In theory, as employers, we know that workplace injuries can come back to bite us. What would feel like a small nuisance in our own homes – a bumped head, a sprained ankle, a cut to the finger – needs to be taken much more seriously when you’re in a position of responsibility over other people. 

Then again, in practice, we can easily convince ourselves to gloss over the minor injuries. They can happen during a busy period when it slips our mind to pull out the log book and follow due practice, or the employee themselves might be so intent on brushing it off and getting back to the task at hand that you’re convinced it’s not a big deal, and doesn’t need to be formally logged. 

But this is a trap so many employers fall into, usually unwittingly. It rarely traces back to a draconian employer who simply doesn’t value their employees enough to log their injuries. It’s usually a busy employer who doesn’t realise that an injury has crossed from ‘a bump that’s forgotten in 2 minutes flat’ to ‘a bump that will have repercussions later’.

Minor injuries can (and do) become major liabilities 

If a minor injury is not properly recorded – along with what steps were taken to ensure the employees’ wellbeing and safety contemporaneously – then, perhaps the majority of the time, nothing bad will ever happen. But there are plenty of instances where something bad can happen down the line: compounding strain, injection, and delayed concussion are all examples of consequences you don’t necessarily ‘see’ when you’re simply dealing with an employee who tapped their head on a shelf, or cut their leg on a protruding nail. 

It sounds far-fetched in the moment, and it’s all too tempting to decide ‘that won’t happen here’. But the reality is that it can happen, and it can happen to you just as much as it can happen to any other employer. 

This is why workers compensation insurance is vital for any business that hires any number of employees, whether it’s 1 or 1,000. You can never know when work as usual is causing long-term damage to their health and wellbeing. 

The injury doesn’t tend to represent the biggest expense 

Direct medical costs are expensive enough, particularly if your employee requires long-term rehabilitation for a strain injury, or even brain damage. That’s usually the first expense that comes to mind when you consider the fallout of a workplace injury. 

But consider other costs to the business. You may need to hire-in a replacement for them, or pay substantial overtime to other employees to cover their absence. Lost productivity is a big cost to any business, though one that is difficult to quantify. 

Then, if they end up filing a claim against you, there’s the cost of legal representation and a potential payout on the other side of a lengthy court process. 

Badly injured employees create a major knowledge gap 

Finally, there’s the fact that most of us can’t afford to lose a valuable employee, whether for a week or two, or permanently. Businesses tend to operate close to the line in terms of having enough expertise on-hand to ensure continuity, and losing an employee’s input and oversight suddenly (even just temporarily) can incur costs far beyond a trip to the ER. 

MORRISTOWN — Morris County Surrogate Heather J. Darling received her Certified Public Manager certificate at Rutgers University’s graduation ceremony on Friday, September 25.

Darling was also nominated for the national Askew Award in recognition of her capstone project, “The Use of AI to Manage Non-Physical Reception Tasks within the Morris County Surrogate’s Court.” The Askew Award recognizes exemplary work in the completion of a Certified Public Manager capstone project, a vital component of the program nationwide.

Delivered by the Rutgers University–Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration, New Jersey’s Certified Public Manager program combines intensive coursework in public management and leadership with a project designed to benefit each participant’s organization.

Darling entered public office with extensive experience in law and the private sector. She pursued the designation to strengthen that background with formal training in public administration and to continue improving how the Surrogate’s Court serves Morris County residents and their families.

Her capstone examined how an artificial intelligence assistant could handle routine reception tasks, including answering common questions and helping callers find information, while preserving access to court staff when personal assistance is needed. The project reflects Darling’s approach to modernization: making services more convenient and efficient while remaining attentive to people navigating probate, guardianship, adoption and other deeply personal matters.

The artificial intelligence receptionist, named “Hannah,” was implemented in the Surrogate’s Court in January.

“Families often contact our office at difficult moments,” Darling said. “They deserve clear answers, convenient access, and compassion. I pursued this program because serving them well requires us to keep learning and improving.”

Darling’s Certified Public Manager designation and Askew Award nomination recognize a commitment to applying practical management skills and thoughtful innovation to public service.

For more information about the Morris County Surrogate’s Court and its services, visit morrissurrogate.com or call (973) 285-6500.

MORRISTOWN — Supporters of Family Promise of Morris County gathered at the Kellogg Club for Fall Into Giving, an evening of music, art and community in support of the organization’s work with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Guests enjoyed live music from Second Groove Jazz, artwork by local artist Patti Kaufman, and food and drinks from Redwoods Grill and Bar. Family Promise also shared updates on its programs, and guests heard from Sarah*, a former Family Promise participant, about her family’s journey from homelessness to stable housing.

After losing her job and being evicted, Sarah and her two children were unable to remain together. Family Promise provided temporary shelter and ongoing support as she worked toward stability. Earlier this year, she and her children moved into a home of their own.

“They didn’t just help me find housing. They helped me rebuild my life,” she told guests. “Most importantly, Family Promise helped keep my family together.”

Support from Fall Into Giving will help expand hours at the Our Promise Drop-In and Resource Center in Morristown, allowing it to open at 9:30 a.m. instead of 11:00 a.m. Visitors will have earlier access to basic needs, case management, benefits assistance and housing resources.

“For someone with nowhere else to go, that hour and a half is a lifetime,” said Joann Björnson, Chief Executive Officer of Family Promise of Morris County.

Family Promise thanked its sponsors, volunteers and event committee — Lori Wilson, board member Karen Hawkins, Patti Kaufman and Ann Marie Russo — for the time, energy and care they put into making the evening a success. The organization also thanked photographer Nick Russo of Full Bleed Photography and videographer Bryan Chavez of Chavez Creative Media for capturing the evening.

“To everyone who attended, donated, or helped bring the evening together: thank you,” the organization said. “Your support helps us continue to be there for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability throughout Morris County.”

*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s privacy.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office promoted four investigative officers and swore in a new chief and deputy chief of detectives during a ceremony on Thursday, September 24.

Mark Castellano was sworn in as chief of detectives and Joseph Costello as deputy chief of detectives, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood. The ceremony was held in the Commissioners’ Public Meeting Room in Morristown.

Sasha Gould was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to supervise the Professional Standards and Financial Crimes units within the Specialized Crimes Division.

Gould has been a detective with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office since 2013 after beginning her law enforcement career with the New Jersey Transit Police Department in 2009. She has served in the Major Crimes, Professional Standards, Financial Crimes, Intelligence and Homeland Security, and Bias Crimes units.

Gould was promoted to detective supervisor in May 2019 and sergeant in June 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. John’s University and has completed several leadership courses, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Supervisor, Command and Executive Leadership Institutes Trilogy.

Gould has received several commendations, including the Excellence in Homicide Investigation Award from the New Jersey Homicide Investigators Association for her role in the investigation of the 40-year-old Baby Mary cold case homicide.

Stephanie Merced was promoted to sergeant and assigned to supervise the Domestic Violence and Juvenile/Missing Persons units within the Family Division.

Merced began her law enforcement career in 2009 and joined the prosecutor’s office in 2014. She has served in General Investigations, Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment, Narcotics and the Family Division and has been the lead detective on investigations involving sexual assault, child endangerment, human trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children.

Merced was promoted to detective supervisor in 2017 and has supervised detectives and task force officers, coordinated operations with local, state and federal agencies, served as a Top Gun squad coordinator and helped implement Operation Helping Hand in Morris County.

She also serves as a crisis negotiator, resiliency officer, field training officer, Morris County Public Safety Training Academy instructor and LGBTQ+ law enforcement liaison. According to the prosecutor’s office, Merced became the first detective within a prosecutor’s office to serve as an LGBTQ+ liaison officer and organized Morris County’s inaugural National Coming Out Day event.

Matthew Belcastro was promoted to detective supervisor and assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit within the Family Division.

Belcastro began his law enforcement career with the Chatham Borough Police Department in 2013, serving for more than seven years as a police officer and officer in charge. He joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective in October 2020.

Since then, Belcastro has served in the General Investigations, Major Crimes, Financial Crimes, Professional Standards and Domestic Violence units and was assigned to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Cold Case Task Force.

He also serves as a firearms instructor and armorer, humane law enforcement officer and administrator of the office’s E-Portal Discovery Program. Belcastro holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kutztown University and a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Mark Rodgers was promoted to detective supervisor and assigned to the Special Enforcement Unit within the Special Operations Division.

Rodgers began his law enforcement career with the East Orange Police Department in 2006 and joined the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective in 2017. His assignments have included the General Investigations, Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment, Major Crimes and Digital Forensics Investigations units.

While assigned to Digital Forensics Investigations, Rodgers developed expertise in digital evidence recovery and analysis and qualified as an expert witness in mobile device technologies. In December 2023, he was assigned to conduct a forensic examination, prepare an expert report and testify in a first-degree armed robbery prosecution that resulted in a guilty verdict and a 50-year state prison sentence.

Rodgers currently serves in the Special Enforcement Unit and as the breacher on the Special Operations Division Tactical Team. He has also served as state delegate for Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 327 since April 2023.

Carroll congratulated the officers on their promotions and expressed confidence in the office’s new leadership.

“The MCPO is fortunate to have the depth of law enforcement experience that is represented by today’s promoted personnel. I am very confident our Office’s supervision and operations will continue at the high level of competency and performance that the MCPO has been known for. Chief Castellano and Deputy Chief Costello have demonstrated those qualities which are needed to lead our talented investigative personnel, as well as maintain beneficial professional relationships among law enforcement agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels. When teamed with our highly skilled legal and support personnel, these leaders and our established associations all serve to maximize the effective protection of our communities from criminal elements. We congratulate all our promoted personnel on their achievements,” Carroll said.

Calderwood added, “We are so thankful to have such dedicated and skilled leaders at the MCPO, as demonstrated in those promoted today. Our office is in good hands with Chief Castellano and Deputy Chief Costello leading the way. Congratulations to them and all promoted, as it is a truly well-deserved recognition of their hard work!”

MORRIS COUNTY — State Senator Joe Pennacchio, a Republican representing Morris and Passaic Counties, questioned why Governor Mikie Sherrill supports allowing municipalities to determine whether data centers are appropriate for their communities but does not give local officials the same discretion when it comes to meeting state housing mandates.

In a recent interview, Governor Sherrill said that there are “certain towns where it’s probably not appropriate to build data centers,” and others where “it probably makes sense,” arguing in favor of letting municipalities make their own decisions.

“Governor Sherrill acknowledged that towns have different needs and capabilities, and that what makes sense in one community may not be appropriate in another. That same principle should apply to state-mandated high-density housing,” said Senator Pennacchio. “Local governments know their communities, infrastructure, school capacities, and available land better than any bureaucrat in Trenton. State housing policies should recognize those differences. Local decision-making is the right approach, but it should be applied consistently.”

Municipal leaders have warned that in its present form, high-density housing mandates threaten the destruction of open space, lead to overcrowding, and place immense strain on local resources and infrastructure. Despite raising these concerns, Trenton Democrats and Governor Sherrill have pushed ahead with unrealistic mandates.