Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath break down the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services and what it means for employers moving forward. The Court’s ruling eliminates higher proof requirements for so-called “reverse discrimination” claims, placing all Title VII plaintif...

2026 is already shaping up to be a year of significant change in employment law. In this episode of Ground Rules , our attorneys break down the key trends emerging from 2025 and what they signal for employers moving forward — including shifting EEOC enforcement priorities, evolving discrimination claims, PWFA and ADA overlap, off-duty social media issues, workplace investigations, AI risks, and ec...

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OB3), signed into law in 2025, includes changes that could impact employers in 2026 — even though it isn’t traditionally viewed as employment legislation. In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland is joined by Megan Egbert, an attorney with Idaho Employment Lawyers and an Idaho state legislator, to break down the OB3 provisio...

Holiday parties are meant to boost morale—not create legal problems. But every year, employers find themselves dealing with harassment complaints, wage and hour surprises, and liability issues they didn’t see coming. In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down the most common (and costly) compliance risks tied to...

In this episode, Pam, Doug, and Jennifer walk through the EEOC’s newly released technical assistance bulletin addressing national origin discrimination. The team highlights why the bulletin matters, how it fits into broader enforcement trends, and what employers should keep in mind when navigating workplaces that include a mix of U.S. workers, visa holders, and migrant or foreign labor. Drawing fr...

In this episode of Ground Rules , Pam and Jennifer pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to take an employment case to trial. Fresh off a seven-day jury trial, they break down the unpredictability, cost, and intense pressure that come with litigation — and why avoiding the courtroom should be a top priority for employers. From unexpected evidentiary rulings to long timelines, jury wild ca...

In this episode of Ground Rules , Pam, Jennifer, and Megan take a practical, employer-focused look at one of the most frequently used — and frequently misunderstood — workplace laws: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Megan shares insights from her recent deep dive into FMLA’s history, purpose, and modern application, including how FMLA interacts with the ADA, workers’ compensation, and the Pregnan...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Jennifer, and Doug sit down with keynote speaker and executive coach Michelle Choate to explore how emotional intelligence (EQ) directly shapes compliance, culture, and leadership effectiveness in today’s workplaces. From understanding the science behind emotions to recognizing how fear responses drive behavior, Michelle...

When it comes to drug and alcohol testing, employers must balance safety, compliance, and employee rights. In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass discuss when testing is appropriate, what policies should include, and how documentation can protect both employers and employees. They also unpack the Lanier v. City of Woodburn case, Idaho’s Drug-Free Workplace Act, and practica...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland sits down with Doug Plass and Jennifer Walrath to unpack the ripple effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis . They walk through surprising scenarios that triggered claims — from performance improvement plans to reclassifications — and discuss what this means for HR teams a...

The rules around LGBTQ+ protections in the workplace seem to shift every news cycle—but what’s the real legal landscape for employers in late 2025? Pam, Jennifer, and Doug unpack where Bostock v. Clayton County still stands, how recent executive orders and EEOC actions are creating confusion, and what employers should keep in mind when religious accommodations come into play. They also share pract...

What should you do if the Department of Labor shows up at your door? In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland sits down with attorneys Doug Plass and Jennifer Walrith to discuss how employers can prepare for — and respond to — a DOL wage and hour audit. They cover what to expect during an investigation, how to stay organized and cooperative without overs...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , attorneys Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath sit down to unpack one of the most common sources of employer headaches — wage and hour compliance. They cover what every employer should know about: Properly classifying employees as exempt or non-exempt Keeping accurate time and pay records Calculating overtime  Handli...

In this special episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, we’re giving you a front-row seat to our recent Workplace Investigations Workshop. You’ll hear from attorney Megan Egbert as she kicks off the training with the all-important question: Why should employers conduct workplace investigations? Megan unpacks the legal duty to investigate, how it strengthens your defenses ag...

With everything going on in workplaces right now, we thought this was the perfect time to revisit one of our most important episodes. Retaliation claims remain the number one issue filed with the EEOC — making up nearly 40% of all charges. In this replay, we break down what retaliation looks like, how leaders can spot it, and most importantly, how to avoid it. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are no...

In today’s politically charged climate, employers are facing more pressure than ever when employees’ social media posts spark controversy at work. Posts that blur the line between personal expression and workplace impact raise tough questions: What control do employers really have over employees’ online activity? Does it matter if a post identifies the employer — by name, uniform, or profile? How...

What happens when an employee needs more than one accommodation—or when new disabilities come to light after the process has already started? In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam, Jennifer, and Doug break down the complexities of handling multiple accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Through real-life examples involving men...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath are joined by our summer intern, Alisha Hopkins, for a timely look at how artificial intelligence is changing hiring—and where employers can stumble. From real-world misfires (like Amazon’s resume-screening example) to the EEOC’s iTutorGroup settlement and a fast-evolving patchwor...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath sit down with HR consultant Monica Frame to talk about the major trends she’s seeing across organizations in 2025. With over 25 years of HR leadership experience, Monica brings a commonsense and pragmatic perspective to the challenges employers are facing today. From cost-cutting...

In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath dive into the unsettled and rapidly changing state of LGBTQ+ protections in the workplace. From the landmark Bostock Supreme Court decision to executive orders, shifting EEOC guidance, and new lawsuits challenging federal enforcement, employers are left with more questions than an...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the complexities of employment agreements, including their necessity, risks, and benefits. They emphasize the importance of understanding the implications of such agreements in an at-will employment state like Idaho. The conversation covers when to use employment agreements, key provisions to include, and the significance of termination clauses. Additionally, the...

A poorly handled workplace investigation can damage morale, tank culture, and open the door to legal risk. In this episode of Ground Rules , Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass pull back the curtain on how to get investigations right—from the first complaint to the final report. They share: The most common triggers for investigations (and some surprising ones) Frequent mistakes that dera...

In this episode, Pam, Doug, and Jennifer discuss the complexities of workplace romance, particularly in light of the recent kiss cam scandal. They explore employer perspectives on regulating personal relationships, the risks associated with supervisor-subordinate dynamics, and the impact of workplace romance on company culture. The conversation also delves into the importance of having effective w...

On this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break , Pam,  Jennifer, and Doug break down the ins and outs of severance agreements. Whether you’re navigating a high-risk termination, wondering how much to offer, or trying to avoid future legal claims, this conversation covers what every employer should consider before handing over a check. They discuss: When (and why) severance...

In this episode of Ground Rules , Pam, Jennifer, and Doug dive into the surprisingly complex topic of work phones vs. personal phones—and what it means for employers. From wage and hour risks to trade secrets walking out the door, this conversation covers the legal and practical issues that arise when employees use their own devices for work. They unpack: Wage and hour pitfalls for off-the-clock w...