This Week at Work: An HR and Employment Law Show

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The only show to offer employers and Human Resource professionals practical and timely insights into the workplace Powered by AAIM Employers’ Association and Ogletree Deakins. A Feature Group USA production. This Week at Work is the only show about the workplace that offers you front row seats AND a microphone, featuring human resource professionals and experts in employment law to bring you practical, timely and accurate insights so you can more effectively lead your organization. Join Phil, Burt, and other subject matter experts every Thursday at 7:30 am Central, for topics ranging from people management and compensation trends, to decoding the federal and local laws affecting your organization. This Week at Work was proud to be the premier news source and sounding board for human resource professionals and business owners who fought for their businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feedback our podcast received was humbling - and you better believe we’ll be on the front line helping you build an even stronger workplace during the next crisis.

  1. 5 FEB · VIDEO

    Hybrid Burnout & Quiet Disengagement: Warning Signs Leaders Miss

    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 for a timely conversation about the signals employers can’t afford to miss. Using the latest Gallup data, she explains why employees are staying put yet feeling disconnected, how unclear expectations are fueling burnout, and what managers must do differently to develop today’s workforce. Timestamps:  00:00 – Welcome 02:59 – Lawyer on the Clock begins  03:09 – EEOC rescinds 2024 harassment guidance explained 07:00 – State-by-state DEI and affirmative action rollbacks 10:06 – EEOC sues Nike over race discrimination investigation 12:23 – FTC targets law firms and Mansfield Certification 19:38 – AIM updates and transition to Tanya Zion 21:01 – Engagement down while retention rises – Gallup insights 26:31 – Rethinking the manager’s role and clear expectations 29:10 – AI, cognitive offloading, and critical thinking risks 35:01 – Celebrating incremental wins and practical leadership takeaways Be sure to "Like" and Subscribe! Learn more about becoming a member of AAIM at https://aaimea.org

    38 min

  2. 29 JAN · VIDEO

    The Speed of Change Exposing Leadership Gaps - Who’s at Risk and How to Prepare Now

    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 remote work as a disability accommodation, and how clear policies can reduce risk. Then the conversation shifts to the growing role of executive coaching in leadership development, managing change, and preparing high-potential employees for succession. Timestamps:  00:01:36 – Phil welcomes Melissa Pesce back to the show 00:02:46 – Introduction of executive coach Leslie Mizerak 00:03:22 – Leadership trends and upcoming AIM events update 00:04:22 – Lawyer on the Clock 00:04:49 – FMLA guidance on snow days and unexpected closures 00:10:16 – Remote work and ADA accommodation case update 00:17:01 – Coaching misconceptions and modern purpose 00:28:44 – Coaching for succession planning and high-potential leaders Subscribe for weekly workplace insights on HR strategy, leadership development, and employment law updates. Learn more about becoming a member of AAIM at https://aaimea

    31 min

  3. 22 JAN · VIDEO

    2026 Employer Policy Outlook After Washington’s Active 2025

    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, NLRB, and EEOC could impact employers in 2026. The panel also takes a look at AI hiring risks, emerging discrimination lawsuits, a rare 27-pay-period year, and the growing divide between state and federal workplace rules. This episode is essential viewing for HR leaders and business executives who want to understand what is changing, why it matters, and how to prepare before the next wave hits. Timestamps:  00:00 – Welcome & what Congress did (and didn’t) do for employers 01:31 – Opening banter & why keeping up with policy feels like tennis 03:38 – Lawyer on the Clock: AI hiring tools & Fair Credit Reporting Act risks 07:32 – Uber & Lyft gender-matching lawsuits: damned if you do, damned if you don’t 10:27 – 2026 warning: Why some employers may face 27 pay periods 13:52 – Why 2025 felt so disruptive for employers 17:38 – When agencies drive employment policy, not Congress 19:03 – Independent contractor rules & OSHA heat regulations 23:15 – State vs. federal divide on AI and workplace laws 26:12 – What’s coming from the NLRB, EEOC & DOL in 2026 Learn more about becoming a member of AAIM at https://aaimea

    35 min

  4. 16 JAN · VIDEO

    Leadership Development Is Stalling: The Delegation Gap Leaders Must Fix

    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 in workplaces where leaders must learn to delegate effectively to both humans and AI. Timestamps:  00:09 – Leadership Development as a 2026 Business Challenge 01:32 – Guest Introduction: Lauren Patel 02:49 – Lawyer on the Clock Begins 03:25 – AI in Hiring and Employment Law Overview 07:45 – EEOC Power Shift and Policy Direction 14:12 – Lawyer on the Clock Wrap-Up 15:35 – Why Leaders Struggle to Develop Future Leaders 18:11 – The Real Barriers to Delegation 29:52 – Delegate Decisions, Not Just Tasks

    32 min

  5. 8 JAN · VIDEO

    The Cost of Toxic Flattery - and How to Restore Honest Leadership

    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 toxic flattery - and how HR can lead a culture that values candor over comfort. Timestamps:  00:00 — Why 30% of Employees Don’t Feel Safe Speaking Up 01:28 — Welcome Back and Six Years of This Week at Work 03:13 — Introducing Toxic Flattery in the Workplace 03:58 — Lawyer on the Clock: Major Labor and Employment Updates 05:16 — Marijuana Rescheduling and What It Means for Employers 08:12 — DEI Programs Under Legal Scrutiny 10:30 — State Law Changes Employers Must Know in 2026 14:49 — Illinois Employment Law Updates That Impact HR 19:17 — What “AITA” Culture Reveals About Validation and Feedback 29:57 — How Leaders Create Alignment Without Toxic Flattery

    38 min

  6. 18/12/2025 · VIDEO

    Leaders Are Leaning on AI & HR: Coaches vs. Crutches

    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 that uses AI to reinforce leadership, not replace it. Timestamps:  00:13 – AI, Coaching, and the Workplace Questions Defining 2026 03:40 – Lawyer on the Clock Begins: SHRM Ordered to Pay $11.5M in Race Discrimination Case 05:54 – Service Dog ADA Lawsuit: Where the Interactive Process Broke Down 09:32 – Recap of Department of Labor Guidance in first year of 2nd Trump Administration  14:32 – The “Dumbbell Effect”: How AI Is Reshaping the Job Market 21:10 – According to AAIME Hart: Key to Leadership Success Coaching Series  23:40 – Philburt's Phorum is back  24:40 – Matt Wideman: Why Coaching Should Start on Day One of Onboarding 29:40 – How AI can help with difficult conversations with your team 39:21 – Final Takeaways, Listener Question, and Holiday Wishes Tune in to learn how to keep coaching as a core leadership skill in 2026.

    40 min

  7. 11/12/2025 · VIDEO

    What Is a Job? After AI Strips Away Tasks, Here’s What Remains

    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 why reskilling matters, where human nuance still wins, and how AI levels the playing field for small businesses while challenging large ones. Plus - in a world where even layoffs can be automated - what does it mean to be “let go” today? Timestamps:  00:42 - Welcome & Show Intro 02:40 - Guest Introduction: Scott Koeneman 04:00 - Scott’s Book: Quantum Intern Year One 04:50 - Veteran Work & Community Involvement 06:06 - Lawyer on the Clock: Fed Chairman Press Conference Thoughts 16:38 - According to AAIME Hart: Compliance Checklist  20:36 - Four Key Skill Buckets for the Future Workforce 29:03 - W2 vs 1099 & Project-Based Work 34:37 - AI in Small Business & Main Street Impact REGISTER NOW! AAIM’s Payroll Tax Update is coming up fast on December 12th! Your best defense against future payroll errors.  Click the link to sign up: https://aaimea.org/payroll-tax-update-2025/

    38 min

  8. 04/12/2025 · VIDEO

    Fix Culture Fast: Change What Leaders Do, Not What They Say

    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 - and only consistent leadership behaviors make that possible. Plus, a full sweep of this week’s must-know employment-law headlines Timestamps:  01:03 — Open 01:12 — Phil Discusses Employee Misalignment Trends 02:41 — Fred Falker joins the show 05:39 — Lawyer on the Clock: SHRM, Job Market, NLRB 15:34 — AI HR Advisor AAIME Hart Shares Important Updates 17:15 — Fred Falker on Changing Workplace Culture 26:38 — Phil Discusses the Importance of Business Promises 32:43 — Measuring Culture: Employee Experience & Belonging REGISTER NOW! AAIM’s Payroll Tax Update is coming up fast on December 12th! Your best defense against future payroll errors.  Click the link to sign up: https://aaimea.org/payroll-tax-update-2025/

    37 min
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About

The only show to offer employers and Human Resource professionals practical and timely insights into the workplace Powered by AAIM Employers’ Association and Ogletree Deakins. A Feature Group USA production. This Week at Work is the only show about the workplace that offers you front row seats AND a microphone, featuring human resource professionals and experts in employment law to bring you practical, timely and accurate insights so you can more effectively lead your organization. Join Phil, Burt, and other subject matter experts every Thursday at 7:30 am Central, for topics ranging from people management and compensation trends, to decoding the federal and local laws affecting your organization. This Week at Work was proud to be the premier news source and sounding board for human resource professionals and business owners who fought for their businesses during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The feedback our podcast received was humbling - and you better believe we’ll be on the front line helping you build an even stronger workplace during the next crisis.

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