35%, CITING A DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS.

AND HE LIFTED THE STATEWIDE BAN ON SERVING MEALS PAST 10:00 P.M.

THE LEADER OF THE NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION SAYS THE CHANGES MIGHT HELP SOME RESTAURANT OWNERS HANG ON JUST A LITTLE LONGER.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT -- THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS GOING TO DO THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE TABLE HERE'S AND THERE.

BUT WHAT IT WILL GIVE THEM IS THE HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE IMPROVING.

>> OF COURSE, THE HOPE IS THAT IF BUSINESSES HAVE MORE CUSTOMERS COMING IN, PERHAPS THEY CAN STAFF UP AND WELCOME BACK WORKERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AIN THIS PANDEMIC.

IT WAS REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT NATIONWIDE HIRING IN JANUARY WAS STRONGER THAN EXPECTED.

BUT OTHER DATA SHOW A DISTURBING TREND.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE JUST DROPPING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE ENTIRELY.

MANY OF THEM ARE WOMEN WHO HAD TO FOCUS ON CHILDCARE AND VIRTUAL LEARNING CHALLENGES.

ANDY CHALLENGER, AN EXECUTIVE AT THE OUTPLACEMENT FIRM SAYS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, MORE THAN 2.1 MILLION WOMEN HAVE CALLED IT QUITS.

HE SAYS ALARM BELLS SHOULD BE GOING OFF BECAUSE STUDIES SHOW DIVERSITY MAKES COMPANIES MORE RESILIENT.

>> STAGGERING SIZE OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT THE WORKFORCE IS GOING TO BE REAL CHALLENGE FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AND FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE TO GET BACK ON TO SOUND FOOTING IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY.

WE'RE ONLY THREE YEARS OUT FROM THE START OF THE ME TOO MOVEMENT.

WHERE WE SAW IN SUCH VIVID DETAIL THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING WOMEN REPRESENTED AT THE TOP OF POWER STRUCTURES WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS.

>> ELSEWHERE, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION IN NEW JERSEY WORKING TO CONVINCE COMPANIES TO SET UP SHOP IN THE GARDEN STATE.

CHOOSE NEW JERSEY IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC LAST YEAR, THE GROUP HELPED 33 COMPANIES RELOCATE OR EXPAND THEIR LOCATIONS IN NEW JERSEY.

THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS YEAR.

>> IN 2021, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPANIES THAT ARE ANNOUNCING AND LOOKING TO EXPLORE RELOCATING OR EXPANDING IN NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE IN STORE THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE COMING WEEKS WITH SIGNIFICANT JOB INVESTMENTS.

SOME OF THE COMPANIES WE'RE TALKING TO COULD BE 500, 600, 700 NEW JOBS.

>> MORE THREE QUARTERS OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESS LEADERS THINK THE ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

ACCOR ACCORDING TO A SURVEY.

THE BANK'S PRESIDENT AND CEO SAYS THERE IS LESS CONFIDENCE ABOUT JOB CREATION.

>> IT'S ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE REHIRED BACK INTO POSITION THAT'S EXISTED.

WE ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PARADIGM LOOKS LIKE RELATIVE TO PEOPLE LEARNING TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY DURING THIS PROCESS AND WILL SOME OF THE JOBS COME BACK?

MY SENSE IS A MAJORITY OF THEM WILL AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO CALL.

>> ONE ATLANTIC CITY EMPLOYER DECIDED TO GIVE AN EXTRA THANK YOU TO THE WORKERS.

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IS HANDING OUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BONUSES TO 2,000 FRONT LINE EMPLOYEES.

EXECUTIVES SAY IT'S A WAY TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO THOSE WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH WORKING THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF WORK FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEY NEEDED EXTRA DOLLARS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

IT'S ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED SO HARD AND SINCE REOPENING REALLY PUT US IN A DIFFERENT ROLE HERE IN ATLANTIC CITY.

WE'VE REALLY DONE WELL THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

>> AN UPDATE TO A STORY WE REPORTED ON LAST WEEK, THE GROWTH OF THE GIG ECONOMY.

MANY RESIDENTS TURNED TO GIG WORK WITH APPS LIKE UBER AND DOORDASH.

THERE IS A NEW GROUP OPERATING IN THE STATE TO SUPPORT THOSE WORKERS.

IT'S CALLED THE NEW JERSEY COALITION FOR INDEPENDENT WORK.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THE GROUP'S MISSION.

KRISTINA, THIS COALITION LOOKING OUT FOR GIG WORKERS IS A REAL INTERESTING MIX OF GROUPS.

CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE?

>> SURE.

WE'VE BEEN FACED WITH THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC NATIONALLY AND WORLDWIDE.

ONE THING WE SAW AS A RESULT OF THAT WAS UNFORTUNATELY, OF COURSE, A HUGE DIP IN JOB OPPORTUNITIES, UNEMPLOYMENT SKYROCKETING AND THE LIKE.

WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THAT IS JOBS AND WHAT IS KIND OF KNOWN AS THE GIG ECONOMY.

SEEMED VERY INTERESTING AND APPEALING TO THOSE THAT WERE UNFORTUNATELY FORCED TO BE LAID OFF AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE UBER AND LYFT, DOORDASH AND INSTACART BECAME A VERY ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE IN UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS AND LOOKING FOR FLEXIBILITY AND A WAY TO MAKE MONEY WHILE EVERYONE IS FORCED TO STAY HOME.

DELIVERY WAS THE BEST WAY TO GET FOOD.

AND SO THERE ARE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY BANDED TOGETHER, HELPED THE PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF THE JOBS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO EMPLOY AND THEN HELP BUSINESSES.

AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.

>> SO AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED ON, YOUR CHAMBER, OTHER BUSINESS GROUPS AND FAITH LEADERS ARE PART OF THE COALITION.

IS THERE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN MIND?

WHAT IS THE END GAME THAT EVERYONE IS SHARING IN TERMS OF A GOAL?

>> I THINK THE SHARED GOAL AT THE END OF THE DAY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WORKERS HAVE THE PROTECTIONS THEY NEED WHILE STILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND THEN THE BUSINESSES AS WELL AS, AGAIN, JUST SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT WE SAW IN THE PANDEMIC WAS UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES, OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, A DISPROPORTION OF LAYOFFS AND THE LIKE.

SO MANY OF THE GIG WORKERS AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS THAT WORK FOR COMPANIES WERE, YOU KNOW, GRAVITATED TO THESE TYPES OF JOBS.

>> IT'S SO INTERESTING IN HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN TERMS OF ONCE THE PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN AND HOPEFULLY ENDS SOON, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT DECIDE TO CONTINUE DOING GIG WORK OR HOW MANY RESTAURANTS MIGHT LEARN THAT DOORDASH REALLY HELPED THEM OUT DURING THIS PERIOD.

SO THIS MIGHT NOT JUST BE KIND OF A ONE OFF.

THIS MIGHT BE AN ISSUE THAT CHANGES THE NEW JERSEY LABOR MARKET FOR THE FUTURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRENDS AFTER WE EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC AS IT RELATES TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT 37% OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO, YOU KNOW, FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF, YOU KNOW, THE GIG ECONOMY THAT, ARE DOING THESE KINDS OF SERVICES, THEY DO IT AS SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME.

NOW THAT BEING SAID, AS WE JUST SAID, THAT NUMBER, OF COURSE, HAS GROWN DUE TO LAYOFFS THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IT IS SUPPLEMENTAL AND SOME IT IS FULL TIME WORK.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M ONLY ONE PERSON.

I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES THE LUXURY OF GETTING CERTAIN THINGS DELIVERED, WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOM TO.

SO THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE JOBS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DESIRABLE AND CERTAINLY IN NEED POST PANDEMIC.

>> KRISTINA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AND THANK YOU.

>> KRISTINA IS TALKING ABOUT CHANGING TRENDS IN THE WORKPLACE.

WELL HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

REMOTE WORK.

THAT MIGHT STICK AROUND LONGER THAN WE THINK.

WE'RE PUTTING REMOTE WORK IN FOCUS THIS WEEK ESPECIALLY AFTER SEEING A RECENT SURVEY.

THOUSANDS OF TOP LEVEL EXECUTIVES WHO WERE POLLED SAID THAT CLOSE TO ONE-THIRD OF THE STAFFS MAY BE WORKING FROM HOME PERMANENTLY EVEN AFTER THE PANDEMIC ENDS.

AS FOR EMPLOYEES, THEY'VE ADJUSTED TO WEARING SWEAT PANTS AND ATTENDING ZOOM MEETINGS.

MORE THAN 70% BELIEVE REMOTE WORK IS SUCCESSFUL ACCORDING TO A PWC SURVEY.

MORE THAN A THIRD SAY WORKING FROM HOME HAS MADE THEM MORE PRODUCTIVE.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE SURVEYED WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS EACH WEEK EVEN AFTER PANDEMIC CONCERNS END.

THE CHANGING NATURE OF HOW AND WHERE WE WORK IN NEW JERSEY WAS THE SUBJECT OF A STORY CO-AUTHORED BY JIM HUGHES.

ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING ASPECTS OF YOUR REPORT AS YOU LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE IS JUST HOW WORK MIGHT PERMANENTLY CHANGE.

IT JUST SEEMS THAT WE MIGHT NOT GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW NORMAL.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NEW NORMAL IS.

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO PREPANDEMIC NEW JERSEY.

WE REALLY DISCOVERED OR FINALLY RECOGNIZED THAT WORK IS AN ACTIVITY, WORK IS NOT SIMPLY A PLACE.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACK TO BRINGING EVERY EMPLOYEE BACK TO THE CENTRAL OFFICE FIVE DAYS PER WEEK.

THERE ARE NEW EFFECTIVE WORK PATTERNS GOING FORWARD.

>> IN YOUR MIND, THAT CHANGES THE WAY WE VIEW COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, CORRECT?

>> IT'S GOING HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.

POSITIVES AND NEG ADVERTISE FOR NEW JERSEY, OBVIOUSLY.

THE AMOUNT OF SPACE IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE MAY CONTRACT.

HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WORK FROM HOME AND WE MAY HAVE DISTRIBUTED SATELLITE FACILITIES THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED NEAR WHERE THERE IS CLUSTER OF RESIDENCES OF THE KEY WORKFORCE AND THE LIKE.

NEW JERSEY WAS SORT OF THE LEADING -- WAS AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE 20th CENTURY.

IT IS SPRAWLING TWO OR THREE STORY OFFICE BUILDINGS IN THE LIKE.

THEY FELL OUT OF FAVOR THE PAST TWO DECADES.

HOWEVER, WHEN I TURNED IT IS A TURN OF THE GROUND SCRAPERS AS THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE SKYSCRAPERS.

A LOT OF THE GROUND SCRAPERS CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVELY USED FOR SATELLITE FACILITIES FOR OUTPOSTS AND THE LIKE.

AND WE SEE A LOT OF INQUIRIES BEING MADE ABOUT SPACE AVAILABILITY FOR MAJOR CORPORATIONS AS THEY CHANGE THEIR ENTIRE REAL ESTATE FOOTPRINT.

SO IT HAS TO BE A POSITIVE FOR NEW JERSEY'S DISTRESSED OFFICE PARKS AND OFFICE MARKETS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE LARGE URBAN CENTERS?

WILL THAT ACCELERATE A FLIGHT FROM THE URBAN AREAS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL CAUSE A FLIGHT FROM URBAN AREAS.

THOSE FACILITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE RECONFIGURED.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE CORONAVIRUS PROOF AND THE LIKE.

DENSITY IN THOSE BUILDINGS MAY BE LESS.

AND NOT ALL COMPANIES ARE GOING TO WANT TO HAVE A DISTRIBUTED WORKFORCE.

SOME COMPANIES, SOME ORGANIZATIONS REALLY NEED THAT FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION FOR CREATIVITY REASONS, FOR GENERATING NEW IDEAS AND THE LIKE.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE SUBSTANTIAL ADJUSTMENTS MADE, SUBSTANTIAL TRANSFORMATIONS MADE BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A NEW ECONOMIC WORLD.

>> AND THAT WORLD IT DOES SEEM WILL INCLUDE PERMANENT WORK FROM HOME FOR SOME THEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE DESPITE DISTRACTIONS.

IT HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT HOME ENVIRONMENTS THE PAST 11 MONTHS.

MANY HOUSEHOLDS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN AT HOME AND THEIR EDUCATION AT HOME.

BUT IF WE GET BACK ON TRACK AND WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND HAVING FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION, THOSE HOME ENVIRONMENTS MAY BE EVEN MORE CONDUCIVE TO INTENSE PRIVATE WORK.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE WORKING MORE AT HOME.

THAT'S GOING SAVE ON COMMUTING COSTS AND THE LIKE.

SOME OF THE MAJOR OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE GOING TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO WHAT HAS BEEN TERMED THE HUB IS A CLUB.

AND SO THOSE MAJOR FACILITIES WILL BE USED FOR ONBOARDING NEW EMPLOYEES.

FOR LARGE EMPLOYEE GATHERINGS.

OR SPECIAL EVENTS TO BUILD UP ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURES AND THE LIKE.

BUT MOST LIKELY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE USED FOR BRINGING EVERY EMPLOYEE BACK TO THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS PER WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PERMANENT ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW WORK IS ACTUALLY CONDUCTED AND WHERE IT'S CONDUCTED.

>> GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

>> MAKING A DECISION TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE IS A TOUGH ONE.

A PARTNER AT A RESOURCES REAL ESTATE SHARED WITH US HIS THOUGHT PROCESS ON WORKING FROM HOME AND BRINGING PEOPLE BACK TO THE OFFICE.

AND HIS OPERATIONS MANAGER TOLD US WHAT SHE HAD TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEIR OFFICES WERE SAFE.

>> IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO YOU BOTH.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, THOMAS.

TELL US WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE AS SOMEBODY IN CHARGE OF A BUSINESS HAVING TO MAKE THE DECISION AND THINK THROUGH THE IDEA OF BRINGING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THE OFFICE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC?

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

WE HAD RESOURCES REAL ESTATE CLOSED OUR BUSINESSES BEFORE WE WERE ORDERED TO.

WE JUST SORT OF SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

AND WE WERE VERY PRO ACTIVE.

EVERYBODY WAS WORKING FROM HOME.

AND WE KIND OF DIDN'T MISS BEAT.

AND SO THEN WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAD IDENTIFIED REAL ESTATE AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE FAIRLY EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, SO WE WERE TECHNICALLY ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK MUCH SOONER THAN MOST BUSINESSES.

HOWEVER, WE CONTINUED TO WORK REMOTELY OUT OF A CONCERN FOR SAFETY.

THE AGENTS WERE CERTAINLY DOING SALES.

BUT OUR OFFICES REMAINED CLOSED UNTIL JUNE.

AND WE'VE -- WE DID REOPEN WITH A LOT OF PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

SO WE HAVE BEEN OPEN.

BUT IT'S BEEN SORT OF A PARTIAL OPENING.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE PROTOCOLS THAT YOU HAD TO LEARN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE SAFE.

>> IT WAS FUNNY.

TOM AND I FIGURED OUT CERTAIN PROTOCOLS BEFORE I WENT FOR THE CERTIFICATION.

AND SOME OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF GOING WITH THE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAD AT THAT TIME.

SO SOCIAL DISTANCING, WE SET UP CERTAIN WORK STATIONS.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULDN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY SIT WHEREVER THEY WANTED.

YOU PHYSICALLY WE MOVED THE CHAIRS AT NONWORKING STATIONS.

AND THAT KIND OF HELPED TO PRO VENT PEOPLE FROM SITTING WHEREVER THEY WANT.

IT FORCED THEM TO REMEMBER THERE IS THIS WORK STATION AND SIX FEET AWAY IS ANOTHER ONE.

WE ALSO HAVE SANITATION STATIONS THROUGHOUT EACH OFFICE WHICH WE FELT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT AGENTS AND STAFF TO WIPE DOWN THUR WORK STATION BEFORE THEY START, BUT ALSO WHEN THEY FINISH.

YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO THINK OF WHATEVER WE COULD TO KEEP OUR STAFF, AGENTS AND CLIENTS, YOU KNOW, AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> LEXIE, WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE NOT JUST FROM THE WORKFORCE BUT ALSO THE CLIENTS WHO WERE COMING INTO THE OFFICE?

>> I THINK PEOPLE REALLY AND TRULY APPRECIATED THAT WE WERE SO FORWARD THINKING.

AND WE KIND OF GOT AHEAD OF EVERYTHING AND MADE SURE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SAFETY TO US IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

WE WOULD NEVER WANT TO PUT ANY OUR STAFF, ANY YOUOF OUR AGENTS CLIG CLIENTS IN HARM'S WAY.

>> THERE ARE STUDIES ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WILL RETURN TO THE OFFICE.

THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE WORKING FROM HOME.

SOME BUSINESSES HAVE FOUND THAT IT WORKS FOR THEM.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT ALL OF YOUR EMPLOYEES WILL COME BACK OR HAVE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS EPISODE THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU RETHINK WHO HAS TO BE IN THE OFFICE WHEN?

>> WELL, I'M SURE MY STAFF WILL BE EAGERLY AWAITING MY RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY, REALLY PLEASED ME WAS THE PRODUCTIVITY, I THINK, THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WE SAW VERY EARLY ON WERE REALLY GREAT.

OUR STAFF IS REALLY REMARKABLE.

I THINK THEY WERE WORKING HARDER FROM HOME DESPITE, YOU KNOW, OBSTACLES WHEN YOU'RE HOME AND TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE.

WE HAVE BEEN RELOOKING AT HOW WE GO FORWARD.

AND WHETHER OR NOT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

SERM CERTAINLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PAYING FOR RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE, IT WARRANTS FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT SORT OF RELOOK AT THAT.

BUT EVEN FROM A STAFFING STANDPOINT, I THINK A LOT OF THEM ENJOY WORKING FROM HOME.

WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG CULTURE.

AND THAT, I THINK, MORE SO THAN ANYTHING HAS BEEN THE STUMBLING BLOCK OR THE CHALLENGE FOR PEOPLE THAT THEY MISS JUST BEING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND COLLABORATING IN A TWHA IS NOT THE SAME ON A ZOOM MEETING OR BY PHONE.

THINGS TOTALLY CHANGED.

THE WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE OPEN TO IT AND SEE WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE AND WHAT HELPS US TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

>> TOM AND LEXIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH ME.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENS IF AN EMPLOYEE GETS CALLED BACK TO WORK AND THEN GETS COVID-19?

IT IS A BIG RISKY ISSUE FOR COMPANIES.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION IS FIGHTING FOR BUSINESS LIABILITY PROTECTIONS AND SHE TOLD ME WHERE THINGS STAND.

>> ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EMPLOYEES GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE IS THE BUSINESS LIABILITY ISSUE FOR EMPLOYERS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ABOUT FOR SOME TIME.

WHERE DO WE STAND IN NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE U.S. ON THIS ISSUE?

>> YEAH, SO BUSINESS LIABILITY PROTECTION IS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR BUSINESS.

WE KNOW BUSINESSES ARE OUT THERE CHECKING THE SAFETY BOXES ON PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES TO BRING THEIR WORKFORCE BACK SAFELY.

THEY TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND SO WE HAVE ASKED FOR THE PROPER BALANCE THAT WHEN A BUSINESS CAN CHECK ALL THE SAFETY BOXES THEY'RE GIVEN LIABILITY PROTECTION IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT.

SO WE'RE NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE ACT BEING RECKLESSLY OR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

WE'RE SAYING PROVIDE BALANCE FOR THOSE WHO ARE.

SO WHERE ARE WE IN NEW JERSEY?

AS WE UNDERSTAND THIS BILL IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL AND THE LECTURE DOESN'T HAVE AN APPETITE TO TAKE THIS UP AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW THERE IS AT LEAST 12 STATES IF NOT A FEW MORE WHO HAVE PASSED BILLS INTO LAW THAT DO PROVIDE LIABILITY PROTECTION, GIVEN AGAIN THAT A BUSINESS IS RESPONSIBLE AND DOTTING Is AND CROSSING Ts WHICH IT COMES TO SAFETY.

WE ALSO HAVE ENGAGED OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION ASKING THEM FOR NATIONAL RELIEF ON THIS AND A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD STAND UP A PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND SIMILAR TO THE 9/11 FUND THAT WE SAW BACK AFTER 9/11.

SO THOSE AGGRIEVED BY CIRCUMSTANCES WHOLLY OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL CAN GO TO GET REMEDIES.

>> WHAT ARE WE SEEING IN TERMS OF LITIGATION WHERE SOMEBODY GOES TO WORK, THEY GET COVID-19 AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S YOUR FAULT.

>> YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS JUST A STUDY LAST WEEK WHERE WE HEARD THAT NEW JERSEY IS NUMBER ONE HAVING THE MOST CASES AGAINST EMPLOYERS FOR CONTRACTION OF COVID-19 AT THE WORK SITE.

>> DO YOU THINK THE LACK OF ANY PROTECTIONS WILL MAKE BUSINESSES HESITANT ABOUT CALLING THEIR WORKERS BACK?

>> I THINK BUSINESSES ARE TAKING A LONG HARD PAUSE AND THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SHIFT IN THE WORKER'S COMP PRESUMPTION.

THERE IS A PRESUMPTION THAT THEY GOT IT IN THE WORKPLACE WHETHER THEY WERE SOCIALLY OR TRAVELED SOMEWHERE WHERE COVID-19 IS PERHAPS RAMPANT.

AND SO THE BURDEN IS ON THE EMPLOYER IN THE FIRST INSTANCE TO PROFIT WASN'T CONTRACTED IN THE WORKPLACE.

THAT MEANS INCREASED WORKER'S COMP COSTS AND THAT MEANS INCREASED COSTS FOR DEFENDING SUITS THAT OTHERWISE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE.

>> IN TERMS OF THE INACTION AND THE LACK OF DESIRE TO DO ANYTHING IN NEW JERSEY, IS THERE ANY WAY LEGISLATION CAN BE AMENDED SO THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROTECTIONS?

YOU SAID IT WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY WIGGLE ROOM ANYWHERE ON EITHER SIDE.

>> WE CONTINUE TO CARVE OUT EXCEPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN EXCEPTION FOR NURSING HOMES.

HOW DO WE CHIP AWAY AT THE EDGES IF WE CAN'T GET A COMPREHENSIVE RESOLUTION TO THIS.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

I'M WONDERING IN LIGHT OF THE LIABILITY ISSUE, WILL THAT MAKE SOME COMPANIES DECIDE PERHAPS TO CONTINUE WORK FROM HOME ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS AT LEAST FOR SOME OF THEIR WORKERS?

>> THESE ARE THE FACTORS THAT BUZZ HAS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE WORKFORCE AND HOW THAT WORKFORCE IS GOING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS BUSINESS LIABILITY ISSUE IS KIND OF THE NUMBER ONE STICKING POINT RIGHT NOW FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THE COSTS AND EXPENSES ON -- OF NEW MANDATES ON BUSINESS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, CLAMBERING TO GET A VACCINE FOR THEIR WORKFORCE AND WE'RE STILL WAITING TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE CAN'T PUT ALL THE EGGS IN THE VACCINATION BASKET.

WE KNOW THE VACCINE IS ONE MITT G PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN ADDRESSING COVID-19 IN THE FUTURE.

>> MICHELLE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RHONDA.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

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