A few years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world with a novel virus. Guidelines were established to minimize the risk of infection, asking us to maintain physical distance, wash and disinfect our hands regularly, and practice good hygiene. Understanding how these prevention strategies work remains essential for protecting overall health and ensuring a safe, productive work environment. Workplace safety extends beyond physical hazards; preventing the spread of illne

As a drug testing program manager, I was recently asked to conduct a "random" drug test for an employee the organization suspected of impairment. Maintaining a safe workplace is a top priority for any organization, whether it's a construction site in Guam or an office stateside. Yet when an employee shows clear signs of impairment, management often hesitates. Rather than confronting the issue directly, supervisors often try to sidestep the uncomfortable conversation, hopi

Guam’s hospitality sector is the heartbeat of the island’s economy, but maintaining a robust workforce requires more than just waiting for talent to graduate. Enter the Hotel Associate Youth Apprenticeship Program (HAYAP), an innovative initiative by the Guam Community College (GCC) and the Guam Department of Labor (GDOL). In a meeting with GCC and the Department of Labor last week, I was amazed at how proactive our local efforts have been in supporting this industry. Whi

What we consider ordinary today was cutting-edge technology just a few years ago. During my days as a young adult, we relied on paper maps to navigate unfamiliar places; today, we have GPS. We used to check the weather in the morning newspaper or wait for the 6 PM evening news broadcast. Now, the current temperature, likelihood of rain, and exact wind speeds are available at our fingertips at any hour of the day. This rapid technological shift has also revolutionized safety m

In the business world, navigating without a clear roadmap is a recipe to settle for less. Strategic planning meetings serve as an organizational compass, aligning leadership, defining long-term objectives, and mapping out the tactical steps required to achieve them. When executed correctly, they bridge the gap between high-level ambition and daily operational execution. However, the efficacy of a strategic plan relies heavily on timing, the temporal scope of its horizon,

Social media is currently buzzing with reports that the National Weather Service (NWS) has flagged a potential storm formation. When encountering these viral weather updates, our first step should always be to verify the source. A quick check of the NWS Guam Facebook page confirms that they did indeed post this advisory. However, a cross-reference with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) satellite imagery shows no active storm visible just yet. The logical conclusion

As Guam navigates an unprecedented wave of economic growth, the island faces a critical bottleneck: a pressing shortage of localized talent. This shortage is driven heavily by massive defense-related construction, advanced technology initiatives like additive manufacturing, and an expanding healthcare sector. Guam demands an agile and highly skilled labor force capable of meeting these rising demands. To address this, the Government of Guam is actively rolling out aggress

Guam’s economy is thriving, driven by major military infrastructure projects and a recovering tourism sector. However, for this growth to truly benefit local families, the island must focus on resident job creation. Bridging the gap between public assistance and stable employment is key to building a self-sustaining economy. The signing of Executive Order 2025-01 marks a great start in this effort, creating a direct pipeline to helping Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progra

As a company, we must make safety one of our top priorities. However, before trying to determine what specific safety goals you want to tackle, it is vital to establish a systematic and proactive approach. A truly effective safety program is built by combining direct observation, data analysis, joint management and employee involvement, and formal assessments. The foundation of this approach starts by involving employees to work directly with management. A great way to brid

If you've ever worked in a grocery store during Thanksgiving or a floral shop in February, you know exactly what "busy" looks like. In the business community, things rarely stay the same for long. One month a company might have more work than they can handle, and the next, things might be so quiet you could hear crickets. For a long time, businesses only had two choices: hire a bunch of full-time people and hope they have enough work for them year-round, or stay small and ris

Years ago, while working for the Navy under an internship program, our leadership dedicated part of a morning to a "Safety Stand-Down". We covered evacuation routes, keeping the workspace safe, equipment checks, and what to do if a storm hit. It was a thorough, extended session. Years later, I was in a safety officer certification class where the instructor had us conduct a safety briefing. The room was full, and we were only given two minutes to present on our topic. This ra

A couple of years ago, I was helping someone install a smoke detector. Armed with a drill, the detector, a six-foot aluminum stepladder from my house, and a partner to steady the base, I began my climb. The floor was standard ceramic tile—common enough, but as I ascended, the ladder suddenly slipped on the slick surface. Fortunately, I wasn’t injured. Upon closer inspection, I realized the anti-slip rubber feet were missing from the ladder’s legs. Under OSHA regulations, empl

Guam’s legal landscape has always blended local tradition with federal oversight, but few issues have created as much confusion for human resources departments as the conflict over cannabis. As of April 2026, Guam permits both recreational and medical marijuana use, while the federal government’s recent move to reschedule it to Schedule III in late 2025 has shifted the landscape without fully clearing the air. For companies operating on the island, the challenge is no longe

Recovering from a major storm is a process that begins the moment the winds die down and the community enters the "trying to get back to normal" phase of recovery. This transition requires a balance between the urgency of restoring operations and the patience to ensure that every step is taken safely and systematically. By following a structured approach, organizations and individuals can navigate the complexities of post-storm challenges while protecting their personnel and

For local businesses, Department of Labor (DOL) compliance is no longer just a "back-office" concern—it is a core pillar of operational strategy. The regulatory landscape is a complex web of federal mandates and local nuances, and in Guam, this complexity is heightened by specific local statutes designed to balance business needs with robust worker protections. To maintain compliance, employers must master two primary domains: Wage and Hour Regulations and Fair Hiring Law

While the peak of typhoon season typically falls between August and October, the broader season stretches from June all the way through December. However, seasoned professionals know that nature doesn't always follow a calendar; storms can and do occur at any time of year. Whether you are facing a major typhoon or a localized emergency, the key to survival is a proactive approach to business preparation. A truly resilient organization relies on a solid business continuity pla

Remote work is no longer a pandemic-era experiment — it’s the established reality of the modern workforce. In 2026, the question isn’t “Can I work remotely?” It’s “How do I compete in a global talent pool from Guam?” Here’s how. Today’s remote market is more competitive than ever. Many employers have adopted “async-first” models — meaning communication happens through written messages, recorded updates, and shared documents rather than real-time meetings, letting teammate

In the heart of the Pacific, Guam serves as a vital hub for regional commerce, construction, and military logistics. However, our strategic importance brings high-risk environments—from the swinging cranes of the Port Authority to the massive infrastructure projects happening in Dededo and Tamuning. In these areas, the difference between a productive day and a life-altering tragedy often comes down to one factor: mental agility. Drug testing programs in the workplace are no

It’ time for the annual "OSHA Posting Season”. For safety managers and business owners, this is a critical window for compliance. Between February 1 and April 30 , most employers are required by law to post their annual summary of workplace injuries and illnesses. To ensure your facility remains compliant and penalty-free, it is essential to understand the distinction between "recordable" and "reportable" incidents and the specific forms required to document them. Recordable

In the modern industrial landscape, workplace safety is not merely about complying with regulations; it is a foundational pillar of operational excellence. Among the various strategies employed to protect employees, workplace drug testing remains one of the most effective tools in your arsenal. By identifying potential impairment before or after an incident, drug testing programs serve as a critical deterrent and a diagnostic tool that directly correlates with lower acciden