Sure seems that way to me.

I wonder if the COVID shutdowns have brought out the worst in some employees. I am getting some really strange real-life “situations” lately. (For confidentiality reasons, I can’t say more about those.)

But my perception of a pandemic of crazy is getting some validation from the news. Just look at this week . . .

Will he have to take the rap ’cause he rapped? There’s Memphis rapper Nuke Bizzle. Mr. Bizzle recorded a song called “EDD” (it’s been taken down from YouTube — oh, wait — just found another version here!) about how he ripped off the California Employment Development Department, the state agency that handles unemployment compensation. He’s now charged with using stolen identities to get $1.2 million in COVID-related unemployment benefits. According to the New York Post, he could face up to 22 years in prison if convicted.

He stole $1.2 million in unemployment funds (allegedly) and then posted a rap about it on YouTube? What is wrong with people?

Working hard, and hardly working. Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended from The New Yorker and is “taking some time off” from CNN after he was caught . . . um . . . well, you already read it in the news, I’m sure — on a Zoom conference. We never had to worry about shenanigans like that before COVID!

(Of course, I could be mistaken.)

I think we’ve all been cooped up too long. Employers, look out!

Robin Shea is a Partner with the law firm of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP and has more than 20 years’ experience in employment litigation, including Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (including the Amendments Act), the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; and class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage-hour laws; defense of audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs; and labor relations. She conducts training for human resources professionals, management, and employees on a wide variety of topics.

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