News

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Center for Workplace Performance and VLERA will host a webinar, "Remote Work Before, During and After the Pandemic" on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 from 8:00-9:15 p.m. Panelists for this program include: Ayanna Anis (Netflix), Bunny Comilla (Zippo, Inc.), and David Needham (Delta Air Lines).

Please register in advance to attend this webinar.

Program:

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many large corporations had piloted the remote work with varying degrees of success. For most organizations, the pandemic has removed the idea that remote work would be discretionary.

Whether as a consequence of public policies the pandemic required governments to enact or an abundance of organizational caution, remote work in the last several months has become the norm for most “non-essential” workers whose jobs could be adapted to virtual platforms. The transformation has created a new set of challenges, some advantages and several unanticipated consequences, particularly in seeking to adapt work to a setting where parents would also be required to attend to homeschooling of remote students.

Our panelists are all HR professionals with extensive experience in addressing remote work during this pandemic. They will provide insights based on the environments in which they work: manufacturing, travel, and entertainment.

HRCI Recertification Credits and CEUs

Approval pending

Agenda 

• Before the Pandemic
       - What was normal?
• During the Pandemic

- Allocating and Managing Resources
- Managing Performance
- Addressing Work/Life Balance
- Addressing Mental Health Challenges

• After the Pandemic

- Return to a “New Normal”

About the Presenters:

Ayana Anis, MPS in Human Resources and Employment Relations

For over 20 years, Ayanna Anis has practiced Human Resources in a variety of industries including start-up organizations, technology, law and professional services. She is recognized and respected as a leader committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture of integrity, leadership, and accountability. Ayanna is currently a Director of Human Resources at Netflix Inc. based in Los Angeles. Ayanna earned a Master’s Degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) from Penn State in 2011. She is a former Penn State Alumni Association Atlanta Chapter Board Member as well as a former Penn State African American Alumni Organization of Atlanta Board Member.

Bunny Comilla, MPS in Human Resources and Employment Relations

Alla Marie “Bunny” Comilla has over 25 years Human Resources experience in areas such as labor laws and legal compliance, benefits and compensation, recruitment and staffing, handbook and policy development, and HR administration.  Currently Bunny is the Senior Director, Global Human Resources at Zippo Manufacturing Company and Northern Lights Candles.

David Needham

David Needham has more than 20 years of HR experience starting in the public sector where he spent 16 years working in Federal, State, and Local government in numerous positions including Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations. He transitioned into the private sector working for JetBlue Airways focusing on Labor and Employee Relations and Substance Testing Programs. He obtained his MPS in Human Resources and Employment Relations from Penn State in 2017. Currently David is the HR Manager at Delta Air Lines at JFK airport in NY while also perusing his Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership.

September 27, 2020