Hiring to Firing Podcast

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore some of the unconventional forms of leaves of absence that employees are increasingly requesting in today's workplace. Joined by Kate Puccio, deputy general counsel and vice president of people at EMR USA Metal Recycling, they examine the emerging concepts of "heartbreak leave" for employees navigating romantic b...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by Josh Gelfand , Troutman Pepper Locke partner from the firm's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice group, to break down the nuts and bolts of executive employment agreements through the lens of high-profile college football coach departures. Using real-world examples — including Jimbo Fisher...

In this special crossover episode of Hiring to Firing and The Consumer Finance Podcast , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter shift from their usual format and team up with Taylor Gess as they map out obligations hiding in plain sight for multistate financial services employers. The conversation covers crafting a legally defensible employee handbook, pay transparency complexities, and wage and...

In this episode of  Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter take a close look at the legal landscape surrounding company retreats, inspired by the workplace antics on display at Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce company retreat in the hidden camera series “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat.” Joined by Rachel Keene, vice president and assistant general counsel at Accolade, they discu...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter examine the evolving issue of weight discrimination in the workplace. Joined by Lynne Wakefield , a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice group, they draw on the medical drama The Pitt to discuss obesity, workplace bias, and legal protections. The discussion explores whe...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter examine the growing threat of AI deepfakes in the workplace through the lens of The Morning Show . Joined by Lawrence Cameron , Troutman Pepper Locke partner in the firm's White Collar Litigation + Investigations group, they explore how AI-generated audio, video, and images can create new risks for employers, from fraud...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter revisit the series Emily in Paris to explore what happens when American work habits meet French employment law. Joined by guest Fabienne Haas, a partner at the leading French law firm August Debouzy, they unpack the cultural and legal challenges an American "Emily" might face in Paris — from strict limits on after-hours...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter use a dark comic sketch from Inside Amy Schumer as a starting point for a serious conversation about antisemitism in the workplace. Joined by Andrew Goretsky, senior regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Philadelphia, they unpack how antisemitic stereotypes, microaggressions, and overt hostility show u...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by Paul White, a partner at Resolution Economics, to demystify the world of expert witnesses in employment matters. Using memorable clips from My Cousin Vinny , Legally Blonde , and The Big Short , they explore what it really means to be an “expert,” how courts evaluate expert qualifications and methodologies,...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter confront a workplace issue that affects millions but is often ignored: menopause. Joined by psychotherapist, former attorney, and author Lauren Tetenbaum and employee benefits partner Lydia Parker, they discuss how perimenopause and menopause impact employees' health and workplace performance, and the stigma that keeps m...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing, hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by their Troutman Pepper Locke colleague, Carlin McCrory, co-host of the Payment Pros podcast. Together, they explore the emerging world of earned wage access (EWA), or on-demand pay, through the lens of the entrepreneurial reality TV show Shark Tank . The conversation examines the Consumer Financial Protection...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter swap the halls of corporate America for the grand corridors of Downton Abbey , using the beloved British period drama to unpack the real‑world differences between U.S. and UK employment law. Joined by London‑based labor and employment partner Nick Elwell‑Sutton, they use iconic Downton storylines to discuss key points of...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter trade the drama of reality TV for the real-life stakes of employee separations, using shows like The Bachelor , The Great British Bake Off , Top Chef , and The Voice as a lens to discuss layoffs, terminations, and RIFs. Joined by Lauren Tilashalski, senior associate general counsel at Global Payments, they unpack how emp...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter are joined by Meg Kelsey, director of the Center for Global Justice at Regent University School of Law, to explore how human trafficking and forced labor can be hiding in plain sight in today’s workplaces and supply chains. Using a storyline from the Emmy Award‑winning medical drama The Pitt as a jumping‑off point, they...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter use the Netflix hit America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as a lens to examine best practices in providing effective employee feedback. Joined by Ann Hart, vice president of human resources at ampliFI Loyalty Solutions, they unpack what the show gets right — and wrong —about challenging performance discussio...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter revisit Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to unpack what corporate governance means for today's workplace. Joined by Richard Gerakitis, senior advisor at the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta and former Troutman Pepper partner, they explore how boards, committees, and leadership set the tone through accountability, transpare...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter use the film Inception as a springboard to unpack the very real world of corporate espionage and trade secret theft. Joined by Troutman Pepper Locke partner and former Hiring to Firing co-host Evan Gibbs, co-chair of the firm's Corporate Espionage Response Team, they examine how insider threats arise in the workplace, th...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore the surprising roots and real-world complexities of workers' compensation law, drawing a playful throughline from pirate "articles" of old, to the movie chain, Pirates of the Caribbean, to today's patchwork of state laws. Joined by Todd Wachtel, workers' compensation specialist and partner at Levinson Axelrod, th...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter use the hit legal drama Suits as a springboard to unpack the key differences — and surprising overlaps — between U.S. and Canadian employment law. Joined by Chris Andree, an employment partner at Gowling WLG, they explore what cross-border employers need to know about Canadian law, from the absence of at-will employment...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter draw on leadership lessons from the Tom Hanks classic, Saving Private Ryan, to show how military principles can elevate civilian workplaces. Joined by Retired.com VP of Human Resources, Rick Cuellar, Army veteran, they connect military best practices to corporate HR, sharing practical guidance on effective leadership, cr...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore critical lessons in workplace safety through the lens of the legendary film Apollo 13 . Joined by Greg Narsh, Troutman Pepper Locke counsel from the firm's Environmental & Natural Resources group, they share insights into whistleblower protections and emerging safety trends. Discover how OSHA regulations can guid...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter delve into the viral Coldplay kisscam incident that led to the resignation of two top executives. Joined by Kristin Jones, Troutman Pepper Locke partner from the firm's White Collar Litigation + Investigations group, they explore the intricate legal and ethical challenges that arise from workplace crises. The conversatio...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs discuss the nuanced differences between mediation and arbitration. Joined by Eric Max, senior lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, they dive into why mediation often emerges as the preferred method for resolving employment disputes. Through entertaining clips from The Office, Grace and Frankie ,...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore the dynamic role of HR, using examples from the TV show Hacks . The conversation features guest Ted Harding, CHRO at Apnimed, and focuses on the strategic importance of HR in fostering company culture and aligning employee performance with business goals. Tune in to gain actionable strategies for effective HR lea...

In this episode of Hiring to Firing , hosts Tracey Diamond and Emily Schifter explore the intersection of ethics and workplace culture through the lens of the Disney classic, Robin Hood . Joined by Jordan Hayes of Cathedral Holdings, they discuss how companies can effectively establish and maintain ethical guideposts that drive business success and employee satisfaction. Tune in for practical stra...