New Putnam County Business Council “Traveling Network” Aims to bring Cross-County Businesses Together Safely

On November 12th, the Putnam County Business Council (PCBC) will kick off a new “Traveling Network” with co-host Putnam Valley Business Network (PVBN). While we are eager to resume in-person networking and educational events, our first priority is the safety of our members and the community. That said, our first “Traveling Network” event will be virtual. Businesses interested in attending should sign up in advance.  See the event details below and click the registration button to receive a link to join the event All are welcome.

The program will showcase Putnam businesses by offering attendees a platform to introduce their business and services. Participants will then breakout into smaller groups in private rooms to connect with new contacts and expand upon conversations.

Know that the PCBC has plans to do in-person events in the near future with virtual options. Until that time, it is imperative that we keep moving forward by vigilantly complying with NYS COVID Safety Guidelines. While death rates are down in our state, there has been an uptick in the infection rate. You don’t need me to tell you that we must avoid another lockdown at all costs. That said, the show must go on. Businesses are hurting and we need to provide opportunities for them to thrive. Networking is one of those opportunities. We are looking to support and grow as many networking opportunities as possible while aiming to keep the spread down and businesses open. It’s that simple.

We look forward to seeing new faces on November 12th! Please register for the event on the putnamcountybusinesscouncil.com Calendar Events tab.

Our first event takes place on Thursday, November 12th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm with our co-host, the Putnam Valley Business Network.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Last week the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York handed down a decision in CAPRARO v. MATRIX ABSENCE MANAGEMENT et al., Respondents; Workers’ Compensation Board, Respondent, 2020 N.Y. Slip Op. 06000 which could have a serious impact on employers with employees working remotely from home. The case arises out of an injury sustained by an employee in his home while moving boxes of furniture that he intended to use for work. The employee had requested that his employer purchase said furniture and the employer denied the request. The court held that the WCB’s standard for employees working from home under which injuries are only compensable if occurring during regular work hours and while the employee is actively engaged in work duties as opposed to, for example, taking a short break or using the bathroom is unsupported by precedent.

The WCB was ordered to apply a standard which would determine whether claimant, “when moving the boxes, was engaged in a “purely personal” activity that was not “reasonable and sufficiently work related under the circumstances” “In making that assessment, the Board should bear in mind that a short break or some similar “[m]omentary deviation from the work routine for a customary and accepted purpose” does not constitute an interruption in employment sufficient to bar a claim for benefits.” “Likewise, although claimant was injured during his lunch hour, that fact alone “does not render injuries non-compensable provided other facts requisite to recovery exist” and recovery may still lie if the injurious act of moving furniture acquired for work use was “sufficiently work related and, therefore, not purely personal” under the correct standard.”

This loose standard could have far-reaching implications for employers with remote employees. The Business Council will continue to monitor this case and will be poised to opine through an amicus brief should the parties appeal. This case, as all other cases, is fact-specific. Individual remote work agreements, arrangements and policies may differ and could render different results. We will update you on any forthcoming actions in the case and any others that have broad impact on employers. Please contact me with any specific questions

2020 has been a year unlike any other in the world of labor/human resources. As such it has been difficult to plan our “normal” fall webinar series so that we ensure we cover important topics in a timely manner. So, our schedule this fall will be a little different. See below for our proposed schedule. Each of these programs, however, can and will be modified to include the latest HR developments/updates you may need to know.