Presented at the 2015 SHRM of Greater Kansas City Fall Conference

1. Ferguson, Missouri
A View From Two HR Practitioners
October 20, 2015

2. Julie Logan, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
❖ Associate Director of Human Resources, Husch Blackwell, LLP
❖ VP Development, HRMA of Greater St. Louis

3. Angie Schaefer, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
❖ VP Human Resources & Employee Engagement, Safety National
Casualty Corporation
❖ Immediate Past President, HRMA of Greater St. Louis
❖ Diversity Director, MO SHRM
❖ Membership Chair, HR People & Strategy, St. Louis Affiliate
(SHRM’s Executive Network)

4. Our View
● Overview of Discussion
● Timeline
● Impact on Employees and Businesses
● Workplace Policies
● Social Media
● Lessons Learned

5. Overview

6. Overview

7. Overview
We all have stereotypes & unconscious biases.

8. Overview
● What is the definition of unconscious bias?
a) A measure of how strongly one associates a concept (e.g.,
pleasant/unpleasant) with one or another social group
b) Generalization about a group of people or particular identity
c) To distinguish, single out, or make a distinction about a group, person, or
thing
d) Acting with rudeness and insensitivity towards someone based on of their
diverse identities

9. Timeline
● August 9, 2014 – Michael Brown Jr. is shot and killed by a Ferguson LEO
● August 10, 2014 – A candlelight vigil for Michael Brown turns violent. More
than a dozen businesses in Ferguson are vandalized and looted.
● August 11, 2014 – The first day of school is cancelled for a district near
Ferguson and over the next several days other nearby districts also cancel
classes.
● That morning and throughout the day, hundreds of people gather outside the
Ferguson Police Department.
● During the evening, the teargas is used to disperse the crowd, when, according to
reports the protests were no longer peaceful
● August 12 – 24, 2014 – protests throughout the day and night, most resulting
in violence and destruction of property. Residential streets in Ferguson are
shut down and families are not allowed to leave their homes.

10. Timeline
● August 24, 2014 – Michael Brown’s family requests that all protests cease so
that they can lay their son to rest.
● August 25, 2014 – Michael Brown’s funeral.
● August 26 – November 23, 2014 – almost daily protests take place. The
violence has somewhat subsided, however, there are still arrests, and LEOs
from around the area are assisting in Ferguson. At various times a State of
Emergency is declared and the National Guard is brought in to assist law
enforcement.
● October 8, 2014 - VonDerrit Myers Jr. was shot and killed by a St. Louis City
LEO in the Shaw neighborhood.
● Protestors leave Ferguson and arrive in the Shaw neighborhood. Several nights of
protest happen in the South City area.

11. Timeline
● November 20 – 24, 2014 – A few different groups have formed to lead protests
over the last few months. They begin to prepare for action in response to the
pending Grand Jury announcement, specifically if officer Darren Wilson is not
indicted. A list of 70 businesses is published as targets for protesting.
● November 24, 2014 – during the work day it is announced that the Grand Jury
decision will be announced later that evening
● Late evening it is announced that officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted.
● Protests have been taking place for most of the afternoon and evening and later
turn to rioting with more destruction of businesses.
● November 24 – December 2014
● Protests continue and move into shopping malls around the St. Louis area
● Reports of employees leaving work to join demonstrations

12. Timeline

13. Timeline

14. Timeline

15. Timeline

16. Timeline

17. Timeline

19. Impact on Employees and Business
●Husch Blackwell
● November 17: Protestors targeted the building and attempted to
enter
● November 17-December 5: Building tenants operated on partial
lockdown
● November 21: Attorneys and other professionals are advised to
take home laptops due to impending Grand Jury announcement
●Admin support would be provided through the Kansas City
office
● November 24: Business closed early due to impending Grand Jury
announcement
● November 25: Business closed for the day due to protesting
● December 3: Business closed early due to reports of protesting

20. Impact on Employees and Business

21. Impact on Employees and Business
●Employee Issues
●Child Care
●Reporting to Work
●Lack of Sleep
●Stress
● Discussions at Work

22. Workplace Policies

23. Workplace Policies
●Paid Time Off
●Flexible Schedules
●EAP
●Telecommuting
●Remote Access
●Building Security
●Employee IDs
● Visitor Access

24. Social Media
●twitter
●facebook

25. Lessons Learned
● Disaster recovery plans should include Civil Unrest
● Be flexible with policies and employee work schedules
●Reasonable versus Fair
● Engage in social media, even if only as a follower
● Understand your biases and how they might impact
decision making
● Invest in an EAP if that isn’t already a resource

26. Questions?

27. Julie Logan
Julie.Logan@huschblackwell.com
Angie Schaefer
Angela.Schaefer@safetynational.com
@HR_Mindset