In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs, along with Dan Sieck, a partner in the firm's Corporate practice group, discuss the hit TV show Silicon Valley and the concept of garden leave. What are the pros and cons of having employees sit on the bench? What is the difference between garden leave and noncompete agreements? Tune in for an engaging dialogue on this unique aspect of employment transition ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs navigate the evolving landscape of employee sick days in a post-COVID-19 workplace. Special guest Lisa Whittaker, director and managing counsel of employment and labor law at the J.M. Smucker Company, joins them for a humorous discussion of the use and abuse of employee sick days, using clips from the popular TV show, Parks and Recreation. Tune in for an insightful discussion! The Troutman Pepper Labor + Employment Practice Group regularly issues advisories, offering timely insights into the evolving employ ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs draw insights from the TV series NCIS to discuss effective workplace harassment training. Our hosts are joined by Victoria Pasquale, chief human resources officer at Pritchard Industries, who shares her expertise on structuring effective trainings for her employees. Listen as the group explores how to capture their audience's attention and drive home important messages in an engaging way ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs, along with fellow firm Partners Sheri Adler and Mary Weeks, chat about the ultimate whistleblower - police officer Frank Serpico - and the SEC's recent crackdown on whistleblower provisions in employment and separation agreements. Listen in as the group shares a top ten list of drafting tips to ensure compliance. The Troutman Pepper Labor + Employment Practice Group regularly issues advisories, offering timely insights into the evolving employment law landscape. We also maintain the HiringToFiring.Law Blog ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs welcome Katie Stark, senior director, commercial counsel for Collegium Pharmaceutical. The team delves into the topic of dress codes, drawing inspiration from the movie Erin Brockovich, and explores the intersection of personal style and professional expectations. As a bonus, the trio also share their most embarrassing fashion faux pas! Tune in for a lively and enlightening conversation about navigating the world of workplace fashion. The Troutman Pepper Labor + Employment Practice Group regularly issues ad ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs are joined by Marie Latoff, president and founder of Verita, LLC, a firm specializing in workplace investigations. Drawing parallels from the movie Minority Report, they discuss best practices and pitfalls to avoid when conducting workplace investigations. Tune in for an engaging and informative discussion about navigating the investigation process. The Troutman Pepper Labor + Employment Practice Group regularly issues advisories, offering timely insights into the evolving employment law landscape. We also ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs sit down with Carol Cookerly, founder of Cookerly PR, a national marketing, PR, and crisis management firm. Drawing parallels from the TV show, Ozark, they explore how strategic planning and quick decision-making can effectively manage workplace crises. Listeners can anticipate a thought-provoking conversation on the importance of crisis management in maintaining a healthy work environment, guarding against potential reputational damage, and fostering a culture that encourages resilience and adaptability. T ..read more

In this episode of the Hiring to Firing Podcast, Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs sit down with Fawn Collingwood, VP of Human Resources at United Safety, about the essence and importance of "grit" in the workplace. With clips from the classic movie, A League of Their Own, they explore how resilience, determination, and teamwork can shape a modern work environment. Listeners can anticipate thought-provoking conversations around the importance of grit in overcoming professional obstacles, fostering a robust workforce, and cultivating an environment that encourages tenacity and perseverance ..read more

Building on the foundation laid in the first episode, the second installment of this series uses additional examples from the TV show The Office to delve deeper into the intricacies of noncompetes. This time, Troutman Pepper Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs join Labor + Employment Partner Matt DelDuca and Employee Benefits + Executive Compensation Partner Jim Earle to focus on the concept of "forfeiture for competition." Key points that were highlighted include: The relationship between typical noncompete provisions and forfeiture for competition clauses. The potential consequences for ..read more

In the first episode of this two-part series, our Labor + Employment and Employee Benefits + Executive Compensation practices join forces and provide a comprehensive overview of noncompete agreements. Troutman Pepper Partners Tracey Diamond and Evan Gibbs join Partners Constance Brewster and Jim Earle to discuss the popular TV series, The Office, and the basics of noncompetes, their legal implications, and their role in the modern business world, all while drawing interesting parallels to situations from the TV series. Key topics covered include: The purpose and function of noncompete agreeme ..read more