Littler Labor & Employment Podcast

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 wan...

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 nu...

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 effect...

Recorded live at the 2026 Executive Employer Conference – and marking one year in the Lounge (which somehow feels both brand new and well seasoned) – this episode brings you a rapid-fire lineup of insights straight from the conference floor. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave catch up with Littler attorneys fresh from their sessions to unpack the issues employers may want to keep their eye on –...

Summer camp may be all friendship bracelets and field games – but behind the scenes, it’s also a complex workplace with real-life legal considerations. In this episode, hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason are joined by Shareholder Rachel Fendell Satinsky to explore what employers need to know when the “office” looks nothing like an office at all. While camp itself may only run for a few months,...

What happens when employees ask to bring animals into the workplace – and how should employers respond? In this episode of Littler Lounge, hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave are joined by Littler shareholder Trevor Hardy to unpack the landscape of service animals, emotional support animals and workplace accommodations – for a conversation that proves these requests aren’t always as straightforw...

What do acronyms, inspections, and everyday workplace decisions have in common? Quite a lot, as it turns out. In this episode, hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave are joined by Alka Ramchandani-Raj, a leader of Littler’s OSHA practice, for a look at how workplace safety operates beyond the rulebook. Alka demystifies what OSHA actually does, walks through what employers can expect during an inspe...

The Littler Lounge heads back to Europe as hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason welcome Nic James, a partner from Littler’s London office, for a timely conversation on the EU Pay Transparency Directive. With rules taking shape across member states – and not always in identical ways – the group explores what employers can expect and how to prepare thoughtfully. The discussion covers recruiting dis...

Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave are joined by Jeff Nowak to talk about how a moment of professional curiosity turned into a deep focus on the FMLA and ADA – and eventually into one of Littler’s most comprehensive master classes. Jeff shares how practical storytelling, real-world scenarios, and fast-moving case law shape the way he practices and teaches in this space. The conversation covers...

Employee discipline may not sound like party conversation, but stay with us – this one’s worth a refill. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave welcome Kat Siegel, Executive Director of Littler’s Labor Practice, to the lounge for a conversation inspired by a common workplace moment: good intentions, solid decisions, and a process that doesn’t always get the same memo. Together, they unpack what tho...

New year, same Lounge – and we’re kicking off 2026 with a topic that proves procedural questions can have surprisingly big consequences. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave welcome Rich Black and Josh Waxman as the first guests of the year for a conversation that starts with a Supreme Court update and quickly turns into a guided tour of how collective actions actually get off the ground. From th...

As 2026 approaches, workplace regulations are shaking up the scene – and Maureen Lavery from Littler’s Knowledge Management team joins Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave to help employers stay ahead of the curve. The trio dives into new legislation and regulatory trends set to impact organizations in the coming year. From Connecticut’s paid sick leave expansion (spoiler: almost everyone’s invited), C...

This episode kicks off with a little red-carpet flair – Littler’s Stephan Swinkels returns from the 2025 European Executive Employer conference in London to share the inside scoop. Hosts Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason get the unfiltered download – straight from the source as they dive into the findings from Littler's 2025 European Employer Survey Report, spotlighting workplace trends shaking up E...

The holidays are here, and so are the workplace traditions that make this season sparkle. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave, joined by Littler Shareholder Charlotte Main, dive into the practical realities of the holiday season for employers and HR leaders. Together, they unwrap the fun side of year-end celebrations – from creative ways to show appreciation (turkey, anyone?) to holiday bonuses,...

Open enrollment: the time of year when HR professionals load up on caffeine and employees wonder if “PPO” is a new streaming service. In this episode, hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave invite benefits attorney Anne Sanchez to help decode health plans, compliance, and the latest shiny objects in workplace benefits. From the great PPO vs. high-deductible debate to the lively world of wage deduct...

In this episode, Pro Bono Committee Member Lavanga Wijekoon speaks with fellow Pro Bono Committee Member Dave Haase, Paralegal Bahar Azari, and Attorney Practice Coordinator Una Pavlovic about their experience partnering with the National Immigrant Justice Center to host a pro bono clinic for migrant families seeking asylum in the U.S. The team shares stories of working with individuals from aroun...

Pro Bono Committee Members Brandon Mita and Steve Biddle speak with Associates Sarah Boxer and Lillian Manning about their experiences tackling the justice gap – the difference between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs. Sarah and Lillian share how they partner with local legal aid organizations to provide vital services, from helping unac...

Associate Kim Rivera joins Pro Bono Committee Member Dave Haase to share the story of a high-stakes pro bono case involving an international custody dispute under the Hague Convention. After an initial loss at trial, Kim’s advocacy led to a successful appeal, allowing her client’s children to remain safely in the U.S. The episode highlights the impact of pro bono work and the importance of legal r...

Ready for a seasonal tradition that’s more thrilling than pumpkin spice?! It’s incentive compensation plan season! Join Nicole LeFave and Claire Deason as they roll up their sleeves and wade into the wild world of bonuses and commissions. If you’ve ever wondered why lawyers get so worked up about “discretionary” versus “non-discretionary” or if you’ve ever tried to decipher a plan document that re...

What happens when Washington hangs up the “Be Right Back” sign? In this episode, Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave welcome Jim Paretti, co-chair of Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute, to break down how a federal government shutdown has ripple effects on the workplace. From potential visa limbo and agency slowdowns to contractor curveballs and compliance headaches, Jim unpacks what’s really at stak...

Think your digital trail is just background noise? Think again. In this episode, discover how data – from social media to id badge swipes – can alter the trajectory of a workplace lawsuit. Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave team up with eDiscovery attorney Don Myers to unpack the tech, tactics and real-world stories behind modern litigation. From off-the-clock collective claims to individual pl...

What do fantasy football, March Madness brackets, and workplace raffles have in common? They might all be gambling – and they might be happening on your company’s time and devices. Steve Silver, Littler shareholder and chair of the Maine Gambling Control Board, joins hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave to explore how gaming law is showing up in the workplace in unexpected ways. From mobile betti...

Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave are joined by Littler attorney Devjani Mishra for a conversation that starts with pandemic-era policy puzzles and ends somewhere near the Supreme Court. From temperature checks in parking lots to a tidal wave of exemption requests, they trace how COVID and the Groff v. DeJoy decision have reshaped the legal framework around religious accommodation – and why em...

Hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave welcome Littler attorney Alexis Knapp for a deep dive into the world of leave and accommodations. From the surge in mental health-related requests to the role of return-to-work policies in leave requests, Alexis shares what it’s like to be in the thick of it – fielding everything from open-ended FMLA certifications to AI-generated accommodation requests. The c...

Just when we thought we had our summer schedules set, the Department of Labor decided to shake things up. In this special episode, hosts Claire Deason and Nicole LeFave call in Littler attorney Lee Schreter for a quick huddle on the return of the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) Program. What is PAID 2.0? Why now? And should employers be excited or cautious? Lee walks us through the...