Periods of economic turbulence and social change apply pressure to every corner of our lives. In recent years, the labor landscape has shifted tremendously, creating new challenges and opportunities along the way.    This isn’t happening in a vacuum.    The pandemic and a greater collective push for diversity and inclusion have caused massive shifts in the laws that govern how we work.    The legal platform employers operate from has changed, and we have to navigate new territory. This is an amazing time to create more value through business practices that benefit and protect both the employee and the employer.    What are the key labor law changes we’ve seen come out of the social movements of recent years and COVID-19? What do employers need to be aware of and consider putting in place to protect themselves and retain their employees?    In this episode, corporate and employment litigator, Dave McClurg shares valuable legal wisdom for business owners navigating today’s employment landscape.  Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode    How social change has impacted employment policy  The conversation around equality, diversity, and inclusion at work has driven the creation of labor laws and policies that reflect these values. There are so many things that used to be acceptable that are now viewed as problematic, which has given more people a voice and contributed to a better working environment.    The importance of keeping track of the details  As employers, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we overlook critical legal details that will protect the business. When we hire people, it’s important to document all aspects of the disciplinary process from day 1. When we don’t document everything, we can’t protect the business and our employees.    How vaccines are going to create new challenges for employers  As people return to the office, the big question is whether to make vaccinations mandatory for employees. This question requires careful consideration so we don’t inadvertently create a liability issue.    Guest Bio    Dave McClurg is a member of the firm's Labor + Employment practice group. He has a long record of successfully defending employers accused of wrongful termination and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, disability and gender. Dave frequently represents employers facing OSHA violations and workers compensation claims alleging safety violations or an “unreasonable refusal to rehire" following a work-related injury.Dave also has a wealth of experience involving the litigation of wage & hour, theft of trade secrets and breach of duty of loyalty claims, and the enforcement of non-compete and confidentiality agreements. In addition, Dave regularly advises clients on issues relating to reduction-in-force layoffs, terminations, severance agreements and return to work issues, helping employers avoid pitfalls that can lead to expensive claims.   For more information call (414) 559-7704  and let Dave know you heard him on The Free Agent Podcast.   Visit https://petriepettit.com for more information and email dmcclurg@petriepettit.com.