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In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Tae Phillips (shareholder, Birmingham), Jim Paul (shareholder, St. Louis/Tampa), and Scott Kelly (shareholder, Birmingham) continue their discussion of the EEOC’s evolving enforcement priorities—this time focusing on disability discrimination. Jim (who is co-chair of the firm’s Disability Access Practice Group) highlights a lack of new federal initiatives on disability access, a reduction in federal enforcement resources, and an increase in private and state-level actions regarding disability rights. The episode concludes with practical advice for employers to maintain strong disability accommodation policies and emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in handling disability accommodation requests despite shifting federal enforcement trends.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Goli Rahimi (Chicago) and Tatjana Serbina (Berlin) break down Germany’s evolving requirements for recording employee working hours. The speakers discuss the 2019 European Court of Justice ruling mandating all EU member states to require employers to establish an objective system of recording employee working hours under the working time directive and how Germany has since implemented this decision in its own laws. The speakers provide practical steps employers should take to ensure compliance—especially in the era of remote and flexible work.

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In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Tae Phillips (shareholder, Birmingham), Jim Paul (shareholder, St. Louis/Tampa), and Scott Kelly (shareholder, Birmingham) continue their discussion of the EEOC’s evolving enforcement priorities—this time addressing religious discrimination, harassment, and accommodations in the workplace. Jim (who is co-chair of the firm’s Disability Access Practice Group) examines recent trends, including the rise in religious accommodation requests, the impact of federal executive orders, and the challenges employers face in navigating religious and political overlap in employee requests. The conversation highlights the complexities of accommodating diverse religious beliefs while maintaining compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and fostering a respectful work environment.

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In this podcast recorded at Ogletree’s recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Kristin Higgins (office managing shareholder, Dallas) and Jenn Betts (office managing shareholder, Pittsburgh) discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by employers, including in hiring and recruiting. Jenn, who is co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Technology Practice Group, and Kristin provide an overview of California’s newly effective regulations prohibiting employers from using an “automated decision system” to discriminate against applicants or employees on a basis protected by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Kristin offers an overview of the consumer-focused Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, which goes into effect in January. They conclude the discussion with pointers for employers, such as forming workgroups to evaluate new AI tools before deploying them in the workplace.

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In this episode of our Cross-Border Catch-Up podcast series, Patty Shapiro (shareholder, San Diego) and Goli Rahimi (of counsel, Chicago) focus on the multifaceted Asia Pacific (APAC) region, home to over 40 countries, each with its own legal system, language, and business culture. Goli and Patty explore the diverse landscape of employee protections and employer obligations, from hiring and onboarding to employment contracts and terminations.

They highlight critical stages where compliance risks may arise and the importance of understanding cultural norms. Patty and Goli also provide a brief overview of Japan’s lifetime employment system and South Korea’s similar approach to employee protections, as well as some of the unique challenges for employers in India, Australia, and Taiwan.

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In part one of this podcast series recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Scott Kelly (shareholder, Birmingham), Tae Phillips (shareholder, Birmingham), and Jim Paul (shareholder, St. Louis/Tampa) discuss the EEOC’s new enforcement priorities, with a particular focus on national origin discrimination and the agency’s increased emphasis on protecting workers from anti-American bias. Tae (who is co-chair of the firm’s Drug Testing Practice Group) and Scott (who chairs the firm’s Workforce Analytics and Compliance Practice Group) review recent statements from the EEOC’s acting chair, highlight the legal definitions and practical implications of national origin discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and share observations about a rise in related EEOC charges. The conversation also touches on the importance for employers to coordinate labor, employment, and immigration practices in light of these evolving enforcement trends.

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In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Christine Bestor Townsend (shareholder, Milwaukee/Chicago) and Tobias Schlueter (shareholder, Chicago), explore the dynamic landscape of restrictive covenants, offer updates on recent developments, and emphasize the need for employers to adopt thoughtful, tailored approaches to ensure enforceability, Tobias and Christine, who is co-chair of the firm’s Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group, offer an overview of the evolving focus of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), discuss current federal agency focus on restrictive covenant agreements, state developments, and reflect on trends in the area, including restrictions on the use of non-competes for healthcare workers and low-wage earners.

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In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Dee Anna Hays (shareholder, Tampa) and Sarah Kuehnel (shareholder, Tampa/St. Louis) discuss the increasingly complex challenge of complying with a multitude of varying state laws in an era of significant changes in federal policies. Sarah and Dee Anna (who is co-chair of the firm’s Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group) explore the implications of key federal changes on state-level regulations and the heightened need for employers to adapt to various state laws on issues like wage and hour requirements, mandatory leave programs, noncompete agreements, workplace safety issues, and anti-discrimination protections. They also will discuss time-saving methods in-house counsel can employ to maintain and monitor compliance, including leveraging technology and automation to promote consistency across multistate operations.

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In this inaugural episode of Ogletree’s No Tax, No Problem podcast series, Scott DeLuca (of counsel, Buffalo) and Chris Hammon (shareholder, Miami)—who are the co-chairs of Ogletree Deakins’ Hospitality Group, are joined by Mike Mahoney (shareholder, Morristown/New York) to discuss the “no tax on tips or overtime” provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Mike, who is the chair of the firm’s Employment Tax Practice Group, explains what qualifies as tips and tipped occupations, how withholdings would change, and when the rules would kick in. The speakers also examine potential impacts on service and hourly workers, payroll systems, and federal/state revenues, providing essential insights for employers in the hospitality industry.

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In this podcast recorded at our recent Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive® seminar, Stacy Bunck (shareholder, Kansas City) and Will Ruggiero (shareholder, Stamford) discuss retaliation claims in the workplace, particularly focusing on best practices for disciplining employees who have filed complaints. Will and Stacy share insights on the prevalence of retaliation claims, legal standards, and real-world case examples to illustrate how employers can mitigate risk and defend against such allegations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of thorough documentation, objective decision-making, and careful handling of sensitive employment situations.