Top employment attorney Peter Rahbar and veteran journalist Laura Brounstein's weekly conversation about how the news is affecting the laws that govern our daily work and personal lives. We discuss salary and other negotiations, workplace privacy, employer policies, pop culture and more! Watch Here!
'A lot of panic': Lawyers race to decipher Trump's H-1B visa fees - Business Insider
The latest initiative from Project 2025 has unleashed panic and chaos in US workplaces and for workers around the world. If implemented (after inevitable legal challenges), smaller companies, startups and American innovation will suffer. Jobs will also shift overseas, as there are not enough American workers to meet hiring needs. Thank you to Tim Paradis and Business Insider for including my comments on this topic. Read the article here.
How Will I&D Changes Affect Equity-Focused Family Benefits? - SHRM Magazine
The headlines are about a crackdown on "illegal DEI" (whatever that may be), but the reality is that this administration wants to get in and control your workplace. Employers who truly care about meeting the different needs of their employees should examine and make necessary changes to all of their programs and benefits now, and avoid inevitable government involvement in the future. Thank you to SHRM for including my perspective on this topic. Read it here.
Trump’s resignation offer to millions of federal workers is a legal nightmare—and the fight has only just begun - Fortune
The "Fork in the Road" program is a nightmare that government workers do not deserve. It is a program designed to replace non-partisan employees with administration loyalists and otherwise cripple or destroy agencies. I spoke with Sara Braun and Fortune about the lawsuit that will hopefully end this seemingly unlawful program, and force the administration to adhere to the well-deserved protections that the law provides to federal employees. Read the article here.
How Trump’s decision to fire NLRB and EEOC commissioners could change the future of the workplace - Fortune
In addition to its quest to expand executive power beyond the limits of the law, this administration is actively working to dictate how every workplace should function. Removing administrative safeguards is a major step in this direction, and it goes without saying that this will be bad for workers - even those who believe in "merit-based" decisions. Thank you to Fortune for including my thoughts on these important and alarming developments. Read the article here.
A top legal expert says that Trump’s decision to fire the head of the NLRB is ‘completely unprecedented’: ‘Workers need to buckle up’ - Fortune
The President's unprecedented action to fire a member of the NLRB is not only a deliberate attempt to expand executive power, but it is another bad sign of how workers will be treated by this administration. Thank you to Sara Braun and Fortune for asking me to share my thoughts on this important topic. Read the article here.
What's Happening With Non-Competes?
The FTC rule banning non-competes is basically dead, but I believe we will continue to see state laws scaling back the use of non-competes, particularly for lower income workers. Thank you to Success Magazine for including my comments on the impact of the recent decision by a Texas court on the FTC rule. Read it here.
Are Anti-DEI Lawsuits Succeeding?
Lawsuits attacking corporate DEI programs have been mostly unsuccessful, but have forced companies that care about having a diverse and inclusive workforce (and there are many) to find ways to continue their important efforts. Thank you to Hailey Mensik and WorkLife for including my thoughts in this article.
Tim Walz and the Minnesota Non-Compete Ban
Everyone is talking about politics… and non-competes! Thanks to David Weisenfeld and Legal Dive for including my thoughts on Minnesota’s statute banning non-competes, and the nervous and chaotic road to the possible implementation of the FTC rule banning non-competes. Read it here.
On Dealing with Workplace Activism
As we enjoy the last days of summer, smart managers are planning for the typical fall frenzy at work. Somewhere near the top of their lists will be the struggles (and fears) in dealing with increased levels of workplace activism. In this episode of the AccelPro Employment Law Podcast, I shared some advice on this topic, and how companies can prepare for issues that may arise in the workplace in connection with the upcoming election and other events.
Valuing Just Organizations: Overcoming Challenges to Retention, Acquisition, and DEI
I enjoyed this wide-ranging conversation with Tyler Lay from getAbstract about current workplace trends and how training programs can help companies adapt and thrive in this rapidly evolving environment. Politics, the attacks on DEI, recruiting practices, retention, AI and mission statements - we covered it all!
Federal judge partially blocks FTC ban on noncompetes. Here’s what that means for workers.
While we wait for the next ruling on whether the FTC's rule banning non-competes can go into effect, I shared some thoughts with CNBC and Stephanie Dhue on the real consequences that employees face when they sign non-compete agreements, and what some employers have been doing since the FTC's announcement of the rule.
The FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements will send companies scrambling for other ways to control their workforce
If the FTC's ban on non-competes is actually implemented (and that's a big if), there are many other ways for employers to protect their investments in workers, trade secrets and confidential information. In reality, the most restrictive non-compete agreements already include parallel agreements regarding pre-termination notice periods and other protective measures. Thank you to Fortune and Emma Burleigh for asking me to speak about these alternatives. Read it here.
The Legal Attacks on DEI and Affirmative Action Programs
DEI and private affirmative action programs have been under attack by conservative legal groups since the Supreme Court’s decision in the Harvard and UNC cases. While their legal challenges have not been successful to date, the battle is continuing- and escalating. Thanks to Brit Morse and Inc. Magazine for asking me to comment on this issue. Read my comments here.
Pay Transparency Is Here To Stay
The New York City Pay Transparency law has become a major topic of discussion (and frustration) for employers and workers in New York City and beyond. I spent a few minutes discussing this new law with my good friend (and talented TV host!) David Lesch. You can watch the interview here.
The Great Resignation and the Future of Work
You can read my thoughts on the future of the workplace in this interview with Authority Magazine.
Leave Your Mark Podcast
Aliza Licht’s LEAVE YOUR MARK podcast has always been at the top of my listening list. So it was a huge honor - and so much fun - to join Aliza and discuss current workplace issues. Our discussion covered layoffs (at twitter and elsewhere), salary transparency, negotiating job offers and so much more! You can listen here
Peter Rahbar on the Twitter Layoffs
Founder Peter Rahbar spoke with the Associated Press about the massive layoffs at Twitter.
Discussing Effective Leadership with LinkedIn News
Founder Peter Rahbar talked with LinkedIn news about evolving as a leader in 2022.
Peter Rahbar on the Chris Cuomo lawsuit
I spoke with Matthew Belloni of Puck regarding the Chris Cuomo lawsuit against CNN. You can find my comments here.