As some businesses start to bring employees back into the office, chief among concerns is employee safety. But what if someone does get sick? Is that a workers’ compensation claim? Attorney Denis Juge says his firm, WC Defense, has already started seeing some COVID-19-related claims pop up in New Orleans. He joins us to explain how workers’ compensation handles the disease, along with how the popular move to work from home may lead to new legal precedents.

Denis Juge is a director/shareholder with WC Defense. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has represented companies and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi, largely in the realm of state and federal workers’ compensation and has collectively tried over 1,000 cases to verdict.

Outside of practicing, Juge taught insurance and workers’ compensation law at Loyola Law School from 1982 to 2005 and is the author of two books on Louisiana workers’ compensation as well as numerous Law Review articles.

He may be reached at www.wcdefense.com.

On today’s podcast, we talk to Alyssa Fletchinger Higgins, the vice president at Plush Appeal - The Mardi Gras Spot, a New Orleans company that creates thousands of custom products for Mardi Gras organizations, business and individuals in New Orleans and beyond. 

Normally, Higgins spends several weeks or more each spring traveling to overseas factories but this year has been different, of course. She talks to us about how Carnival organizations are preparing for next year's event despite the uncertain times and the other ways the pandemic has affected the family business.

In this episode, Rich Collins talks to Mark Romig, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at New Orleans & Company, about the state of tourism, New Orleans & Company's marketing plan and what is in store for the city following the coronavirus pandemic.

With all the talk of opening businesses back up, one thing not being discussed a lot is childcare. According to a recent survey, one-third of childcare providers in greater New Orleans reported that an extended closure will force them to permanently close. With so many industries and jobs whose workers rely on affordable childcare options, what’s being done to help these providers?

In this episode, Michael L. Williamson, president and CEO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana talks about what’s being done, as well as the work underway to help area nonprofits — another sector fighting to survive in this new world.

In our second episode, associate news editor Rich Collins talks to Mike Siegel, the president and director of office leasing at Corporate Realty, about the effects of COVID-19 on the New Orleans real estate market. He shares his thoughts on the hospitality side of the industry, which will be the hardest hit, to the pandemic’s effect on the demand for office space.

In our first Big Talks episode managing editor Kim Singletary talks to Quentin Messer, president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance.