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© 2026 Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break
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Hosted by seasoned attorney Pam Howland, alongside attorneys Jennifer Walrath and Doug Plass, Ground Rules delivers employment law insights in bite-sized weekly episodes. With decades of courtroom experience, this dynamic trio has seen the costly consequences of legal missteps for employers—and they're here to help you avoid them.
Perfect for business owners, HR professionals, and supervisors, this podcast is your go-to guide for staying ahead of the curve on employment law, fostering compliant workplaces, and keeping your business out of the courthouse. Grab your coffee, tune in, and gain practical tips to protect and empower your team.
64 Episodes
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What happens when an employee leaves—and you suspect they took more than just their experience with them? In this episode, we build on Chapter 15 of Law for Leaders and unpack the growing number of claims involving stolen confidential information, customer relationships, and trade secrets. We talk through the real-world challenges employers face in these situations, including one of the biggest hurdles: proving that something was actually taken. From there, we shift to what you can do proacti...
Most workplace claims don’t start with bad intent—they start with missed signals. In this episode, we discuss why issue-spotting is one of the most critical skills for supervisors, how gaps in training create risk, and what it takes to recognize problems early and respond appropriately. That’s exactly why we created No Judgment Here—an interactive training tool designed to get leaders talking through the real-world situations they face every day. Instead of passively sitting through training,...
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Doug, and Jen discuss what they’re seeing from the EEOC in the first few months of 2026. Reviewing recent lawsuits, settlements, and agency announcements, the team talks about the claims that continue to show up the most — especially disability discrimination — along with newer enforcement priorities that employers should be paying attention to. They also cover the EEOC’s recent focus on DEI-related programs, letters...
This week on Ground Rules, Pam, Doug, and Jen welcome back former Idaho Employment Lawyers attorney Ben Cramer, now serving as a civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Canyon County. Ben shares what employment law looks like from the public employer side and why those cases often come with added layers of complexity. The conversation focuses on whistleblower claims under the Idaho Protection of Public Employees Act (IPPEA), including why these claims can be difficult to evaluate and how the la...
In this episode, we are joined by IEL attorney and Idaho State Representative Megan Egbert to discuss proposed legislation from the 2026 session that could impact employers across the state. We cover bills involving public accommodation liability, independent contractor benefits, e-Verify requirements, nondiscrimination ordinances, and other trends Megan is seeing this year. Although these bills are not final yet, the direction of the legislation raises important compliance questions—especial...
When an employee complaint comes in, the first 24 hours can shape everything that follows. In this episode, Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath walk through the critical early steps employers should take—from acknowledging the complaint and reviewing policies to preserving evidence and planning an investigation. They also discuss common mistakes that can create additional legal risk and why a prompt, organized response is essential. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not provi...
In this episode of Ground Rules, we continue our Law for Leaders book club with Chapter Two: At-Will Employment. What does “at-will” really mean—and what does it not mean? The team breaks down common misconceptions (including the difference between at-will and right-to-work), why documentation matters more than ever, and how failing to clearly communicate termination decisions can fuel discrimination claims. We also discuss when employment agreements make sense, what can knock you out of at-w...
What happens when something in the workplace—like perfume, dogs, or even food allergens—triggers a serious medical reaction for an employee? In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass talk through how employers should approach allergens and irritants as potential ADA accommodation issues. They cover common (and not-so-common) scenarios, including fragrance sensitivities, pet-friendly offices, and severe allergies, and explain why the interactive process matters more than h...
An IHRC complaint is one of those things that can make an employer’s stomach drop. But what you do next matters—a lot. In this episode, Pam Howland is joined by Doug Plass and Jennifer Walrath to talk through how employers should respond when they receive a complaint from the Idaho Human Rights Commission (IHRC) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They explain how the agencies work together, what the investigator is actually trying to decide, and why a well-written response...
On January 22, 2026, the EEOC rescinded its 2024 harassment guidance—an update many employers and attorneys viewed as a long-overdue, practical resource. In this episode, Pam Howland and Jennifer Walrath break down what EEOC guidance is, what the 2024 harassment guidance covered (including technology and post-Bostock workplace issues), and why the EEOC’s decision to pull it matters. We also discuss what this could signal about changing enforcement priorities in 2026—and what employers should ...
Employment handbooks may not be exciting—but they remain one of the most effective tools employers have to prevent claims and defend against liability. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland and Doug Plass break down why 2026 is a critical year to revisit and update your handbook, even if you think yours is “recent enough.” They discuss emerging and evolving issues employers should be addressing now, including AI use in the workplace, social media conduct, harassment and discrimination ...
In this Law for Leaders Book Club episode, the attorneys at Idaho Employment Lawyers break down why supervisor training is one of the most effective ways to prevent workplace claims. Supervisors make daily decisions that can expose employers to risk — often without realizing it. The discussion covers evolving compliance issues supervisors need to recognize, including ADA accommodations, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, religious accommodations, social media concerns, and emerging workplace ...
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 plaintiffs on equal footing—regardless of whether they are considered part of a majority or minority group...
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 economic pressures impacting employment decisions. Whether you’re an HR professional, business owner...
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 provisions employers should be paying attention to. They discuss topics including no tax on tips, no tax o...
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 workplace holiday events. From alcohol-related harassment claims to wage and hour traps, workers’...
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 from recent examples and the EEOC’s stated priorities, the conversation focuses on practical consid...
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 cards, and the staggering emotional and financial toll on employers, Pam and Jennifer share real sto...
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 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The team breaks down eligibility rules, documentation requirements, common...
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 explains how emotionally intelligent leaders can prevent legal risk, improve employee engagement,...
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