Employment Law Now
Employment Law Now
Michael Schmidt
Michael Schmidt, Vice Chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor & Employment Department, discusses current employment law news, trends, developments and guest analysis.
X-173 - A Conversation With U.S. DOL Solicitor Jonathan Berry on New DOL Enforcement Priorities
Today, I am joined by Jonathan Berry, the new Solicitor of Labor for the United States Department of Labor, to discuss Solicitor Berry's new Enforcement Memo that identifies a significant shift in policy and priorities for this DOL administration.
May 29
54 min
X-172 - What's Now With . . . Corporate Messaging and Crisis Communications
In this second part of my new mini-series "What's Now With...", I am joined by my Cozen colleague Tamara Hinton to talk about What's Now (new) With . . . Corporate Messaging and Crisis Communications. This episode provides important takeaways for employers to address internal and external messaging after - and before - a crisis occurs.
Mar 31
39 min
X-171 - What's Now With . . . Union Organizing and Developments
In this first part of my new mini-series "What's Now With . . .", I am joined by my Cozen colleagues Dan Johns and Kelly Kindig to talk about What's Now (new) With . . . Union Organizing and Developments. Whether you are in a non-union facility or a non-traditional union industry, this episode provides important takeaways for consideration.
Mar 13
37 min
X-170 - Critical L&E Updates
In this episode, I discuss important labor and employment developments, including the EEOC's new technical guidance on remote work as an accommodation; the NLRB's new directive on handbook rules and new joint employment rule, the DOL's new independent contractor rule; and a first-time decision on losing attorney-client privilege when using generative AI platforms.
Mar 2
43 min
X-169 - Beginning Season 10: Politics As Usual?
I begin the 10th season of this "Employment Law Now" podcast, with my guest from each anniversary episode: Howard Schweitzer, CEO of Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies. Howard and I discuss the major developments from the first year of President Trump 2.0 and the impact on employers.
Feb 2
53 min
IX-168 - New Year, New L&E Developments
In today's episode, I talk about the L&E developments and trends that employers should be watching as we begin 2026.
Jan 12
33 min
IX-167- A Conversation With EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas joins me on this new episode to talk about the first 11 months of the President Trump Administration 2.0, including the state of illegal DEI, her views on the EEOC's harassment guidance and Final Rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, transgender discrimination, anti-American discrimination, and where the EEOC may be heading for the remainder of her term.
Nov 21, 2025
50 min
IX-166 - What L&E Did This Past Summer
This new episode highlights a few of the biggest L&E developments from the Summer of 2025, including from the DOL and EEOC, and on such hot topics as DEI-related discrimination, the FTC's non-compete proposal, and AI laws.
Sep 8, 2025
35 min
IX-165 - What's Going On With Employment Law Trends
Today's episode updates the latest trends in employment law, including changes with the EEOC's focus and makeup, rulemaking ping-pong with the DOL's independent contractor and overtime exemption rules, bucking the trend with non-compete legislation, and regulating "moonlighting."
May 19, 2025
38 min
IX-164 - New DEI Executive Order Update and Response to EEOC Guidance
Today's episode provides the latest update on the ping-pong court decisions involving President Trump's DEI Executive Orders, and the noteworthy response to the EEOC's new guidance on DEI-related discrimination and harassment.
Apr 7, 2025
29 min
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