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Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break
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.
Episodes
39 episodes
Inside Our Workplace Investigations Workshop: The “Why” Behind Investigations
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 traini...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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32:55
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Re-Release: Retaliation Claims: What Employers Need to Know
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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26:47
Social Media Discipline in a Dicey Political Climate
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:<...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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31:59
When One Accommodation Isn’t Enough
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 Do...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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24:18
AI in the Hiring Process—Opportunities, Risks, and What Employers Need to Know
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—...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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27:27
Navigating 2025 HR Trends with Monica Frame
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. Wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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39:35
LGBTQ+ Workplace Protections in Flux: What Employers Need to Know
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 Bost...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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25:07
Employment Agreements: When, Why, and How to Use Them
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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25:40
From Complaint to Conclusion: A Practical Guide to Workplace Investigations
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 investigation...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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37:55
The Kiss Cam Scandal: Lessons For Employers
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 sup...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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27:08
Severance Agreements 101: Managing Risk on the Way Out
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, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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30:27
The Device Dilemma: Work Phones vs. Personal Phones in the Workplace
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,...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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29:48
What Employers Need to Know About ‘Regarded As’ Disability
Under the ADA, disability discrimination isn’t limited to individuals with diagnosed conditions. Employers can get into legal trouble simply for assuming someone has a disability. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam, Doug, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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28:35
Unlimited PTO: Great Perk or HR Nightmare
Unlimited paid time off sounds like a dream benefit—but is it really as simple as it seems? In this episode of Ground Rules, the hosts break down the pros and cons of unlimited PTO policies. From workplace culture and employee trust to...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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21:13
When an Employee Gets Arrested: What Employers Can (and Can’t) Do
When an employee is arrested, employers are often left with more questions than answers: Can we ask about it? Do we need to act now—or at all? What if coworkers feel unsafe? And what if the arrest doesn’t turn into a conviction?In this e...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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23:43
Why Lawsuits Can't Just Disappear
In this episode of Ground Rules, the hosts tackle one of the most common (and frustrating) questions they hear from clients: “Can’t you just make this lawsuit go away?”From the average three-year lifespan of employment lawsuits ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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25:51
The Psychology Behind Workplace Decisions
In this thought-provoking episode of Ground Rules, the team sits down with Dr. Roger Hall, a business psychologist and leadership consultant, to explore the surprising psychology behind workplace decision-making. Drawing from behaviora...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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40:48
The Case for Coaching: How Clear Communication Protects Your Business
What do business coaching and employment law have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode, the hosts are joined by Mike Taylor, business coach and Chief Vision Officer of TaylorMade Visioneering. Together, they dig into how performanc...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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34:04
Respect at Work: How Civility Shapes Culture—and Claims
In this episode of Ground Rules, the hosts are joined by seasoned HR consultant Rhiannon Albert to unpack an often-overlooked compliance risk: workplace civility and respect. The conversation dives into how everyday behaviors—rudeness,...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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40:30
AI at Work: Innovation, Risk, and Employer Responsibility
In this episode of Ground Rules the hosts take on one of the most buzzworthy topics in the workplace today—artificial intelligence. From AI-powered hiring tools to workplace surveillance, they unpack the real-world uses, legal risks, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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25:38
Retaliation Claims: What Employers Need to Know
In this episode of Ground Rules, the hosts dive into the complex and critical topic of retaliation claims in the workplace. The team breaks down why retaliation is one of the most common claims filed with the EEOC, accounting for 38% o...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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26:47
Ideas at Work: Where Employment and Patent Law Meet
In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, hosts Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass of Idaho Employment Lawyers are joined by J.D. Houvener, a patent attorney and founder of Bold Patents Law. Tog...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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37:06
Navigating Mental Health in the Workplace
This conversation focuses on navigating mental health in the workplace, particularly under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The speakers discuss the obligations of employers regarding mental health conditions, the process for requesti...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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34:51
EEOC in Flux: What Employers Need to Know Now
In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down the latest trends coming from the EEOC, including recent communications on DEI initiatives, LGBTQ+ protections, and enforcement priorities under the Pregnant Workers Fair...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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28:19
Religious Accommodations at Work: Balancing Beliefs and Business
This conversation delves into the complexities of religious accommodations under Title VII, particularly in light of the recent Supreme Court case Groff v. DeJoy. The discussion highlights the evolving legal landscape, the obligations of employ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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23:21