This episode unpacks the real danger of a female-dominated profession being policed through male eyes, the seismic shift happening with NLRB independence, and what HR leaders need to prepare for as workplace regulation becomes a political ping-pong ball. Bryan breaks down why the next few years will be anything but predictable for your compliance calendar.
What We Cover
– The Michigan firefighter bra inspection case and why "professionalism" is being weaponized to keep workplaces male-dominated
– Why this case matters even though it shouldn't exist—and how past court rulings could doom the firefighter's lawsuit
– The NLRB's loss of independence and what it means when presidents can fire board members at will
– How decades of stable labor policy will now swing with every election cycle
– The real difference between independent agency oversight and direct presidential control
– Why rapid policy reversals in employment law will crush compliance predictability
– Union membership trends: will the NLRB chaos actually drive more unionization or accelerate decline?
– Bryan's three bold bets for 2026: AI implementation, AI discrimination issues, and te blue state/red state divide
– The impossibility of creating one handbook that works across incompatible state laws
– Why HR is the only department in the room protecting the human impact of business decisions
Connect with Bryan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanjohndriscoll/
Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci
Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.