Akerman WorkedUp Podcast

In this episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes renowned legal scholar and University of Chicago Law Professor, Eric Posner. Professor Posner and Matt discuss the increasingly important intersection between antitrust and employment law, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions, the various types of antitrust causes of action which can be asserted in employment-related litigation, and other topical questions surrounding the geographic concentration of our economy’s labor markets. A renowned author of numerous books and articles, Professor Posner previously made an appearance on our podcast, where he discussed the increased legal, legislative, and social scrutiny surrounding noncompetition agreements.

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Matt Steinberg welcomes Dos Toros’ Chief Human Resources Officer Aleta Maxwell to discuss the rapidly expanding “fast casual” restaurant’s employee-first culture, and how that unique culture works to customers’ benefit. Matt and Aleta also explore a critical question companies in every industry face: how to maintain a fun, engaging culture while also scaling the business. Finally, Matt and Aleta chat about DT’s philanthropic efforts within its communities (including a commitment to recruiting and retaining workers with criminal histories), broader legal issues facing the hospitality industry, and their shared passion for hip-hop and NBA hoops!

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In this episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier of the Northern District of Illinois, who provides insightful perspectives on effective advocacy, litigation trends, best practices for employers to avoid employment litigation and/or to persuasively defend an employment litigation, why “reasonableness sells” and preparation is always paramount in his Courtroom. Judge Schenkier also discusses his own journey to the federal bench, and his important and pioneering work with post-incarceration re-entry programs.

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In this episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes Executive Coach Deanna Senior, PhD. As a follow-up to our last WorkedUp episode about mental health and work, in this wide-ranging conversation, Matt and Deanna discuss organizational behavior psychologists’ increasingly important role in today’s workplaces. Deanna weighs in on the value of having “career conversations” with employees at every level within an organization (hint: these are different than performance evaluations), how to best identify key performers and provide them with highly personalized coaching, the benefit of full 360-degree feedback reviews (another hint: this might include speaking with executives’ spouses and family members), the pros and cons of “group coaching,” and much more.

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In this important and topical episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes Meg George, the head of Akerman’s Wellness Initiative and Akerman’s Chicago Office Managing Partner for an honest conversation about society’s collective mental health at and surrounding work, why it is imperative for employers to better educate and train their employees on mental health issues, the importance of fostering employee engagement, and how, in our increasingly frenetic lives, we can all develop and sustain healthy habits.

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Matt Steinberg welcomes back his Akerman New York colleague Ray Berti to discuss recent economic, social, and legal developments in the gig economy, including new NLRB and DOL guidance suggesting gig workers are not protected by traditional employment and labor laws; millennials' and Gen Zers' potential preference for (or aversion to) gig work; and whether the predictions that gigging is the "future of work" actually have any merit.

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Once again, kids (ages 5-17) who visited Akerman NYC’s 2019 “Bring Kids To Work Day" hilariously discuss their day at the office, their future goals, aspirations, and much more. If you need a smile to get through your hectic work week, check out this episode.

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We’re back! In our first 2019 episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes reporter Genevieve Douglas, who covers Paid Family Leave, among other employment law and HR topics, for Bloomberg Law, to discuss the proliferation of state/local paid family leave laws, and the potential for a politically-viable federal paid leave law (as highlighted during the President’s State of the Union address and subsequent media buzz). Matt and Genevieve also discuss the specific federal paid leave legislation being separately proposed by Democrats and Republicans, the likely heated political debate around how to, and who should, pay for paid family leave, the private sector’s role in moving and shaping this debate and the overarching question of “work-life” balance.

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In this episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes Heather MacDougall, Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Chairman MacDougall, and Matt discuss various topical workplace health/safety issues, including workplace violence, why employers must provide tailored training and implement workplace-specific policies/procedures, and how an employee’s underlying health condition may impact OSHA-related litigation. Chairman MacDougall, also reflects on her own personal and professional journey to public service, and discusses how innovation and technology has the potential to dramatically reshape workplace health and safety.

http://www.akerman.com/podcasts/disclaimer/workedup.html

In this episode, Matt Steinberg welcomes renowned legal scholar and University of Chicago Law Professor, Eric Posner, to discuss the increased legal, legislative and social scrutiny surrounding noncompetition agreements – specifically, how courts are analyzing their enforceability, how various states are legislating guardrails around their increased use (for example, by barring them as to low-wage workers) and why, at this unique point in time, society seems more focused on whether these types of agreements serve the greater good. Matt and Professor Posner debate the various pros and cons of these trends, examine Professor Posner’s recent New York Times Op-Ed on “Monopsony” and discuss best practices/tips for employers on the use of noncompetes.

http://www.akerman.com/podcasts/disclaimer/workedup.html