The Idaho Human Rights Commission saw a major increase in filings this year—but the story doesn’t end there.

We’re joined by Ben Earwicker, Administrator of the IHRC, to dive into the 2025 IHRC statistics and trends, including what’s driving the spike, what hasn’t changed, and where employers should be paying closer attention.

We cover disability and accommodation claims, shifting workplace dynamics, and the role AI may be playing in both complaints and compliance risks—along with practical takeaways for employers navigating it all.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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What happens when an employee leaves—and you suspect they took more than just their experience with them? In this episode, we build on Chapter 15 of Law for Leaders and unpack the growing number of claims involving stolen confidential information, customer relationships, and trade secrets.

We talk through the real-world challenges employers face in these situations, including one of the biggest hurdles: proving that something was actually taken. From there, we shift to what you can do proactively—how to identify what information matters most to your business, who should have access to it, and how to protect it in a way that will actually hold up if there’s ever a dispute.

We also cover confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements, common misconceptions around what counts as “solicitation,” and why your offboarding process can make or break your ability to enforce these protections later. This is one of those topics where thinking ahead is everything.

Most workplace claims don’t start with bad intent—they start with missed signals. In this episode, we discuss why issue-spotting is one of the most critical skills for supervisors, how gaps in training create risk, and what it takes to recognize problems early and respond appropriately.

That’s exactly why we created No Judgment Here—an interactive training tool designed to get leaders talking through the real-world situations they face every day. Instead of passively sitting through training, supervisors work through practical scenarios, think through their responses, and build the habits that help prevent issues from turning into claims.

Purchase No Judgment Here!

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
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In this episode of Ground Rules: Employment Law Over Your Coffee Break, Pam, Doug, and Jen discuss what they’re seeing from the EEOC in the first few months of 2026. Reviewing recent lawsuits, settlements, and agency announcements, the team talks about the claims that continue to show up the most — especially disability discrimination — along with newer enforcement priorities that employers should be paying attention to.

They also cover the EEOC’s recent focus on DEI-related programs, letters sent to large employers, and high-profile cases that may signal a shift in how the agency approaches discrimination claims. The episode wraps up with practical takeaways on why policy review, supervisor training, and documentation remain critical as enforcement trends continue to evolve.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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This week on Ground Rules, Pam, Doug, and Jen welcome back former Idaho Employment Lawyers attorney Ben Cramer, now serving as a civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Canyon County. Ben shares what employment law looks like from the public employer side and why those cases often come with added layers of complexity.

The conversation focuses on whistleblower claims under the Idaho Protection of Public Employees Act (IPPEA), including why these claims can be difficult to evaluate and how the lack of clear case law leaves employers making tough judgment calls. The team also discusses the critical role of documentation, the challenges created by public records requests, and why government employers must think carefully about what gets written down — and where it is kept.

The episode also explores broader trends affecting both public and private employers, including the rise in employment claims, increased disability-related issues, and the growing overlap between laws like the ADA, FMLA, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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In this episode, we are joined by IEL attorney and Idaho State Representative Megan Egbert to discuss proposed legislation from the 2026 session that could impact employers across the state. We cover bills involving public accommodation liability, independent contractor benefits, e-Verify requirements, nondiscrimination ordinances, and other trends Megan is seeing this year.

Although these bills are not final yet, the direction of the legislation raises important compliance questions—especially for small and mid-size employers. Staying informed now can help employers avoid surprises later.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

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When an employee complaint comes in, the first 24 hours can shape everything that follows. In this episode, Pam Howland, Doug Plass, and Jennifer Walrath walk through the critical early steps employers should take—from acknowledging the complaint and reviewing policies to preserving evidence and planning an investigation. They also discuss common mistakes that can create additional legal risk and why a prompt, organized response is essential.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
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In this episode of Ground Rules, we continue our Law for Leaders book club with Chapter Two: At-Will Employment.

What does “at-will” really mean—and what does it not mean? The team breaks down common misconceptions (including the difference between at-will and right-to-work), why documentation matters more than ever, and how failing to clearly communicate termination decisions can fuel discrimination claims.

We also discuss when employment agreements make sense, what can knock you out of at-will status, and why rising Human Rights Commission claims should have every employer paying attention.

If you supervise people, this is a foundational conversation you can’t afford to miss.

*Ground Rules hosts and guests are not providing legal advice in this podcast. Do not act upon any of the information discussed in this podcast without first consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.*

📖 Available now on Amazon! Law for Leaders: The Roadmap Every Leader Needs to Know to Avoid Workplace Claims and Lawsuits

Written for busy leaders who need straightforward answers, this guide cuts through legal complexity to deliver fundamental knowledge that can help protect your business. Don't risk a preventable lawsuit - arm yourself with the practical wisdom that only comes from decades of courtroom experience. Purchase your copy here!

Don't miss out!
🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn
📧 Sign up for our email blast
📚 Learn more about our Law for Leaders Training Program
👥 Learn more about your Hosts and Idaho Employment Lawyers