Numerous aspects of the modern workplace are evolving fast—and so are the legal risks.

In this episode, I get to speak with Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., a nationally recognized employment litigator and author with 40 years in practice. A partner with Duane Morris in Chicago, he has defended some of the largest “bet-the-company” class actions in the U.S. and is known for helping employers anticipate and prevent large-scale litigation risks.

We talk about how remote work, ADA compliance, workforce reductions, arbitration, DEI policies, and AI tools are reshaping employment law.

We discuss:

▪️ How courts are redefining “essential functions” in the remote work era.
▪️ ADA compliance and running a defensible interactive process.
▪️ WARN Act risks in distributed and remote workforces.
▪️ Why RIFs require careful planning and statistical review.
▪️ Arbitration strategies post-Epic Systems—and where they fail.
▪️ Legal boundaries for DEI programs in a shifting landscape.
▪️ AI in hiring and performance management—and emerging compliance risks.

From policy design to litigation exposure, the message is clear: decisions must be documented, consistent, and defensible.

If you manage people, risk, or compliance, this episode offers practical guidance for navigating today’s complex employment landscape.

🙏 Special thanks to Jerry for taking the time to share his insights and experience with us. His energy and enthusiasm for the subject are inspiring.

To access a roadmap for navigating employment law complexities while building stronger, more productive workplaces, check out Jerry’s book, ‘The Employment Law Manual: A Practical Guide for Business Owners, Managers, and Executives’.

Thanks for listening!

If you like what you hear, please give us a rating. You’d be amazed at how much that helps.

If you have questions for Tom or would like to participate, you can reach him at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.

Ask him about creating this kind of content for your firm — podcasts, webinars, blogs, articles, papers, and more.

Tom Hagy
Litigation Enthusiast and
Host of the Emerging Litigation Podcast
LinkedIn

FILED UNDER: Employment | Regulations + Compliance​​
TAGS: Compliance | Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) | Labor Law | Wage and Hour