Phyllis Karasov, Larkin Hoffman

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

Compliance with the growing number of regulations is becoming increasingly challenging. Many companies do not have staff to monitor new regulations, supervise compliance and train managers. Laws around leaves of absence can interfere with business operations and the delivery of services and products. The legalization of cannabis has created employee challenges. Misclassification is a huge issue and comes with significant penalties. Employers face changing diversity and inclusion legal requirements and a roller coaster of National Labor Relations Board decisions. While AI offers attorneys unprecedented tools for serving clients, how it will impact staffing in many industries is unknown.

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

Many small companies do not have a dedicated human resources professional on staff. Some have an office manager or CFO who is responsible for HR, and they do not have the necessary expertise and are too busy to secure training or educate themselves about applicable laws. Some small businesses also believe they are not subject to these laws or can fly under the radar. Another misconception is that employment attorneys only deal with terminations. Bringing employment attorneys in when working on employee handbooks, policy development, employee disciplinary procedures and complicated disability issues can be more efficient than waiting until an employee makes a legal claim.

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

Recently, several clients have asked me how to deal with employees’ social media postings which can adversely affect other employees. We are seeing employees who vent on social media, complaining about their employer, their supervisor or their co-workers. How to deal with employees who post photos and comments about their colleagues can create a number of issues, and addressing this conduct can come with risks.

How do you manage work/life balance?

Larkin Hoffman is an entrepreneurial law firm, meaning we have the opportunity to build the kind of practice we want to build. Personally, I value family time above everything. The support our firm offers allows me autonomy over my professional and personal schedule so that I can attend the family events and commitments that are important to me while delivering excellent service to our clients.