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PODCAST

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

business management

All Episodes

30:51

EEOC Enforcement in Action: Recent Cases and Employer...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/10/07

What has the EEOC been up to lately? In this episode of Ground Rules, Jennifer Walrath, Doug Plass and Laegan Myers sit down to discuss recent EEOC lawsuits, settlements, and enforcement activity. From age discrimination and disability accommodations to pregnancy-related leave and religious accommodation requests, the team breaks down several recent cases and what employers can learn from them. They also discuss the EEOC's apparent increased focus on religious discrimination and why employers...

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18:22

The Employer’s End-of-Year Checklist

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/09/30

The end of 2026 is coming up quickly, but there is still plenty for employers to think about before the year wraps up. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass run through an end-of-year checklist for employers, including handbook updates, cold and flu season, workplace holiday parties, accommodations, and remote work considerations. They also talk about newer issues that may be worth revisiting in your policies, from AI and social media to technology-rel...

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19:40

Reverse Discrimination: The EEOC's Latest Message to...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/09/23

Reverse discrimination isn't a new legal concept, but recent EEOC activity is bringing renewed attention to claims employers may not be accustomed to seeing. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass unpack a recent message from EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas about anti-American discrimination and discuss how it fits into the agency's broader enforcement priorities. From national origin discrimination and DEI initiatives to recent Title VII cases, they explore wh...

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27:24

When Substance Use Shows Up at Work

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/09/16

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...

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27:01

Exempt or Non-Exempt? Getting Employee Classification...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/09/09

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 ...

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23:08

Summary Judgment: What It Takes to Win Before Trial

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/09/02

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...

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28:06

Summer 2026 Employment Law Trends: What We’re Seeing

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/08/26

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 ...

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38:50

Apple v. OpenAI: What Employers Can Learn About...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/08/19

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...

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33:21

Collaborating Across Generations: Building a Stronger...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/08/12

For the first time, employers may have as many as six generations represented in the workforce—each bringing different experiences, communication preferences, expectations, and perspectives to work. But those differences don’t have to create division. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass are joined by Ann Smith of Guide and Grow Consulting to discuss how employers can build stronger, more collaborative multigenerational workplaces. They explore commun...

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22:02

Meet Laegan Meyers + Lessons from Employment Litigation

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/08/05

This week, Pam Howland and Jennifer Walrath welcome Idaho Employment Lawyers' newest attorney, Laegan Meyers, to Ground Rules. Drawing on her experience defending employers in litigation, Laegan shares what she sees once a workplace dispute reaches the courtroom—and, more importantly, what employers can do now to reduce the chances of ever getting there. From documentation and employee handbooks to workplace communications and discovery, the conversation explores how everyday decisions can be...

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33:28

The Biggest Mistakes Supervisors Make

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/07/29

Every supervisor makes mistakes—but some mistakes are far more costly than others. In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, Doug Plass, and special guest Megan Renaldo of Renaldo & Co. compare notes on the leadership and compliance issues they see most often when working with employers. Together, they discuss: Why waiting too long to address performance problems creates bigger issues The importance of documenta...

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21:31

What the Latest IHRC Data Means for Idaho Employers

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/07/22

The Idaho Human Rights Commission's latest annual report reveals a sharp increase in discrimination and harassment claims—but the numbers tell a more nuanced story than the headlines suggest. In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down the FY2026 IHRC data, including the continued rise in disability accommodation claims, significant growth in pregnancy and sex discrimination allegations, and increasing religion and national origin complaints. They also discuss on...

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22:06

L4L Book Club: Why One Harassment Training Isn't Enough

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/07/15

Many employers think discrimination and harassment training is something you do once, check off the list, and move on. The reality? Employment law, technology, workplace dynamics, and employee expectations are constantly evolving—and your training should too. In this episode of L4L Book Club, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass discuss why ongoing training is one of the best investments employers can make. They cover: Why the law expects regular training How changin...

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26:02

Top 10 Things That Surprise Employers About Depositions

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/07/08

Most employers know depositions are part of the litigation process—but few realize just how much preparation, strategy, and disruption they involve. In this episode, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass discuss the top 10 things that surprise employers about depositions, from marathon questioning and document-heavy testimony to attorney tactics and the importance of preparation. Whether you're facing employment litigation now or simply want to understand what happens behind the...

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30:27

From AI Activity to Advantage

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/07/01

Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, but thoughtful strategy will always outlast the latest technology. In the final installment of our three-part AI series, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, Doug Plass, and AI governance and strategy consultant Ally Ross discuss what separates organizations that are successfully leveraging AI from those creating unnecessary risk. The conversation explores why employers shouldn't feel pressured to "keep up" with every new AI development, how strong gover...

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24:13

What the EEOC's New Enforcement Plan Means for Idaho...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/06/24

The EEOC released its new National Enforcement Plan in June 2026, and it reads like a roadmap of exactly where enforcement is headed through 2029. I sat down with Jennifer Walrath and Doug Plass to break down what's in it and what it means for you as an employer. This is not a vague document. The EEOC is telling employers and their attorneys precisely which types of cases it plans to bring and which legal questions it wants the Supreme Court to settle. That kind of transparency is worth payin...

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30:34

The Rules of the Road for AI in the Workplace

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/06/17

What do AI policies have in common with traffic laws? More than you might think. In Part 2 of our AI series, Ally Ross uses a "rules of the road" analogy to explain how employers can create practical guardrails for AI use. The conversation covers policy development, human oversight, bias concerns, documentation, monitoring, and why doing nothing may be the riskiest approach of all. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any o...

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25:22

Hiring Teens This Summer? These Are The Child Labor...

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/06/10

Summer is one of the busiest hiring seasons of the year, and for many employers, that means bringing teenagers onto the team. But hiring minors comes with unique legal requirements that can catch employers off guard. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass discuss the top five things employers should know before hiring teens for summer work. From hazardous occupation restrictions and work-hour limitations to recordkeeping requirements and Department of L...

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16:44

L4L Book Club: The Right Way to Discipline and Terminate

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/06/03

In this installment of the Law for Leaders Book Club, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass break down one of the most common areas where employers find themselves facing claims and lawsuits: employee discipline and termination. Drawing from Chapter 4 of Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits, they discuss why documentation matters, the importance of timely coaching conversations, and how fairness often plays a bigger role than e...

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26:04

You want to use AI. Do you know the risks?

Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break ·

2026/05/27

Artificial intelligence is moving into the workplace faster than most employers can keep up with — especially in hiring, HR, and day-to-day operations. But with that opportunity comes growing legal and compliance risk. In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass sit down with Ally Ross of Saig Advice to talk about what employers should actually be thinking about when it comes to AI in the workplace. From AI-driven hiring tools and bias audits to employee res...

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