Michael J. Moberg, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

What are the biggest challenges you currently see in employment law?

It’s difficult for multi-state employers to keep up with the myriad state and local laws and regulations. State and local laws sometimes conflict with laws in another jurisdiction, so employers have to be vigilant and flexible as what is permissible in one state may not be in another.

What are the biggest misconceptions about the field of employment law?

Surprisingly, after doing this work for more than 25 years, I still have employers that think they can discharge employees anytime they want because Minnesota is an employment at-will state. There are so many exceptions to at-will employment with the various federal, state, and local laws and regulations that some employers still forget about. It is important to have legitimate business reasons for discipline and discharge of employees that can be supported by good documentation of the problems.

Without revealing the names of a client, what is the most interesting case you’ve worked on lately?

I recently had a discharge case in a union setting where we went to a hearing before a labor arbitrator involving a longer tenured employee. Those are often difficult cases because the employer has to prove just cause for discharge.

How do you manage work/life balance?

Set aside some time each week for yourself, and when taking a vacation make sure to unplug for at least a couple of days and rely on your partners to cover you while you are out. I think unplugging from emails, texts, etc., is important for your mental and emotional health.

What is one thing you would change about Minnesota if you could?

Less road construction in the summer!

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I am a diehard Husker football fan having grown up in Nebraska, even though I have not lived there for over 35 years.