It's another new year, and like prior years, today's episode identifies the 5 biggest labor and employment questions and issues that employers should be watching in 2025.

Today I am joined by Jason Marsili of Marsili Mediation to discuss the often over-looked art and skill involved with mediation, and the important considerations for employers when determining whether, when, and why to mediate a dispute.

For this Thanksgiving week episode, I am joined by several of my Cozen O'Connor colleagues to discuss the likely impact of President Trump's second administration on such L&E issues as federal agency regulation and initiatives generally (David Barron), the NLRB and union activity (Kelly Kindig), Immigration (David Adams), Artificial Intelligence (Jeff Klamut), and OSHA and workplace safety (John Ho).

This past Friday, November 15, 2024, a federal court in Texas struck down on a nationwide basis the U.S. Department of Labor's 2024 regulations that significantly increased the minimum salary thresholds for federal law overtime exempt status. Today's episode discusses the court's rationale and what is next for employers in light of Friday's decision.

NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo joins me today to discuss her latest memorandum finding that "stay or pay" provisions in employee agreements constitute illegal noncompetes under the National Labor Relations Act.

In this second of my two-part series on the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), I am joined by my Cozen O'Connor colleague, Debbie Friedman, to discuss the scope of the PWFA from a practicing attorney's viewpoint and how employers should address common situations under that law.

In this first of two parts on the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), current Vice Chair of the EEOC Jocelyn Samuels discusses the regulations implementing the PWFA and how the PWFA differs from Title VII and the ADA, the common themes in the EEOC charges filed alleging violations of the PWFA, and some practical tips for employers to comply with the PWFA.

In this special 150th podcast episode, I am joined by my Cozen O'Connor colleagues David Barron and Jim Gale to discuss what is left of the FTC noncompete rule, if anything, and what employers should be doing next with the rule in the rearview mirror.

Today is Part 2 of 2, following yesterday's episode. As his term as EEOC Commissioner ended at the end of August 2024, (former) EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling joined the podcast one last time to discuss a wide range of important employment issues, including court deference to federal agencies, the use of agency opinion letters, continued initiatives with Covid-19 and return-to-work issues, the current state of artificial intelligence regulation, and what the future EEOC priorities will look like.

As his term as EEOC Commissioner ended at the end of August 2024, (former) EEOC Commissioner Keith Sonderling joined the podcast one last time to discuss a wide range of important employment issues, including court deference to federal agencies, the use of agency opinion letters, continued initiatives with Covid-19 and return-to-work issues, the current state of artificial intelligence regulation, and what the future EEOC priorities will likely look like.