(Recorded 11-30-25)

Thanksgiving🦃 is now in the rear view, which means that your organization's End of Year Party🥳is rapidly approaching! Are you ready?🤞 And by ready, I don't mean the logistics. Has your organization actually given the thought🤔necessary to ensure a fun and safe environment in which your employees can celebrate?👯‍♂️🎉👯‍♀️🎉👯

This week's Leadership Video focuses on 3 steps organizations and leaders can (and really, must) take to avoid the potential pitfalls or, who are we kidding, the NIGHTMARES that often result from a lack of meaningful deliberation and preparation in advance of the parties! Those steps include:

1️⃣ Embrace and guarantee inclusivity💕

2️⃣ Prioritize professionalism😇

3️⃣ De-emphasize the importance of alcohol🥤

I truly appreciate so much for your ongoing support for these episodes. Thank you for your watching, for your sharing and for your commenting! ❤️🙏🫶

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 11-14-25)

While the holiday season is a time of joy😂for some, it also represents a period of significant stress, melancholy😥and loneliness for many others. As leaders, we MUST understand that a great number of our people are struggling (often silently) during this time of year. We also must recognize that there are tangible actions💡we can (and must) take to help others through this difficult. Those steps include:

1️⃣ Checking in about mental health

2️⃣ Demonstrating respect for and curiosity about holidays you don’t celebrate and those who don’t celebrate at all

3️⃣ Enhancing workplace predictability and flexibility

4️⃣ Expressing gratitude In meaningful ways

5️⃣ Reminding about mental health resources

As always, thank you so much for commenting and for sharing. Let's make sure we're taking care of each other!

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 11-6-25)

"The Blind Side"🏈 is the story of Michael Oher's triumphant journey from experiencing homelessness in Memphis to being selected in the first round of the National Football League (NFL) draft. The movie's 🎥 portrayal of the relationship between Oher and his high school coach, Hugh Freeze, demonstrates the importance of recognizing how an individual's background massively can impact what motivates that person to be and to do their best. As a coach, I recently was reminded of this lesson in a very real way by one of the players on my 18U Showcase 🥎 Team. I failed.

Leaders - we must do a better job of recognizing what our people need and how best to be of service to them!👂I hope you enjoy this week's Leadership Video, which provides insight in how best we can accomplish this mission-critical goal.👀

As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing! 🫶❤️🙏

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(10-23-25)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) season is upon us and LeBron James is running it back for his 23rd campaign. TWENTY-THIRD! 😲 A few reminders of what the world looked like when LBJ was drafted in 2003:

1️⃣ Facebook had not been launched 💻

2️⃣ Uber and Lyft did not exist🚗

3️⃣ Kelly Clarkson had just won the first season of American Idol 👩‍🎤

Notwithstanding his unprecedented accomplishments and his still playing 🏀 at an incredibly high level, there exists in the media so much mockery of someone LeBron's age competing with players, literally, half his age. This public ridicule got me thinking about how our implicit biases massively and destructively impact the way we view 👀 people of certain ages in our workplaces. This kind of age bias is insidious and needs to be addressed.‼️

This week's Leadership Video examines the realities of age-based bias (against both older and younger employees) and discusses the absolute and meaningful benefits having employees of different ages truly provides.💡

As always, thanks so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing!

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 10-12-25)

Last week was a tough sports week in Casa Cohen. The Philadelphia Phillies ⚾ were eliminated from the playoffs. The Philadelphia Eagles🦅 lost a rivalry game to the New York Football Giants. And, our University of Michigan Wolverines🏈 fell to University of Southern California. All in all, a whole lot of losing. 😤

In this week's Leadership episode, I address not only why failure is necessary and important, I discuss three steps leaders (and humans) should take when things do not go exactly as planned:

1️⃣ Adopt a growth mindset 🧠

2️⃣ Build resilience 💪

3️⃣ Embrace necessary change💡

As always friends, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing.🫶❤️🙏

Have a great week!

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 10-5-25)

Throughout my life, I've been called a lot of things. Michael. Mike. Cohen. Husband. Dad. Coach Mike. But one person, and one person only, was allowed to call me Mikey. That was my mother-in-law, Marsha.❤️

Marsha was a party.🥳 She was just so much fun to be around and, from the moment I met her, she always kept me laughing. But, when at the end of 1999 she was diagnosed with cancer, a lot of the laughs stopped. Marsha's cancer started in the breast and, because she ignored the lump she felt and knew was there, it had metastasized all over her body by the time she received a diagnosis. After a nearly three-year battle (she was given 6 months), Marsha left us.💔

As I discuss in this week's Leadership Video, since that time, I have worn my pink ribbon throughout October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wear it in Marsha's honor and I wear it so people will ask me why I do so. You see, when the conversation starts, I can (and do) suggest that the other person be proactive in self-examinations and in seeking preventative medical care. Leadership takes different forms. Sometimes it involves having a very personal dialogue that may be potentially intrusive or even off-putting. And, while those conversations may be uncomfortable, there are times where circumstances call for them.

I miss Marsha every day. I miss her spirit. I miss her smile. I miss her amazing contagious laugh. And, I miss her calling me Mikey. 🩷🩷🩷

As leaders, as friends, as humans, let's work together to ensure that our family, our friends and our colleagues all are doing whatever is necessary to get the care they need.

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute American Cancer Society American Cancer Society GenNow Network of Philadelphia

hashtag

#breastcancer

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 9-19-25)

For most, leadership is not an intuitive endeavor.💡 It requires education, intentionality, thoughtfulness and, yes, a lot of repetition. Muscle memory 💪 is real, even when it comes to managing and facilitating the success of others. Too many of us achieve a desired result once and we think "I got this."🙅‍♂️ You got it right so we assume this technique or action or practice now permanently resides in our leadership toolbox. 🧰 I'm here to tell you that simply is not how it works. You do not, yet, "got this."

In order for our leadership skills to be engrained, it rarely is enough to do it until we get it right. Rather, the best leaders work on those skills until they cannot get it wrong. 👀 The fundamentals matter. And exercising and repeating them until you cannot get them wrong is central to our effectiveness and the subject of this week's video.

Like anything else, practice may not ever make perfect. However, relentless commitment to doing and being better only enhances others' experience, builds trust and amps up motivation and the desire to improve.

As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing! 🫶 ❤️ 🙏

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 9-11-25)

It's that time of year. 📅 The slower speed of summer ⛱️ is in the rear view and the pace is amped up in our lives and in our workplaces. With that elevated energy comes heightened expectations and renewed focus. 📈 End-of-year responsibilities and goals are looming, so it's time to grind! And, as leaders and those who set the tone, grind we shall!

Even as this time of year mandates this restored focus, we cannot, simply CANNOT, forget what matters. This week's video shares a story of what this time of year means to me and why, even in the midst of stress and strain, it always causes me to pause, to reflect and to reaffirm what is important.

Leaders have to lead! Let's make sure our people understand, even in the midst of weight and worry, not to lose perspective and to do those small things that can make a massive differences for them and for others.

1️⃣ Live in the moment and enjoy your people 👩‍👩‍👧‍👧 and experiences (IRL)

2️⃣ Express gratitude (even when the person does what is expected) 🙏

3️⃣ Pay it forward to the person "behind you" 🎁

4️⃣ Say "I love you" 💌

5️⃣ Be brave and seek help in those moments of overwhelm 💔

As always friends, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing!

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 9-5-25)

At long last, the National Football League (NFL) is back! And, of course our attention properly is focused on our Super Bowl Champion🏆, Philadelphia Eagles! However, the off-season presented a situation relevant to all of our organizations - the dysfunctional experience between the Dallas Cowboys and superstar (and former-Cowboy), Micah Parsons.👀

Friends, background checks matter! Uncovering our would-be employees' downsides and/or, worse, convictions, is crucial! Today's video examines, among other issues, the following:

1️⃣ Whether an arrest can be considered in making an employment decision

2️⃣ When are convictions job-related and consistent with business necessity

3️⃣ Why the articulation of "the exercise of bad judgment" rarely, if ever, will justify relying on a conviction to disqualify an applicant

As always, thank you so much for watching, for commenting and for sharing. I appreciate your support more than you know! 💜🙏🤩

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him

(Recorded 8-30-25)

The numbers are staggering. Every year, we see an increase ⬆️ in internal EEO complaints. And, given EEOC and DOJ activity and the administration's Executive Orders, it sure seems as though that trend will continue. 📈

Is your organization ready?💡Do your leaders know what to do when they receive a complaint of harassment, discrimination, retaliation or unfair treatment based on an employee's protected class?❓ Are you sure they understand legally what they are required to do and what they absolutely should not do with respect to these protected complaints?❓❓How about your HR team? ❓❓❓ Are we completely confident that they appreciate the investigation responsibility?❓❓❓❓

This week's episode discussed 8️⃣ very common scenarios implicating the investigatory and reporting obligations of both HR and leadership.

As always, I hope you enjoy this week's message. I remain so grateful for your support, your commenting and your sharing!🙏

Duane Morris LLP Duane Morris Institute

______________________________________________________

Michael S. Cohen is a partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of employment law training and counseling. Michael is a nationally-recognized thought leader on workplace culture and human resources issues. He has trained and counseled employers throughout the country and regularly conducts more than 200 trainings each year.

Michael Cohen (215) 979-1882

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelscohen12

https://www.duanemorris.com/attorneys/michaelscohen.html

Pronouns: he/him