The FP 5: Five Things for Your 9-to-5

Union approval is at a decades-high level, even as membership and organizing activity remain low. This week Todd Lyon joins the FP 5 to explain the disconnect, how unions are changing their organizing strategies, and what employers can do to strengthen employee relations. Show Notes Unions Reach Decades-High Approval Rating: 6 Steps for Employers in Current Labor Environment Union Organizing Activity Map The FP5: The Bill That Would Rewrite Labor Relations

Choosing where to expand can shape your business for years. This week on the FP 5, Ray Perez shares five things companies should consider when selecting a US location, from workforce and infrastructure to workplace laws, incentives, and long-term growth. Show Notes Site Selection Checklist for Companies Expanding Operations or Entering the US Site Selection Tips for International Companies Heading to the US: 8 Steps for Choosing the Right Location

California just enacted a new wave of workplace laws covering AI-driven employment decisions, layoffs, employee monitoring, and more. Ben Ebbink joins us this week on the FP 5 to review what changed and discuss what employers should be preparing for. Show Notes California’s New Workplace Laws Put AI and Employee Monitoring in the Spotlight: Your Full Guide to 11 Bills Just Signed (and 1 Vetoed) California Just Banned Employers From Letting AI Fire Workers on Its Own: Your 5-Step Compliance Plan California Employers Will Soon Need to Say When AI Causes a Mass Layoff: 5 Steps to Prepare California Bans AI Tools That Read Employees’ Emotions or Nervous System Data: FAQs for Employers California Curbs Website Tracking Lawsuits: Action Plan for Businesses With Pending Claims California Employees Can Ditch Tracking Tools When Using Workplace Bathrooms: Top 10 Things Employers Need to Know About New Surveillance Law California Raises Pay Data Reporting Penalties Fivefold: 5 Things You Should Do California’s New Agricultural Minimum Wage Will Near $20 Per Hour in 2027: Key Takeaways for Ag Employers California Expands Bereavement Leave to Cover Extended and Chosen Family: 3 Key Changes for Employers New California Law Adds Anti-Hate Speech Training Requirement for Employers: What to Know + 4 Steps to Take Now New California Law Expands Cal/OSHA Enforcement Power, Raises Stakes for Workplace Safety Violations: Top Employer Takeaways

The 2026 midterms could shift the balance of power in Washington and reshape workplace policy across the states. This week, the FP 5 gang shares five things employers, HR managers, and legal teams should watch on Election Day. Show Notes 5 Ways the 2026 Midterms Will Impact the Senate HELP Committee and Employers Across the Country The Rise of Democratic Socialism: What Employers Need to Know Heading into Election Season and Beyond

What happens when an OSHA or EPA inspector shows up at your door? Jamie Spataro joins us this week on the FP 5 to explain how employers can prepare for an inspection, what to do when an inspector arrives, and the practical steps to take during and after the visit. Show Notes Safety Inspectors Are Here: Does Your Business Know How to Respond to an EPA or OSHA Audit?

Religious accommodation requests are in the spotlight, and the legal standard for denying them has gotten tougher. This week on the FP 5, Andria Ryan explains when employers can say no, what counts as an undue hardship, and how HR teams can build a better process for evaluating requests. Show Notes When Can You Deny a Religious Accommodation? 6 Practical Steps for Employers as Guidance Evolves Religious Accommodation Requests For Weekends Off Are Surging: Practical Strategies For Retail Employers

A new Supreme Court ruling could change how businesses approach the presence of firearms on their property. Travis Vance joins us this week to explain the recent Supreme Court decision on concealed carry rules and the practical steps employers should consider taking when it comes to allowing or prohibiting firearms in the workplace. Show Notes Guns In Your Business: Practical Steps for Employers and Businesses Following SCOTUS’ Ruling Barring Concealed Carry Limits

For the first time in years, the NLRB has enough Senate-confirmed votes to start overturning precedent. This week on The FP 5, Brian Balonick breaks down the Biden-era labor rules most likely to get reversed and shares what employers should expect as the new Board gets to work. Show Notes NLRB Now Has Enough Votes to Overturn Policy: FP Predictions on 10 Issues Most Likely to Change Is the Law on Handbooks Changing Again? 5 Steps for Employers After NLRB General Counsel’s New Guidance on Work Rules Which NLRB rules have affected your workplace the most, for better or for worse? We want to hear from you! Leave us a voicemail here.

The US Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is changing its enforcement priorities and reconsidering longstanding reporting requirements. This week on the FP 5, Jennifer Sandberg breaks down what’s changing, what employers should watch, and the practical steps HR and legal teams should be thinking about now. Show Notes EEOC Votes to Scrap EEO-1 and Other Demographic Reporting: Key Takeaways for Employers EEOC Announces Strategic Priorities Through 2030: 5 Things Employers Should Watch For

How are people really feeling about AI at work? Recorded at the Fisher Phillips AI Evolution 2026 conference, on this episode of the FP 5, conference attendees share candid perspectives about keeping up with rapid change, where human judgment still matters, and how professionals are using it in their workplace.

Did you know that employers can’t necessarily discipline or terminate workers who criticize their bosses, make inflammatory social media posts about work, or commit similar misconduct? This week on the FP 5, Joshua Nadreau explains how this behavior may actually be protected under federal labor law, even if you aren’t a unionized employer. Show Notes Employee Criticism of Management on Internal Work Chats Is Protected Activity , ALJ Says: What Your Tech Business Needs to Know 4 Social Media Tips for Employers as Workplace TikToks Continue to Go Viral Flying Solo: Can a Single Employee’s Workplace Complaint Qualify as Protected Concerted Activity? “Watch Me Get Fired” Videos Are Going Viral: 7 Tips for Employers to Navigate New Trend Employer Can’t Terminate Vulgar Employee Because of Spotty Disciplinary Record – A 5-Step Plan to Avoid the Same Fate Do you have an outrageous story about how someone did (or didn’t) get fired at your workplace? We want to hear it! Leave us a voicemail here.

Digital wiretapping lawsuits are reshaping online privacy risk. This week on the FP 5, Usama Kahf explains how decades-old California wiretapping laws are fueling thousands of lawsuits over cookies, pixels, chat tools, and analytics, and what businesses should do now to reduce risk and defend against claims. Show Notes FP’s Digital Wiretapping Litigation Work

Cannabis laws are evolving across the US, creating new compliance challenges for employers. Todd Logsdon joins us this week on the FP 5 to break down the legal developments and their growing impact on hiring and workplace policies. Show Notes Cannabis Laws Are Changing: 8 Questions Employers Should Ask Now

The Supreme Court’s Trump v. Slaughter ruling could reshape federal agencies that govern the workplace. Jonathan Crook joins us this week on the FP 5 to unpack five employer takeaways on presidential removal power, FTC politicization, and ripple effects for the EEOC and NLRB. Show Notes SCOTUS Just Expanded President’s Power to Fire Members of Independent Agencies: What the Landmark Ruling Means for Businesses and Employers

Keith Sonderling has been nominated as US Labor Secretary. In this week’s episode of the FP 5, we unpack what his leadership could mean for employers, from compliance-focused enforcement and key DOL rulemakings to AI policy, independent contractors, and joint employer issues. Show Notes Trump Taps Sonderling As Labor Secretary – What Employers Need To Know AI Bias in the Workplace: Top 4 Takeaways From EEOC Commissioner’s Conversation at FP Conference The FP5: Franchises, Contractors, and the DOL Joint Employer Shakeup The FP5: Breaking Down the DOL’s Independent Contractor Proposal

The House has passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act—a bill that could reshape US labor law. This week on the FP5, we break down the new bargaining deadlines, mandatory arbitration, potential impacts on employers and workers, and what happens next in the Senate. Show Notes Employers May Soon Face a Hard Deadline on First Union Contracts: What You Need to Know about Faster Labor Contracts Act

AI is transforming hiring, but it’s also creating new legal risks. In this episode of the FP5 recorded at FP’s AI Evolution 2026 conference on June 25th, the gang talks AI-generated resumes, interview cheating, and deepfake candidates, and shares practical strategies employers can use to protect their hiring process while embracing innovation. Show Notes Hiring with Confidence in the AI Era: 3 Trends to Spot and 7 Ways to Safeguard Your Process An Employer’s 5-Step Guide to AI Interviewing and Hiring Tools If a Cybersecurity Firm Can Fall For the Latest AI Workplace Scam, So Can You: 10 Steps to Protect Your Business

July 2026 is bringing major employment law changes. This week on the FP5, we’re breaking down new laws you need to know about, including minimum wage hikes, non-competes, pay transparency, E-Verify, and leave laws. Show Notes Employer Cheat Sheet for Workplace Laws Taking Effect July 1, 2026

What global trends are defining workplace law in 2026? On this episode of the FP5, we explore international trends including global whistleblower protections, the expansion of Japanese firms in North American markets, AI governance frameworks, and more. Show Notes FP’s Top 2026 Predictions for International Employment Law

The Department of Labor’s proposed joint employer rule could reshape how businesses manage contractors, staffing firms, and franchises. This week on the FP5 we break down the new four-factor test, go over key legal risks, and share what employers should consider doing now as federal and state standards continue to evolve. Show Notes DOL to Scale Back Joint Employer Liability for Businesses: What You Need to Know About the New Proposal