Employment Huddle

In this episode of The Employment Huddle podcast, Guy and Samantha cover employees taking extended time off around the holidays, the importance of end-of-year policy audits, and the possible expansion of sick leave to include pets in New York City. In Water Cooler Talk, Guy and Samantha discuss their anticipation for the fall season and upcoming sports.

In this episode of The Employment Huddle podcast, Guy and Samantha discuss the complexities of managing employee expectations during major sporting events like the World Cup and NBA Championships, and dealing with unauthorized time off, including the legal implications of sick day misuse. Additionally, they cover the evolving dynamics of accommodation requests for hybrid and remote work, Juneteenth and potential new holidays, what AI means for productivity and anti-harassment policies, and more. Lastly, Water Cooler Talk covers Guy and Samantha's summer plans.

On this “emergency” episode of the Employment Huddle podcast, Guy and Samantha are joined by colleague and litigation attorney Colin Marinovich to provide an employment and legal perspective on the controversial relationship between NFL head coach Mike Vrabel and insider Diana Russini, and what could happen next for The NFL , the New England Patriots, and The Athletic, as well as what actions by both individuals could be considered grounds for termination or reassignment. Keep listening for practical guidance for employers, such as the need for clear workplace relationship policies, mandatory disclosure requirements, consistent enforcement, and more.

In this episode of the Employment Huddle podcast, hosts Guy and Samantha discuss the recent developments surrounding the New York Secure Choice program, which mandates that businesses with 10 or more employees must offer a retirement plan to their employees, and the implications for employers, including potential headaches from employee pushback. They are also joined by guest expert Dylan Cruthers, litigation attorney from their firm Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs, and the potential challenges that lay ahead for importers as they seek reimbursement. They also discuss reasonable accommodations for employees with medical conditions, updates to the New York City Sick and Safe Leave act, and Guy reveals his pick for "the best day of the year" in Water Cooler Talk.

The Employment Huddle returns for 2026, as Samantha and Guy tackle ICE workplace visits and understanding warrant types, onboarding essentials, New York's sexual harassment training requirements, the new fair credit report prohibition, arbitration agreements, AI usage policies, New York City's upcoming 32-hour unpaid sick leave requirement, and more. Water Cooler Talk debates whether $100,000 extra is worth giving up remote work.

Recording Note: This episode was recorded on January 21, 2026, and does not include discussion of any ICE-related developments in Minnesota or other policy changes that occurred after the recording date.

On this episode of the Employment Huddle, Samantha and Guy discuss a potential amendment to New York City's sick leave law, New York State's prenatal leave, Rhode Island’s classifying menopause as a disability, workplace relationships, the FTC's latest stance on non-compete agreements, legal and tax issues for multi-state employees, social media policies, and more. Finally, Water Cooler Talk does a dive deep on potential hobbies.

In this episode of the Employment Huddle, Guy and Samantha discuss various employment law topics relevant to the summer season, including employer responsibilities during summer events, monitoring sick leave patterns, managing PTO requests, and navigating religious accommodations. They also delve into the complexities of political speech in the workplace, the intersection of religion and politics, and the implications of layoffs on discrimination claims.

In the premiere video episode of the Employment Huddle podcast, Samantha and Guy discuss various aspects of workplace culture, including hugging in the office, the implications of social media interactions among coworkers, and the complexities of accommodating religious practices in the workplace. They navigate the complexities of accommodating employee requests, particularly in the context of religious and medical needs, while exploring the challenges of undue hardship and the need for advance notice in accommodation requests. Water Cooler Talk shifts to spring time activities, wedding planning and reviewing song submissions for Samantha’s upcoming wedding.

In the first episode of 2025, Guy and Samantha discuss various workplace issues, including the implications of romantic relationships in the workplace, new policies regarding prenatal leave and lactation breaks, mandatory sexual harassment training, updates on minimum wage and DEI policies, and the complexities of at-will employment. Water cooler talk touches on the societal pressures surrounding Valentine's Day, exploring themes of inclusion and the emotional impact on individuals who may feel left out.

In the first part of our end of year episode, Sam and Guy discuss the importance of aligning handbook policies with actual practices, especially regarding progressive discipline and leave policies. They also discuss key updates involving paid prenatal personal leave in New York State, paid lactation breaks, and forum selection clauses in employment agreements.