Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break

What has the EEOC been up to lately?

In this episode of Ground Rules, Jennifer Walrath, Doug Plass and Laegan Myers sit down to discuss recent EEOC lawsuits, settlements, and enforcement activity.

From age discrimination and disability accommodations to pregnancy-related leave and religious accommodation requests, the team breaks down several recent cases and what employers can learn from them. They also discuss the EEOC's apparent increased focus on religious discrimination and why employers should pay attention to the overlap between different employment laws.

The takeaway? Understanding your obligations before an issue arises can go a long way toward avoiding costly mistakes.

Plus, hear about upcoming IEL trainings and opportunities to stay current on employment law developments.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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The end of 2026 is coming up quickly, but there is still plenty for employers to think about before the year wraps up.

In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass run through an end-of-year checklist for employers, including handbook updates, cold and flu season, workplace holiday parties, accommodations, and remote work considerations.

They also talk about newer issues that may be worth revisiting in your policies, from AI and social media to technology-related harassment and remote-work expectations.

Plus, the IEL team has a busy fall ahead! Pam, Jennifer, and Doug share where you can find Idaho Employment Lawyers at conferences, trainings, and events over the next few months.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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Reverse discrimination isn't a new legal concept, but recent EEOC activity is bringing renewed attention to claims employers may not be accustomed to seeing.

In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass unpack a recent message from EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas about anti-American discrimination and discuss how it fits into the agency's broader enforcement priorities. From national origin discrimination and DEI initiatives to recent Title VII cases, they explore what these developments mean for employers.

The conversation also highlights an important takeaway: employers need to take all discrimination complaints seriously, regardless of who brings them. Are your supervisors prepared to recognize, investigate, and respond to these claims?

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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Alcohol and drug issues in the workplace can put employers in a difficult position: act too quickly and you may make assumptions you shouldn’t; wait too long and you could create safety or liability concerns.

In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what employers should be thinking about when substance use or suspected impairment enters the workplace. They discuss the overlap with the ADA and FMLA, drug testing and reasonable suspicion, the importance of documentation, and why employers need clear policies and procedures in place before an issue arises.

They also share some of the common mistakes they see employers make—from assuming an employee is impaired to ignoring warning signs altogether—and why supervisors need to know what to do when these situations happen in real time.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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Wage and hour compliance can get complicated quickly — and getting employee classifications wrong can be costly.

In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what employers need to know about exempt and non-exempt employees, including the most common white-collar exemptions, salary and duties tests, timekeeping requirements, and the risks that come with misclassification.

They also discuss what employers can do now to review their practices, where common wage-and-hour trouble spots arise, and why it is much better to identify a potential issue before a Department of Labor audit or lawsuit brings it to your attention.

If it has been a while since you reviewed your employee classifications, this episode is a good place to start.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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After a recent summary judgment win for one of our clients, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most important—and potentially case-changing—stages of litigation.

Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what summary judgment is, why even a partial win can significantly change the course of a case, and what goes into building a strong argument. They also discuss why the policies, documentation, and decisions employers make long before litigation begins can become critical when it’s time to defend a case.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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As summer winds down, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass compare notes on the employment law trends that have been showing up most often in their work.

In this episode, they discuss the increase in employment claims and litigation, wage and hour issues, ADA and leave-related accommodation challenges, shifting priorities at the EEOC, DOL, and NLRB, the growing role of AI in workplace decisions, and why texts, DMs, and other informal communications can become important evidence when disputes arise.

They also look ahead to the issues employers should continue watching as 2026 unfolds.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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Apple’s recent lawsuit against OpenAI puts a spotlight on an issue employers of every size face: what happens when an employee leaves—and confidential information goes with them?

Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Laegan Meyers break down the allegations and discuss practical steps employers can take to protect confidential information and trade secrets, from stronger policies and agreements to onboarding, offboarding, and hiring employees from competitors. They also explore what employers should do when they suspect information has been taken—and why acting quickly matters.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn
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📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program
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For the first time, employers may have as many as six generations represented in the workforce—each bringing different experiences, communication preferences, expectations, and perspectives to work. But those differences don’t have to create division.

In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass are joined by Ann Smith of Guide and Grow Consulting to discuss how employers can build stronger, more collaborative multigenerational workplaces.

They explore communication preferences, setting clear expectations, avoiding generational stereotypes and bias, training employees on new technology, mentorship and reverse mentorship, and creating opportunities for employees across generations to learn from one another. They also discuss the legal risks that can arise when communication breaks down—including age discrimination claims, workplace incivility, and the growing role of texts, Teams messages, and other electronic communications in employment litigation.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn
📧 Sign up for our email blast
📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program
👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

This week, Pam Howland and Jennifer Walrath welcome Idaho Employment Lawyers' newest attorney, Laegan Meyers, to Ground Rules.

Drawing on her experience defending employers in litigation, Laegan shares what she sees once a workplace dispute reaches the courtroom—and, more importantly, what employers can do now to reduce the chances of ever getting there.

From documentation and employee handbooks to workplace communications and discovery, the conversation explores how everyday decisions can become critical evidence in litigation. You'll also hear why contemporaneous documentation matters, what employers should know about Teams, Slack, emails, and text messages, and why proactive compliance is almost always less expensive than defending a lawsuit.

If you're looking for practical ways to better protect your organization—and get to know IEL's newest attorney along the way—this episode is a great place to start.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn
📧 Sign up for our email blast
📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program
👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers