Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1286864
www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse 33 "I want to make sure that my team is healthy and happy, and then we'll focus on workload after that." Susan Marsh The team has also been busy throughout the pandemic reviewing insurance policies and fielding questions from different areas of the business on matters such as the use of force majeure clauses, as well as occupational and safety issues. Providing guidance for establishing a health and safety committee for the enterprise as employees gradually start to return to offices around the world is another priority. "That initiative will be very helpful in creating efficiencies for our organization and allowing for the flow of information from our local regions and offices to our core working group so that we understand what needs to be done in multiple offices around the world," says Marsh. Focusing on the health and safety and mental, physical and financial well-being of her depression and to cope with situations related to the pandemic, such as isolation. The shift to remote work across Morneau Shepell's offices involved privacy and security considerations, which the legal team handled in addition to supporting the HR team in establishing protocols for when an employee reported symptoms or had a confirmed case of COVID-19. Legal was also heavily involved in identifying jurisdiction-specific requirements throughout the crisis, as the organization has offices all around the world. "In every area of the organization from region to region, there were different restrictions that we needed to be aware of," says Kogan. "If there are people in offices, we need to know the rules in order to facilitate their work and to under- stand any reporting requirements from a health and safety perspective." SUPPORT FOR PANDEMIC- RELATED ANXIETY Morneau Shepell's legal department supports the organization's internet- based cognitive behavioural therapy program, which aims to support four conditions with five distinct programs: anxiety, depression, pain management, insomnia and the recently released pandemic anxiety. Offers mobile app with digital education, videos, visuals and streamlined text Supported by a large network of qualified therapists Counselling offered through messaging, video or phone team continues to be a top priority for Marsh. "I want to make sure that my team is healthy and happy, and then we'll focus on workload after that," she says. Susan Marsh Rosie Kogan