HR, Leadership, and the Law with Suzanne Lucas

On this podcast episode, litigation attorney Maxwell Goss hosts the insightful and funny Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady. Suzanne has had a multifaceted career as an HR writer, keynote speaker, webinar company owner, and improvisational comedian.

Suzanne brings serious insights and her own witty brand of advice to a host of HR topics, including common mistakes employers make that can lead to lawsuits, the changing world of non-compete agreements, and the challenges of remote work. Suzanne also offers her candid (“Sorry if this gets you canceled, Max!”) views on gender and age discrimination and the impact of artificial intelligence in HR, and provides practical advice on handling employee terminations.

The personal anecdotes and valuable insights that Max and Suzanne share make this a great listen for litigating attorneys, HR professionals, and anyone interested in becoming a savvier, more effective leader in the workplace.

00:18 Meet Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady

02:12 What improv has to do with Leadership Training

04:29 Why 'Evil HR Lady'?

05:42 Human resources and legal intersections

07:50 Common HR missteps and how to avoid them

22:14 The use and abuse of AI in employee recruiting

23:21 The career impact of parenthood

24:03 AI and gender bias in the workplace

27:57 Legal complications created by remote work

35:36 The changing landscape of non-compete agreements

40:17 Best practices for employee termination

44:57 Suzanne’s final thoughts