Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break
Pam Howland
46 episodes
5 days ago
In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Jennifer, and Megan take a practical, employer-focused look at one of the most frequently used — and frequently misunderstood — workplace laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Megan shares insights from her recent deep dive into FMLA’s history, purpose, and modern application, including how FMLA interacts with the ADA, workers’ compensation, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The team breaks down eligibility rules, documentation requirements, common...
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In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Jennifer, and Megan take a practical, employer-focused look at one of the most frequently used — and frequently misunderstood — workplace laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Megan shares insights from her recent deep dive into FMLA’s history, purpose, and modern application, including how FMLA interacts with the ADA, workers’ compensation, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The team breaks down eligibility rules, documentation requirements, common...
In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Jennifer, and Megan take a practical, employer-focused look at one of the most frequently used — and frequently misunderstood — workplace laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Megan shares insights from her recent deep dive into FMLA’s history, purpose, and modern application, including how FMLA interacts with the ADA, workers’ compensation, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The team breaks down eligibility rules, documentation requirements, common...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Jennifer, and Doug sit down with keynote speaker and executive coach Michelle Choate to explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) directly shapes compliance, culture, and leadership effectiveness in today’s workplaces. From understanding the science behind emotions to recognizing how fear responses drive behavior, Michelle explains how emotionally intelligent leaders can prevent legal risk, improve employee engagement,...
When it comes to drug and alcohol testing, employers must balance safety, compliance, and employee rights. In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass discuss when testing is appropriate, what policies should include, and how documentation can protect both employers and employees. They also unpack the Lanier v. City of Woodburn case, Idaho’s Drug-Free Workplace Act, and practical tips for handling reasonable suspicion situations. Whether you’re creating a policy or managing...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland sits down with Doug Plass and Jennifer Walrath to unpack the ripple effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis. They walk through surprising scenarios that triggered claims — from performance improvement plans to reclassifications — and discuss what this means for HR teams and supervisors moving forward. You’ll hear how this single decision, which lowered the bar from “si...
The rules around LGBTQ+ protections in the workplace seem to shift every news cycle—but what’s the real legal landscape for employers in late 2025? Pam, Jennifer, and Doug unpack where Bostock v. Clayton County still stands, how recent executive orders and EEOC actions are creating confusion, and what employers should keep in mind when religious accommodations come into play. They also share practical takeaways for navigating these complex, often emotionally charged issues—like why “respectfu...
What should you do if the Department of Labor shows up at your door? In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland sits down with attorneys Doug Plass and Jennifer Walrith to discuss how employers can prepare for — and respond to — a DOL wage and hour audit. They cover what to expect during an investigation, how to stay organized and cooperative without oversharing, and why having a plan (and your attorney’s number on speed dial) can make all the differen...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, attorneys Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath sit down to unpack one of the most common sources of employer headaches — wage and hour compliance. They cover what every employer should know about: Properly classifying employees as exempt or non-exemptKeeping accurate time and pay recordsCalculating overtime Handling final paychecks, deductions, and safe harbor policiesIdaho-specific wage laws to keep in mind...
In this special episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, we’re giving you a front-row seat to our recent Workplace Investigations Workshop. You’ll hear from attorney Megan Egbert as she kicks off the training with the all-important question: Why should employers conduct workplace investigations? Megan unpacks the legal duty to investigate, how it strengthens your defenses against claims, and why it’s one of the most effective tools for protecting your organization and e...
With everything going on in workplaces right now, we thought this was the perfect time to revisit one of our most important episodes. Retaliation claims remain the number one issue filed with the EEOC — making up nearly 40% of all charges. In this replay, we break down what retaliation looks like, how leaders can spot it, and most importantly, how to avoid it. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in thi...
In today’s politically charged climate, employers are facing more pressure than ever when employees’ social media posts spark controversy at work. Posts that blur the line between personal expression and workplace impact raise tough questions: What control do employers really have over employees’ online activity?Does it matter if a post identifies the employer — by name, uniform, or profile?How can businesses protect their reputation without overstepping?How far can discipline go before liabi...
What happens when an employee needs more than one accommodation—or when new disabilities come to light after the process has already started? In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Jennifer, and Doug break down the complexities of handling multiple accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Through real-life examples involving mental health, substance use, and physical health conditions, they explore: How to manage overlapping...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath are joined by our summer intern, Alisha Hopkins, for a timely look at how artificial intelligence is changing hiring—and where employers can stumble. From real-world misfires (like Amazon’s resume-screening example) to the EEOC’s iTutorGroup settlement and a fast-evolving patchwork of state and local rules, we unpack the legal risks, what’s on (and off) the books federally, an...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath sit down with HR consultant Monica Frame to talk about the major trends she’s seeing across organizations in 2025. With over 25 years of HR leadership experience, Monica brings a commonsense and pragmatic perspective to the challenges employers are facing today. From cost-cutting pressures to the rise of AI in HR functions, increasing leave and accommodation requests, the disc...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath dive into the unsettled and rapidly changing state of LGBTQ+ protections in the workplace. From the landmark Bostock Supreme Court decision to executive orders, shifting EEOC guidance, and new lawsuits challenging federal enforcement, employers are left with more questions than answers. The hosts break down what’s happening now, what employers can and cannot rely on, and how t...
In this episode, the hosts discuss the complexities of employment agreements, including their necessity, risks, and benefits. They emphasize the importance of understanding the implications of such agreements in an at-will employment state like Idaho. The conversation covers when to use employment agreements, key provisions to include, and the significance of termination clauses. Additionally, they address confidentiality and non-compete provisions, legal compliance, and the need for regular ...
A poorly handled workplace investigation can damage morale, tank culture, and open the door to legal risk. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass pull back the curtain on how to get investigations right—from the first complaint to the final report. They share: The most common triggers for investigations (and some surprising ones)Frequent mistakes that derail the process before it even beginsHow to define scope, plan interviews, and communicate without f...
In this episode, Pam, Doug, and Jennifer discuss the complexities of workplace romance, particularly in light of the recent kiss cam scandal. They explore employer perspectives on regulating personal relationships, the risks associated with supervisor-subordinate dynamics, and the impact of workplace romance on company culture. The conversation also delves into the importance of having effective workplace policies, handling domestic issues among employees, and the role of investigations in ad...
On this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Jennifer, and Doug break down the ins and outs of severance agreements. Whether you’re navigating a high-risk termination, wondering how much to offer, or trying to avoid future legal claims, this conversation covers what every employer should consider before handing over a check. They discuss: When (and why) severance agreements make senseThe most important provisions to includeWhat makes an agreement enforcea...
In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Jennifer, and Doug dive into the surprisingly complex topic of work phones vs. personal phones—and what it means for employers. From wage and hour risks to trade secrets walking out the door, this conversation covers the legal and practical issues that arise when employees use their own devices for work. They unpack: Wage and hour pitfalls for off-the-clock workData security and confidentiality concernsLegal implications of lost or stolen devicesDocumenta...
Under the ADA, disability discrimination isn’t limited to individuals with diagnosed conditions. Employers can get into legal trouble simply for assuming someone has a disability. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Doug, and Jennifer break down the often-overlooked “regarded as” prong of the ADA. They walk through real-world litigation examples—from assumptions about mental health and addiction to physical appearance and hospitalization—and explain how seemingly well-intentioned actions ca...
Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break
In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Jennifer, and Megan take a practical, employer-focused look at one of the most frequently used — and frequently misunderstood — workplace laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Megan shares insights from her recent deep dive into FMLA’s history, purpose, and modern application, including how FMLA interacts with the ADA, workers’ compensation, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The team breaks down eligibility rules, documentation requirements, common...
