2026 Employer Policy Outlook After Washington’s Active 2025

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In Episode 359 we welcome Beltway insider Jim Plunkett for a practical breakdown of how recent disruptions are shaping the year ahead for employers.

The conversation explores where employment policy is really being made, why federal agencies may have more influence than Congress, and how shifts at the Department of Labor, NLRB, and EEOC could impact employers in 2026. The panel also takes a look at AI hiring risks, emerging discrimination lawsuits, a rare 27-pay-period year, and the growing divide between state and federal workplace rules.

This episode is essential viewing for HR leaders and business executives who want to understand what is changing, why it matters, and how to prepare before the next wave hits.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & what Congress did (and didn’t) do for employers
01:31 – Opening banter & why keeping up with policy feels like tennis
03:38 – Lawyer on the Clock: AI hiring tools & Fair Credit Reporting Act risks
07:32 – Uber & Lyft gender-matching lawsuits: damned if you do, damned if you don’t
10:27 – 2026 warning: Why some employers may face 27 pay periods
13:52 – Why 2025 felt so disruptive for employers
17:38 – When agencies drive employment policy, not Congress
19:03 – Independent contractor rules & OSHA heat regulations
23:15 – State vs. federal divide on AI and workplace laws
26:12 – What’s coming from the NLRB, EEOC & DOL in 2026

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