This Week at Work: An HR and Employment Law Show

What happens when employees claim they worked hours they were never paid for? In this episode of This Week at Work, Phil and Burt unpack a landmark federal court ruling that limits FLSA overtime gap-time claims and explore critical lessons employers need about wage-and-hour compliance, recordkeeping, overtime calculations, and employee classifications.

Who’s really the employer? The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed Joint Employer Liability rule could significantly impact how businesses work with staffing agencies, subcontractors, franchisees, and other third-party partners. In this episode, employment law attorney Burt Garland breaks down the proposed four-factor test, explains the difference between vertical and horizontal joint employment,...

Compensation is no longer just an HR function, it's a business strategy that directly impacts recruiting, retention, performance, and employee trust. In this episode of This Week at Work, Phil Brandt sits down with compensation expert Michael Maciekowich to explore how pay transparency is exposing hidden weaknesses in compensation programs, why organizations must align pay with business goals, and...

Meta Ray-Bans, translation earbuds, AR headsets — recording-capable wearables are already showing up in workplaces every day, often before anyone in HR realizes it. The policies most employers rely on were written for a world where recording meant pulling out a phone. That world is gone. Phil Brandt sat down with employment attorney Burt Garland of Ogletree Deakins to unpack the legal exposure mos...

Military leave is quickly becoming a frontline issue for employers as global tensions increase the likelihood of National Guard and Reserve activations. HR leaders may face short-notice deployments, extended absences, and complex reemployment obligations — all governed by strict compliance requirements. In this episode of This Week at Work, we break down what employers need to know now, including...

Everyone’s staying, but are they still showing up? Turnover is down, but so is energy. From hybrid fatigue to economic caution, employees may be staying put, but not leaning in. Learn why today’s disengagement looks different, how to spot the early signs, and what leaders can do to re-ignite focus before top talent quietly checks out. Phil and Burt are joined by leadership strategist Tanya Zion fo...

Send in your questions to hrask.org/account/questions/aaim/128 or leave your questions in the chat! In Episode 360, Phil is joined by Melissa Pesce of Ogletree Deakins and executive coach Leslie Mizerak to break down the workplace issues leaders and HR professionals need to understand right now. Our panel covers timely legal guidance on FMLA and snow day closures, what employers should know about...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! In Episode 359 we welcome Beltway insider Jim Plunkett for a practical breakdown of how recent disruptions are shaping the year ahead for employers. The conversation explores where employment policy is really being made, why federal agencies may have more influence than Congress, and how shifts at the Department of Labor, NLR...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Delegation isn’t just about giving work away - it’s how future leaders are developed. With 40% of executives saying leadership development is a serious long-term challenge, we’re asking the BIG question: are leaders actually delegating enough and to the right places?  Join us with Lauren Patel (AAIM) as we explore delegation...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Toxic flattery may sound “nice,” but it’s costing organizations time, talent, and truth. When leaders and tools are rewarded for agreeability instead of honesty, tough questions go unasked, bad decisions stick, and teams stop learning.  Join us with special guest Kris Gfell (HR Services, AAIM) as we unpack the epidemic of tox...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! For episode 356, Leaders are increasingly leaning on AI tools - and HR - for guidance, decisions, and direction. When AI and HR act as crutches, leadership capability erodes. When used as coaches, they scale judgment, confidence, and performance. Working alongside company leadership, HR must design training and development th...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! For episode 355, Dr. Scott Koeneman - 3rd-degree black belt, Lean Six Sigma expert, hypnotist, and author - joins us to explore the “Great Realignment.” As AI strips tasks away from traditional roles, we ask: What is a job now? What do employers truly need, and what do employees now value in a career? Dr. Scott breaks down wh...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! For episode 354, we’re joined by Inclusion Thought Leader Fred Falker for a candid conversation about leadership’s role in actually building an inclusive culture. Hint: it isn’t achieved through statements or slogans. It happens through action. At its core, an inclusive culture should expand the circle, not redraw the lines -...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! This week on This Week at Work, we sit down with Sam Goodwin: one of the few to visit all 193 countries. In 2019, Sam’s journey took an unexpected turn when he was abducted in Syria and falsely accused of being a spy. Now a speaker, author, and expert on resilience, Sam shares how his experience taught him to lead through cha...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! In this episode, Phil and Burt welcome Lauren Patel to explore the urgent need for “Double Fluency” - the ability to not only engage with AI, but also to strengthen the uniquely human skills that AI can’t replicate. Drawing from the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report, they break down what HR and business leaders must do now to prepa...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! When employees miss the mark, it’s often not about skill — it’s about clarity. In this week’s episode, Tanya Zion from AAIM joins Phil and Burt to unpack how the “why” behind decisions gets lost between leadership and employees. Discover how HR can help leaders bridge that gap, so every message connects, every action aligns,...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Many HR professionals feel stuck in administrative roles. This episode of This Week at Work features Phil and Burt with Kris Gfell (Business Manager at AAIM) to explore how HR professionals can evolve from operational tasks to business leadership. The discussion will cover current HR challenges, organizational needs, and esse...

Episode 349: New research shows women’s earnings are falling further behind - but the reasons go beyond bias. With return-to-office mandates, childcare costs, and promotion patterns, Phil, Burt, and fan favorite Mikey Mac unpack what’s really driving women’s declining pay. They’ll also share what employers can do right now to close the gap, retain key talent, and build trust through fair compensat...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! This Thursday on This Week at Work, we’re joined by KVJ, founder of Tough Day, the AI workplace advisor reshaping the way managers manage. From the conference circuit to the C-suite, there’s a growing realization: AI isn’t just about automation - it’s about elevation. Phil shares his CEO Conference wake-up call, KVJ breaks do...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! We’re breaking down the implications of the October 1st government shutdown with special guest, D.C. insider Jim Plunkett. What does this mean for E-Verify, immigration processes, labor agency operations, and your compliance deadlines? With uncertainty on Capitol Hill, HR leaders can’t afford to wait. Tune in for expert guida...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Are today's HR professionals being promoted faster than they're prepared? In this week’s episode of This Week at Work, Phil and Burt tackle a pressing question: What does it really take to move from an entry-level HR role to an executive position? With rapid promotions and shrinking knowledge banks, HR leaders must now develo...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Episode 345: A shrinking workforce and the rapid rise of AI has been one of the biggest topics shaking up HR and every industry today. Will automation truly step in for the millions of workers that are projected to lose in the coming decades or will it just create bigger gaps in skills and opportunity? In this episode, we get...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Download the key takeaways from this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/rpzccu99 For REAL this time! Last week we were unable to get to the topic we’ve been wanting to discuss, but tomorrow we’re diving in head first! AI is reshaping society and the workplace at lightning speed, but is it also making us less sharp, less aware,...

Send in your questions to hrask.org or leave your questions in the chat! Key takeaways from this episode: https://tinyurl.com/rpzccu99 In episode 343, Phil and Burt reflect on the anniversary of 9/11 and how recent tragedies, from school shootings to political violence, affect today’s workplace. We also take a dive into AI and leadership. A Future So Dull, You Gotta Wear Google Goggles? Artificial...

Send in your questions to hrask.org Download all the key takeaways from this episode down below: https://tinyurl.com/bdf9v66d    Episode 342: We all have daily tasks that keep things running, but we’re quickly approaching a time when AI can handle some of the everyday loads. Discover how YOU can lead more strategically by focusing on what truly needs a human touch and what doesn’t. Phil and specia...