The Perfect HR Storm

Join Will Anthony, lawyer and Partner at Blank Rome LLP, in this inaugural episode of BR @ Work to discuss the current landscape of labor and employment law.

The pandemic years have brought numerous challenges to employers, and high on that list is employment litigation. A number of things have led to the shakeup, from social movements to job loss, to whether a job is performed remotely, in-office, or hybrid.

In this episode, Will gives an overview of the field, a short history of how we got to this point, the factors leading into employment litigation, and how you can perform a high-level risk analysis for your company.

Ultimately, Will says that company culture is what determines success in creating a positive workplace that retains employees and proactively prevents litigation.

“Now more than ever, employers need to let employees know that they will be treated fairly, they will be compensated fairly, they will be supported, they will be listened to, and that management has empathy for all that they're going through as employees and outside of the workplace,” says Will.

Over the coming episodes of BR @ Work, Will, his colleagues, and guests will dive deeper into the shifting world of labor and employment law, covering topics such as OSHA, class action lawsuits, pay equity, systemic discrimination claims, and how leaders can create a positive workplace that rises above these challenges.

🎙️ Meet Your Host 🎙️

Name: William J. Anthony

What he does: As a Partner at Blank Rome, Will’s labor and employment practice focuses on class, collective, and multi-party actions. He also provides training on management skills, discrimination, harassment, and other labor topics nationwide. 

Company: Blank Rome LLP

Words of wisdom: “In my three decades of practicing employment law and representing employers in workplace issues, I have noticed that new laws, social movements, and job loss are really the drivers of unrest in the workplace and claims being made about that unrest.”

Connect: LinkedIn | Email

💡 Episode Highlights 💡

[02:00] What causes employees to sue? The heart of the matter is unrest, which can be caused by both internal (job loss, place of work) and external (social movements, new laws) factors.

[04:54] Why here, why now? Will covers how the ADA, FMLA, and Civil Rights Act of the 1990s got us to the laws and climate we have in workplaces today.

[06:53] Riding the wage and hour class and collective suit tsunami. An expert in this field, Will shows how timekeeping practices became a source of upset for many workers.

[07:57] 2020 vision became 2020 impact. Massive changes in how we function in society shifted how workplaces operate, leading to disgruntled employees.

[09:57] Corporate culture can be your savior. It can’t just be lip service. Company culture directly impacts whether or not you might see employees walking out the door.

[13:10] How can I save my company some headaches? Will walks through the factors used to evaluate where your company may have some exposure to litigation.

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