Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break

Pam Howland
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 2d ago

    L4L Book Club: The Right Way to Discipline and Terminate

    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 employers realize.  The team also tackles common misconceptions about Idaho's at-will employment laws, shares practical tips for reducing legal risk, and explains why a simple termination checklist can save employers from costly mistakes. Whether you're a business owner, HR professional, or frontline supervisor, this episode offers practical guidance for handling difficult personnel decisions with confidence and compliance. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    17 min

  2. May 27

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

    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 resistance, training, and the importance of having the right people at the table, this conversation focuses on what thoughtful and responsible AI implementation really looks like. The group also discusses emerging lawsuits involving AI hiring platforms, why employers cannot simply “blame the AI,” and how HR, legal, operations, and technology teams all play a role in managing risk moving forward. If your organization is trying to figure out where AI fits — and how to stay compliant while using it — this episode is a practical starting point. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    26 min

  3. May 20

    What Employers Don’t Expect About Employment Lawsuits

    When an employment lawsuit lands on your desk, most employers expect the facts to speak for themselves and the case to quickly go away. In reality, litigation is rarely that simple. In this episode of Ground Rules, experienced employment litigators Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Doug Plass pull back the curtain on what employment lawsuits actually look like from the defense side. They discuss the realities employers are often unprepared for — including the cost of litigation, lack of control over court timelines, the extensive discovery process, unpredictable juries, and why even weak claims can survive long enough to become expensive. The team also explains why most cases settle before trial, what makes employment cases particularly difficult to predict, and how lawsuits can consume years of business time and resources. Drawing from decades of combined litigation experience defending employers in Idaho state and federal courts, this episode offers a candid look at the legal system, litigation strategy, and the practical business decisions employers face once a claim is filed. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    34 min

  4. May 13

    Avoiding Lawsuits in 2026: The Top 5 Issues Employers Can’t Ignore

    What are the biggest employment law risks employers should be paying attention to in 2026? In this episode of Ground Rules, Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Megan Egbert break down the top five issues they believe every employer, HR professional, and leader should have on their radar this year. From rising ADA claims and shifting EEOC priorities to workplace incivility, documentation mistakes, and the growing costs of litigation, this conversation focuses on the practical steps employers can take now to avoid claims and lawsuits later. The team also discusses:  Why avoiding litigation should be a top business priority  The ADA issues supervisors continue to miss  How workplace culture can turn into legal risk  What employers should know about changing EEOC enforcement trends  Why documentation remains one of the strongest defenses to employment claims  Emerging concerns around AI and employment documentation Plus, they share upcoming training opportunities and resources available for Idaho employers navigating these challenges.

    28 min

  5. May 6

    Idaho’s New Bathroom Bill: What Employers Need to Know Before July 2026

    A new Idaho law is creating big questions for employers ahead of its July 2026 effective date. In this episode of Ground Rules, attorneys Pam Howland, Jennifer Walrath, and Idaho legislator Megan Egbert break down Idaho’s new “Bathroom Bill” (HB 752) and discuss what businesses should be thinking about now. The conversation covers:  What the law actually says  Which employers and businesses may be considered “places of public accommodation”  Single-stall vs. multi-stall restroom considerations  Potential policy, signage, and workplace protocol updates  Questions surrounding enforcement and law enforcement involvement  How this law may intersect with Title VII and employment discrimination concerns  Practical scenarios employers should start thinking through before July Whether you operate a public-facing business, manage employees, or oversee HR and compliance, this episode explores some of the real-world workplace questions employers may soon face under one of the strictest bathroom laws in the country. Want to continue the conversation? Join Idaho Employment Lawyers for a live Bathroom Bill Panel on June 2, where we’ll dive deeper into employer considerations, answer audience questions, and discuss practical ways businesses can prepare before the law takes effect. Register here: https://updates.idemploymentlawyers.com/bathroombillpanel-751705

    21 min

  6. Apr 29

    Documentation Isn’t Optional: Protecting Your Business Before It’s Too Late

    In this week's Ground Rules episode, we continue our Law for Leaders Book Club with Chapter Three: Why You Need to Document and What Your Documentation Needs to Say. Here's what we cover: Why a lack of documentation leaves a void, and how that void gets filled by whatever the employee imagines the reason to beWhy "we're an at-will state" doesn't protect you if a claim is filed. You still have to show a legitimate, lawful reasonWhy juries don't trust employer testimony, and why contemporaneous documentation is always more credibleWhat good documentation actually looks like: specific, candid, dated, with real examples. Handwritten notes and voice memos countWhat never to include: protected class information like disability, age, race, religion, or FMLA leaveThe annual review trap, and how a sugar-coated review can destroy a termination defenseOne of the biggest practical takeaways from this chapter: If your leaders aren't comfortable giving honest feedback, they may be handing your next claimant their case. Documentation isn't just an HR task. It's a leadership skill, and one that needs to be practiced consistently, not just at termination. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    27 min

  7. Apr 22

    Deepfake Harassment: The New Workplace Risk Employers Can’t Ignore

    AI is changing the workplace—and not always for the better. In this episode, we break down the emerging issue of deepfake harassment, including realistic fake images, audio, and video being used in ways that can create a hostile work environment. We discuss a recent case with a multimillion-dollar verdict, why employers can still be liable even if they don’t know who created the content, and how this trend is already showing up locally. Key takeaways include:  • Why “it’s fake” is not a defense  • How workplace investigations may need to evolve  • When criminal laws may come into play  • Why policies and training need an update—now If you think this isn’t something your workplace will face, it’s time to think again. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    22 min

  8. Apr 15

    What the 2025 IHRC Data Tells Us

    The Idaho Human Rights Commission saw a major increase in filings this year—but the story doesn’t end there. We’re joined by Ben Earwicker, Administrator of the IHRC, to dive into the 2025 IHRC statistics and trends, including what’s driving the spike, what hasn’t changed, and where employers should be paying closer attention. We cover disability and accommodation claims, shifting workplace dynamics, and the role AI may be playing in both complaints and compliance risks—along with practical takeaways for employers navigating it all. *Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.* 📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here! Don't miss out! 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📧 Sign up for our email blast 📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program 👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers

    43 min
See All (72)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

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.

Information

You Might Also Like