APU Politics in the Workplace

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or the ADA, covers more than just employment, it requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. This can include allowing animals in the workplace to help an employee perform job functions. In this episode, APU professor Cynthia Gentile talks to employment lawyer Neil Goldsmith about the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal. He also discusses the range of important questions employers need to ask an employee about their disability and how the animal would allow them to perform essential functions that they couldn’t otherwise perform.

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Nearly half of U.S. employees reported that they observed misconduct in the workplace. This is both extremely concerning, but also mind-boggling that companies believe they can essentially get away with unethical or illegal practices without consequences, says APU professor CJ Sherman. In this episode, she talks with Dr. Linda Ashar about misconduct in the workplace, what measures need to be put in place to prevent it from happening, and how to address misconduct when it occurs. Hear examples of companies that engaged in gross misconduct and illegal activity like Wells Fargo, Volkswagen, and General Motors. Also learn what options employees have when they recognize misconduct, how to protect themselves from retaliation, and what policies companies need to have in place to encourage employees to report misconduct.

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There’s a major cultural and social shift underway compelling organizations to focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within their workforce. While the benefits and value of a diverse workforce are unquestionable, the path for organizations to get there requires leaders to acknowledge uncomfortable truths. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Linda Ashar talks to Dr. Larry D. Parker, Jr. about his research into outgroups and the steps executive leaders need to take to create an inclusive work environment where employees feel a sense of belonging.

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Everybody wants to feel like they belong, so it’s imperative that organizations create a workplace culture that provides employees with a strong sense of belonging. In this episode, APU professor Linda Ashar talks to Provost and author, Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, about his research on belonging and how he’s applying his findings to drive employee and student success. Learn about the responsibility of leaders to foster a sense of belonging in the workplace, ways for leaders to show students and employees that they’re valued and they matter, and how such efforts can improve employee retention, satisfaction and productivity.

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Every organization has divisions, which can become deep and disruptive and affect the organization’s ability to reach its goals. In this episode, American Public University professor Linda Ashar talks to author and business leader Laura Kriska about her new book that aims to remove the “Us versus Them” dynamic from the workplace. Learn her practical three-step process to help people build trusting relationships with people who aren’t like them, why leaders must recognize who’s on the “home team,” and how WE-Building can bridge the gap to create an inclusive workplace.

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Can employers require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine? In this episode, APU professor Cynthia Gentile talks to attorney Neil Goldsmith about legal issues surrounding workplace vaccine mandates. Learn the legal grounds employers have for mandating vaccination as well as considerations involving the ADA and Title VII. Also hear details of a recent ruling from a Texas court that upheld an employers’ right to mandate vaccination and terminate employees who did not comply with the vaccination requirements.

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What laws should employers understand when it comes to employing military servicemembers? In this episode, APU professor Cynthia Gentile talks to attorney and JAG officer Melissa Strickland about what both employers and military employees should know about USERRA and other laws that provide protections to military employees. In addition to knowing its legal obligations, she also offers insight into how employers can provide additional support by valuing military servicemembers’ unique experience, seeking to employ military spouses and veterans, and ensuring there are systems in place to support and engage military employees.

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The growth of the gig economy has upended traditional employment classifications and sown uncertainty regarding labor laws. Companies like Uber and Lyft, which rely on independent contractors, face employment law challenges regarding the status of freelancers and gig workers. In this episode, APU professor Cynthia Gentile talks to attorney Neil Goldsmith about how the gig economy is changing employment law. Learn about the various tests used to determine employment status, laws like Prop 22 that change employment classifications, and other changes affecting the gig economy under the Biden administration.

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After 98 years, the Equal Rights Amendment was finally ratified by 38 states, qualifying it for full ratification the U.S. Constitution. But will it become an amendment? In this episode, APU professor Cynthia Gentile talks to Krista Joy Niles, Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist, and founder of the ERA Advocacy Committee at the Alice Paul Institute. Learn about the history of the ERA, the anti-ERA movement that prevented ratification by states in the 1970s and 80s, and what led to the final ratification in 2020. Also learn what legal scholars contend is the path to full ratification of the ERA to the Constitution and the impacts the ERA would have regarding equal pay, equal access to healthcare for both genders, and more.

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Recent national attention on systematic social injustices has caused many corporate leaders to take a hard look at their company’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion. In this episode, APU business professor Cynthia Gentile talks to Uva Christina Coles, the founder and CEO of Inclusiva, a consulting firm specializing in workforce inclusion. Learn about the need for companies to create an open and safe space for leaders and employees to talk about diversity, steps and tools needed to build comprehensive DEI policies and procedures, and how the pandemic has helped further these conversations by humanizing employees and drawing closer the line between work and personal lives.

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