Littler Labor & Employment Podcast

AI was supposed to make work more efficient. So why does using it sometimes feel like more work? Britney Torres, Senior Counsel and co-chair of Littler’s AI & Technology practice group, joins Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave to skip the “AI can write your emails!” conversation and tackle the more complicated questions that come with putting AI to work. Why aren’t employees embracing AI as quickly as expected? What happens when you drop new technology into old workflows? And what do employers do when AI starts helping employees draft detailed accommodation requests?

And because one episode can only contain so many existential questions about the future of work, Britney is helping lead Littler’s Future of Work Summit, November 2-3 in Washington, D.C. Claire and Nicole will be there too as Littler attorneys tackle the new, novel and not-so-easy-to-answer issues changing the workplace.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-ai-work-reality-check-adoption-efficiency-and-employee-use

Workplace safety isn’t just about responding when something goes wrong. It’s about identifying risks, asking questions, soliciting input, and making informed decisions before a situation reaches a breaking point. In this episode, Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave sit down with Littler shareholder Adam Fiss to discuss the complexities of workplace violence prevention and response, from threat assessments and mental health considerations to crisis planning and emerging legal requirements. As Adam explains, there is rarely a one-size-fits-all answer when employers are faced with potential threats or high-stakes situations. Their conversation examines how employers can work to balance safety obligations with the realities of managing a modern workforce.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-workplace-violence-prevention-and-crisis-response

Few things bring together wage and hour law, noncompetes, consumer protection statutes, and state legislatures quite like a TRAP. In this episode, Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason welcome Rob Pritchard, co-chair of Littler’s Wage and Hour practice group, to break down the growing wave of laws targeting training repayment agreement provisions, or TRAPs, and other "stay-or-pay" arrangements designed to encourage employees to stick around.

From California to New York to Washington state, the conversation explores why these agreements have caught lawmakers' attention, how well-intentioned retention strategies can become compliance challenges, and why employers are discovering that a potential retention tool can look very different depending on the state. One thing is clear: the rules are changing quickly. And when the topic is TRAPs, the last place anyone wants to end up is caught in one.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-caught-trap-navigating-new-laws-stay-or-pay-agreements

The Faster Labor Contracts Act (FLCA) has emerged as one of the most closely watched labor proposals on Capitol Hill. To help employers understand what is at stake, Shannon Meade, Executive Director of Littler's Workplace Policy Institute, is joined by Ed Egee, Vice President, Government Relations and Workforce Development at the National Retail Federation, and Kristen Swearingen, Vice President, Legislative and Political Affairs at the Associated Builders and Contractors Association, Inc. and Chair of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, to discuss the legislation and its potential implications for employers.

Together, they examine how the bill would fundamentally alter how first contracts are negotiated as well as the factors driving its bipartisan support, and the political and legislative hurdles that could shape its future in the Senate. The conversation also explores the broader labor policy landscape and key developments employers should continue to monitor as debate over the proposal unfolds.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/policy-pulse-understanding-faster-labor-contracts-act-what-employers-need

Compensation used to be whispered about. Now it is posted in job ads, discussed by employees, scrutinized by regulators, and increasingly treated as part of an employer’s brand. So where does that leave employers trying to understand whether their pay practices are both fair and defensible?

Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave are joined by Jennifer Znosko of Littler’s Pay Equity Assessment Team for a Lounge conversation about the data, legal judgment, and practical realities behind pay equity audits. Jen explains why compensation data rarely tells the whole story on its own, why state pay equity laws behave like “snowflakes,” and how a practical audit can start with the data an employer already has. The conversation also moves beyond the numbers to the bigger transparency moment: salary range posting laws, changing cultural expectations around pay information, and the careful line employers must walk when they want to speak confidently about their pay practices without compromising privilege.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-pay-equity-age-transparency

Tariffs. The United Nations. Global conflict. Supply chains. If those weren’t on your employment law bingo card, they probably should be. Hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason welcome Littler’s Lavanga Wijekoon to discuss how world events have a way of showing up in the workplace. From human rights due diligence and international labor standards to platform workers, global supply chains, and cross-border compliance challenges, the episode spans a wide range of issues facing multinational employers. Also on the itinerary: the workforce implications of trade policy and geopolitical uncertainty – all part of a conversation that covers a lot of ground without requiring a passport. And if the conversation occasionally sounds like an international relations seminar, that's because today’s workplace challenges rarely stop at the border.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-global-ripple-effect-when-world-events-reach-workplace

A century ago, nobody was asking about your side hustle. Today, individuals can build a client base, start an LLC, and work across multiple states without ever stepping into a traditional office. The workforce has evolved considerably, especially over the last decade. The laws governing it? Not always at the same pace. As it turns out, employment laws from the 1930s weren't written with apps and digital platforms in mind.

In this episode, Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave welcome Mike Gotzler, co-chair of Littler's Contractors, Staffing and Contingent Workers Practice Group, for a conversation about the most pressing questions clients bring to them and the legal realities behind today's workforce. From independent contractors and joint employment to gig work and workforce design, they explore what happens when modern business models meet laws that predate the internet.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-apps-llcs-and-employment-law-navigating-contingent-workforce

The FIFA World Cup is making its presence felt in workplaces around the world, bringing with it a few compliance considerations for employers. In this episode, Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave explore the wage and hour questions that can arise whenhttps://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-when-world-cup-meets-workday-watch-parties-wage-claimsveryone loves a good match, nobody wants an unexpected wage claim. Although this conversation is inspired by the World Cup, the takeaways apply anytime employees have one eye on work and the other on a big event.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-when-world-cup-meets-workday-watch-parties-wage-claims

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) doesn’t operate like a typical HR policy or leave law – and treating it that way can create risk. In this episode, hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason are joined by Shelley Ericsson and James McGehee to explore how this unique law governs employee rights and employer obligations.

From notice requirements with a low bar and numerous exceptions to protections that can span years, the group unpacks what sets this law apart – and why it can catch even the most sophisticated employers off guard. Along the way, they challenge some common assumptions and explain why a “we’ll handle it like other leave” approach doesn’t work.

They also cover recent developments and important nuances, including expanded anti-retaliation protections and enforcement trends, along with practical steps employers can take now to strengthen compliance and avoid costly surprises.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-orders-received-userra-compliance-briefing

Recorded live at the 2026 Executive Employer Conference – and continuing the celebration of one year in the Lounge – this second installment brings additional conversations straight from the conference floor.

Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave connect with more Littler attorneys to explore what’s rising to the top for employers right now – from navigating global volatility and its ripple effects on the workforce (because “predictable” isn’t really the theme this year) to keeping pace with evolving background check requirements and to the ever-expanding role of compliance in a rapidly shifting landscape. Along the way, they also circle back to highlights from the conference’s general session – yes, including the moment everyone didn’t know they needed – and explore the history behind the Executive Employer Conference.

If Part 1 got things started, Part 2 rounds it out – with a few final takeaways we’re still thinking about after the conversations wrapped.

https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/podcast/littler-lounge-location-executive-employer-conference-one-more-round-insights