Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break

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When Substance Use Shows Up at Work

2026-09-1627:24

Alcohol and drug issues in the workplace can put employers in a difficult position: act too quickly and you may make assumptions you shouldn’t; wait too long and you could create safety or liability concerns. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what employers should be thinking about when substance use or suspected impairment enters the workplace. They discuss the overlap with the ADA and FMLA, drug testing and reasonable suspicion, the im...

Exempt or Non-Exempt? Getting Employee Classification Right

2026-09-0927:01

Wage and hour compliance can get complicated quickly — and getting employee classifications wrong can be costly. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what employers need to know about exempt and non-exempt employees, including the most common white-collar exemptions, salary and duties tests, timekeeping requirements, and the risks that come with misclassification. They also discuss what employers can do now to review their practices, where ...

Summary Judgment: What It Takes to Win Before Trial

2026-09-0223:08

After a recent summary judgment win for one of our clients, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most important—and potentially case-changing—stages of litigation. Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down what summary judgment is, why even a partial win can significantly change the course of a case, and what goes into building a strong argument. They also discuss why the policies, documentation, and decisions employers make long before litigation begins can become critical...

Summer 2026 Employment Law Trends: What We’re Seeing

2026-08-2628:06

As summer winds down, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass compare notes on the employment law trends that have been showing up most often in their work. In this episode, they discuss the increase in employment claims and litigation, wage and hour issues, ADA and leave-related accommodation challenges, shifting priorities at the EEOC, DOL, and NLRB, the growing role of AI in workplace decisions, and why texts, DMs, and other informal communications can become important evidence when ...

Apple v. OpenAI: What Employers Can Learn About Protecting Trade Secrets

2026-08-1938:50

Apple’s recent lawsuit against OpenAI puts a spotlight on an issue employers of every size face: what happens when an employee leaves—and confidential information goes with them? Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Laegan Meyers break down the allegations and discuss practical steps employers can take to protect confidential information and trade secrets, from stronger policies and agreements to onboarding, offboarding, and hiring employees from competitors. They also explore what employers sh...

#box-pro-ellipsis-179007875296536{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break