Kunkel Law Firm - September 2020

Kunkel Law Firm - September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 KunkelCase Files 888-228-9680 • www.KunkelLawFirm.com • [email protected]

FROM THE DESK OF

Gregory Kunkel, Esq.

WORKERS’ COMP AND THE IMPACT OF COVID-19

As I write this months’ column, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our economy and the health and safety of workers throughout the Commonwealth. In fact, many individuals have been exposed to the virus at their place of employment, which leads to the question of whether an individual who is exposed to the coronavirus at work is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits due to the illness. As a general rule, any illness caused by a work- related exposures to a virus can be considered a work injury or an occupational disease under the law. Exposure to COVID-19 that results in illness would most likely be considered a work injury but could also be considered an occupational disease depending on the type of work being performed, such as that by nurses and first responders. If you suspect you were exposed to COVID-19 at work, you should report the injury (exposure) to a supervisor as soon as possible. Please stay safe and remember that we are here to answer your questions and assist you with your claim.

In mid-March, just before the coronavirus pandemic walloped the U.S., Statista released its estimates for college attendance in 2020 and beyond. It predicted 19.75 million students would show up for college in 2020, but it could be wildly wrong. Since that report came out, the pandemic has shuttered schools and disrupted the college application process. Online learning isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but in 2020, it will be the new norm for many colleges. That challenge, combined with the overall mood of uncertainty in the U.S., just might lead to a record high number of kids choosing to take a gap year. According to Forbes magazine, gap years were already trending by April, even though “traditional” gap year activities like travel are off the table. The concept of a gap year thrills some parents and terrifies others. On the one hand, a year away from school can be a good opportunity for teens to gain independence, learn new skills, and figure out the future. On the other hand, there’s always the chance that a break from school could cause teens to waste their time or decide to defer college forever. If you’re a parent who’s worried about the latter, share these five tips below with your child. If they play it right, their “year off”might turn out to be their most productive year yet. TIP NO. 1: GO TOWORK. Work experience is always a good thing, especially if it’s in your child’s eventual field of study. Encourage your teen to take this opportunity to give their “dream job” a test run. They may 5 TIPS FOR LEVERAGING A GAP YEAR Your Teen’s Time Away From School Doesn’t Have to Be Wasted

–Greg Kunkel

Continued on Page 2 ...

Social Security Disability • Workers’ Compensation • Employment Rights

www.KunkelLawFirm.com • 1

... continued from Cover

find it isn’t for them and save them thousands in tuition. Internships are also a good option. If online learning wasn’t the motivating factor behind your child choosing to take a gap year, you can suggest that they explore remote options through platforms like AngelList.com andWeWorkRemotely.com. TIP NO. 2: LEARN SOMETHING NEW. Usually, travel and cultural immersion are go- to gap year strategies for learning new things. However, your kid doesn’t actually need to head to Spain to learn Spanish — their fluency will be just as valid to a future employer if they pick it up from Duolingo. Additionally, YouTube video tutorials and online certification programs can lay the groundwork for any number of valuable skills, including coding, furniture building, and medical work. TIP NO. 3: START AN ONLINE BUSINESS. If your teen has an entrepreneurial spirit, encourage them to use their year off to start a business. Etsy is a great online platform to sell handmade items, and if they’re passionate about a craft, like writing or website

development, they can conduct their business entirely online. Who knows! With a year of effort, they might make some money, and even if they don’t, they’ll learn something and add a line item to their resume. TIP NO. 4: REACH OUT TO ROLE MODELS. Teens are not too young to start networking. Whether yours wants to be a welder, a professor, or a geologist, there are likely people in their field who they admire. If your kid seems stuck in a rut, suggest they reach out to their idols or join a group of other young people with similar interests. On the off chance they hear back from a giant in their field, they’ll make a priceless connection, and their peers may soon become their colleagues. TIP NO. 5: DEVELOP A SELF-MARKETING STRATEGY. According to the Student Conservation Association, 92% of kids who take a gap year do it in order to “gain life experiences and grow personally.”That personal growth can be valuable. If your teen knows their strengths, weaknesses, and how to represent

themselves well, they will have a leg up in a job or fellowship interview. Before your kid goes back to school, you can sit down together and discuss how they’ll talk about their gap year and market what they’ve learned. Your teen doesn’t have to tackle all of these tips at once, but if they follow even one of them well, when they do head back to school, they’ll be wiser, more well-rounded, and better prepared for the next challenge.

HOWSTRESS CAN LEAD TO INJURY And How You Can Stop It

While it’s pretty intuitive that physical stressors can cause physical injuries, you might not know that mental and emotional stress can also lead to musculoskeletal injuries that require physical therapy. That’s right — a lack of sleep, a busy workweek, and other stressful life events can make you more prone to injury. Why is this, and how can you prevent the stresses of everyday life from causing you bodily harm?

When you experience stress, your body does a few things that naturally put you at an increased risk of injury. First, stress causes your nerves to function inefficiently. Second, stressful situations lead to higher levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone that inhibits muscle repair and immune system function. If you’re always dealing with stressful situations, then you’re constantly leaving your body open to physical injury. You can prevent injuries with all sorts of physical means, but if you fail to address your mental and emotional health, you’ll still be at a heightened risk. While you might not be able to prevent every stressful situation from ever happening, you can control how you react when one does occur. A few simple things you can do to prevent mental stress are to get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. If any of these basic stress inhibitors are absent from your daily routine, focus on incorporating them in to alleviate some of your stress. That said, practicing simple breathing exercises or another form of meditation can also be helpful, especially if you’re looking for a physical way to mentally unwind after a stressful day. While learning about how much stress hurts you can be even more stressful, you can find some peace knowing that with a few simple changes to your routine, you can prevent your stress from causing physical injury.

2 • 888-228-9680

Social Security Disability • Workers’ Compensation • Employment Rights

WHAT IS AGE BUT A NUMBER? A Dutch Man’s Quest to Change His Legal Age

In 2018, Dutch native Emile Ratelband was 69 years old. The thing was that the motivational speaker and founder of the Ratelband Research Institute didn’t want to be 69. So, he went to a Dutch court and petitioned for the right to change his legal age. His intention was to change the year of birth on his birth certificate — bumping it up by 20 years. As a result, all records would show him as 49.

being 69. Ratelband even went as far as to say he would be willing to delay his pension benefits another 20 years if need be. In an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Ratelband said, “When I’m 69, I am limited. If I’m 49, then I can buy a new house, drive a different car. I can take up more work. When I’m on Tinder and it says I’m 69, I don’t get an answer. When I’m 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position.” Interestingly enough, Ratelband’s request wasn’t dismissed outright by the court. The judge found merit in the argument and said that people desire to change things about themselves all the time, adding that maybe age was one of those things we should consider — “maybe” being the operative word. The court ultimately decided that “Ratelband is at liberty to feel 20 years younger than his real age and to act accordingly.”But the judge added

Why did Ratelband want to change his age?

that changing his legal documents would have “undesirable legal and societal implications.”The court added“[T]here are a variety of rights and duties related to age, such as the right to vote and the duty to attend school. If Mr. Ratelband’s request was allowed, those age requirements would become meaningless.” Today, Ratelband is 71 and continues his battle to change his age. While he may have lost in his initial quest to legally change his age, according to NPR, he intends to appeal the decision.

He told the court he didn’t feel like a man who was going on 70. He said he felt good — he felt like a man 20 years younger. He even said his doctors agreed and that they’d told him he had the body of someone younger. But there was another major reason Ratelband wanted to change his age. He said doing so would increase his overall happiness and would be helpful on dating apps. He would no longer have to deal with the ageism that came with

Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

Take a Break!

BALSAMIC MARINATED FLANK STEAK Ingredients

• • • • •

2 garlic cloves, sliced

•

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling

1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves

• • •

1 3-lb flank steak Kosher salt, to taste

1 tbsp dried oregano

2 tbsp whole-grain mustard 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Combine garlic, rosemary, oregano, mustard, and vinegar in a blender. Purée until garlic is minced. 2. Add oil and continue blending until creamy, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Reserve 1/4 cup. 3. Place steak in a ceramic or glass baking dish and cover steak with the remaining marinade. Turn to coat the other side, cover, and let marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours. 4. Remove steak from marinade and let excess marinade drip off. Sprinkle the steak lightly with salt and pepper. 5. Light grill and oil grates with olive oil. 6. Grill steak over moderate heat for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through, until steak is lightly charred and the internal temperature reaches 125 F. 7. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice, drizzle reserved sauce, and serve.

Social Security Disability • Workers’ Compensation • Employment Rights

www.KunkelLawFirm.com • 3

Kunkel Law Firm 888-228-9680

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 Pittsburgh, PA 15219

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Gregory Kunkel, Esq. PAGE 1 5 Tips for Leveraging a Gap Year PAGE 1 How Mental Stress Causes Physical Injuries PAGE 2 Should You Be Able to Change Your Legal Age? PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Balsamic Marinated Flank Steaks PAGE 3 The Truth Behind the 21st Night of September PAGE 4

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

4 Decades of Earth, Wind & Fire’s ‘September’ What Happened on the 21st Night of September?

“Do you remember the 21st night of September?”

White andWillis proved to be excellent songwriting partners, but they clashed over one key element of the song: the nonsensical phrase “ba-dee-ya,”which White included in the chorus. Throughout the songwriting process, Willis begged to change the phrase to real words. At the final vocal session, Willis finally demanded to know what ba-dee-ya meant. White replied, “Who cares?” “I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him,”Willis recalled in a 2014 interview with NPR, “which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove.” The groove is why “September” has stood the test of time, right from that very first lyric. For decades, people have askedWillis and members of the band about the significance of Sept. 21. As it turns out, there isn’t much beyond the sound.

In 1978, Maurice White of the band Earth, Wind & Fire first asked this question in the song “September,” a funky disco song that quickly topped the charts. While disco may be dead today, “September” certainly isn’t. The song is still featured in movies, TV shows, and wedding playlists. On Sept. 21, 2019, the funk hit was streamed over 2.5 million times. It’s no wonder that the Los Angeles City Council declared Sept. 21 Earth, Wind & Fire Day. The story behind “September” is almost as enduring as the song itself. It was co-written by White and Allee Willis, who eventually became a Grammy-winning songwriter and Tony nominee. But before any of that, Willis was a struggling songwriter in Los Angeles living off food stamps. When White reached out and askedWillis to help write the next Earth, Wind & Fire hit, it was truly her big break.

“We went through all the dates: ‘Do you remember the first, the second, the third, the fourth …’ and the one that just felt the best was the 21st,”Willis explained. The truth is that nothing happened on the 21st night of September — except a whole lot of dancing.

4 • 888-228-9680

Social Security Disability • Workers’ Compensation • Employment Rights