Thursday, June 24 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Zoom
Covering at work, may not be what you think. Tawny Alvarez, Partner at Verrill, will walk us through what covering is, how employees cover, and the adverse effects the behavior is having on creating a culture of inclusion and maintaining a safe workplace culture, where employees can truly be their authentic selves at work, without fear of having to mask certain aspects of their identify.
Attendees will learn about the four forms of covering: appearance-based, affiliation-based, advocacy-based and association-based. Tawny will discuss current covering data, how leaders within the organization can lead-by-example by “uncovering” and the future of inclusion and authenticity within the workplace.
Disability is often overlooked when organizations are discussing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Chris Hynes, Employer Relations Specialist at the Department of Vocational Services for Maine Medical Center will join Tawny in the discussion with a guide to understanding the value of inclusive hiring, integrating, and managing of diverse groups including people with disabilities.
They will give real examples of how other family businesses are currently hiring from this unique labor pool of qualified candidates. In a tight labor market, this training is meant to introduce companies to the value of hiring people with disabilities as well as an overview of the business case for disability inclusion.
Together, the two will lead us through an interactive presentation where we’ll gain insight and look into best practices for the workplace. Learn about this majority phenomenon and how you can start taking practical steps today to better your diversity and inclusion programs and impact your company culture and bottom line!
Tawny Alvarez, Partner, Verrill Law
Tawny prides herself on helping clients comply with the law while simultaneously creating an amazing place to work. She centers her practice on the understanding that the employment landscape is ever-changing and organizations do not have the time or resources to keep abreast of all these changes—from pandemic policies and employee’s marijuana use within the work environment to the effect of social networking in the workplace, including the effect of the use of mobile devices on wage and hour issues. In this evolving landscape, Tawny recognizes that for companies to remain profitable and successful they must be proactive, not merely reactive, to these issues.
Chris Hynes, Employer Relations Specialist - York County, Department of Vocational Services – Maine Medical Center
Chris’s role as Employer Relations Specialist at Maine Medical Center’s Department of Vocational Services focuses on partnering with businesses to help bridge the gap between employment and people with disabilities. Chris holds an MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Vermont, focusing on inclusive hiring practices for people with barriers as a means for sustainable workforce development.
