Episode 66: What the Hell is Going on in your Bathrooms?

Episode 66: What the Hell is Going on in your Bathrooms?

As Pride Month 🌈 draws to a close, let's talk about an "issue" that remains controversial: allowing transgender employees to use the restroom 🚾 that matches their gender identity. Yes, the current administration and several federal agencies may be pushing a different narrative, but the law—including Title VII as interpreted by the Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County and numerous state anti-discrimination statutes—are clear.💡 Transgender employees are protected. Denying restroom access consistent with an employee's gender identity can expose employers to legal liability, full stop.❌ State laws across the country reinforce these protections, and prudent employers follow the law and refuse to allow harassment or discrimination based on an employee's LGBTQ+ status. Will some employees object? Sure, and they're of course entitled to their beliefs. But here's my question: if this is a concern, what the hell is going on in your bathrooms❓❓❓ You walk in, you use a stall✔️, you wash your hands✔️, you leave.✔️ That's it. If the mere presence of a transgender colleague in a restroom is a crisis for your workplace, the problem isn't the trans employee—it's a culture that has lost sight of basic dignity and respect. Do better. Protect your people. Follow the law. In the latest episode of the Like A Boss Podcast, I discuss transgender employees' use of restroom facilities and straightforward and practical solutions. As always, thank you so much for watching, commenting and sharing! ❤️🫶🙏 Duane Morris LLP [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Human Rights Campaign [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] #pridemonth #leadership #lgbtq #transequality #pride

Episode 65: When Disney Was Not The Happiest Place on Earth for Me - The Importance of Actually Taking Time Off

Last week, I had the true honor of speaking at the SHRM [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Fcompany%2Fshrm%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Annual Conference. The event was held in Orlando, FL, home to Walt Disney World [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Fcompany%2Fwalt-disney-world%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055], the Happiest Place on Earth. 🏰 While being in Orlando always brings back incredibly fond memories😃, there is one experience which I'd like to forget. It was the vacation I cut short, leaving my family behind, because I "had to" work. ❌❌❌ Friends - taking time away from work isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. Stepping back from the daily grind prevents burnout, sharpens focus, and boosts our efficiency when we return. Just as importantly, real rest protects our physical💪 and mental🧠 well-being and enriches the lives we live outside the office. The evidence is clear: people who take genuine breaks come back more creative, more resilient, and more engaged.💡 In the latest episode of the Like A Boss Podcast, I discuss that this culture shift starts at the top.🔝 Leaders have a responsibility actively to encourage their teams to take time off—and to mean it. That means modeling the behavior ourselves by genuinely unplugging, rather than sending the unspoken message that vacation🌴is optional. It may even mean considering a policy that mandates PTO, so that rest 😴 becomes an expectation rather than a privilege employees feel guilty for using. When leaders treat time away as essential, they build🔨 healthier, happier, and ultimately more productive teams. Let's lead by example!!! As always, thank you so much for watching, commenting and sharing! ❤️🫶🙏

Episode 64: Leadership Education is the Silver Bullet

This week I have the honor of speaking at the best HR Conference👑of the year - the SHRM [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Annual Conference, in Orlando, Florida🌞. Spending meaningful time with the most dedicated human resources professionals in the world not only is inspiring, but it provides a crucial reminder about the importance of leadership education. 👩‍🏫 I’ve said it before - I truly believe that education is the silver bullet for transforming leadership culture. Our managers simply cannot be their best selves without it! Leadership capability does not happen by accident; it requires continuous, intentional learning. To unlock 🔓 peak performance and cultivate safe, thriving workplaces, every progressive leadership team must master the "Big 5" core pillars: 1️⃣ Harassment Prevention and Correction (essential in light of recent government action) 2️⃣ Modernized Interviewing and Hiring (AI ain't going away!) 3️⃣ Performance Management in the Age of Empathy (mental health awareness if critical) 4️⃣ The ABCs of the FMLA and ADA (managers must recognize requests!) 5️⃣ Implicit Bias - Moving Beyond Awareness (we all got it!) Equipping leaders with these foundational tools is the single most powerful way to build high-trust organizations where people feel truly valued. In the latest episode of my Like a Boss podcast, I break down exactly how comprehensive education eliminates systemic friction and empowers managers to lead with ultimate confidence. Watch the full video 📽️ to discover how to transform leadership training from an optional checkbox into your organization's essential, strategic powerhouse! As always, thank you so much for watching, commenting and sharing! Duane Morris LLP [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] #shrm26 #shrm #leadership

Episode 63: How A Company Turned an Employee's Transition Into Culture Transformation

Pride Month🌈 is a time to celebrate—and to reflect on how we show up for the LGBTQ+ community in our workplaces. Today, through my Like A Boss Podcast, I want to share a story about transgender rights in practice and the massively positive impact it had on an organization's culture. 💕 Several years ago, a valued employee at a company I work with came out as transgender and began their transition. Leadership leaned in. They reached out to me to conduct comprehensive harassment prevention trainings, focused on LGBTQ+ issues—covering respectful pronoun usage, legal protections, and everyday allyship. Then they took a less conventional step - a step that sent a very loud and unambiguously clear message of inclusion.🫂 With the employee's full consent, the company invited their therapist—a clinician specializing in gender identity—to speak to the entire staff. Without sharing confidential details, the therapist educated the team on what gender dysphoria is, what transition means, and how coworkers can be a source of strength during one of the most vulnerable periods in a person's life. The impact was remarkable. Fear gave way to empathy. Awkwardness gave way to genuine support. The transitioning employee later shared they had never felt more seen in their career. Retention improved, engagement scores rose, and other LGBTQ+ employees began to feel safe bringing their whole selves to work. This is what transgender rights in the workplace look like—not checking a box, but building an environment where dignity is protected and education replaces ignorance before harm takes root. If your organization hasn't thought about how it would support a transitioning employee, Pride Month is the perfect time to start. Invest in training. Bring in experts. Lead with compassion. Happy Pride to all who celebrate, and to all still finding the courage to be themselves. We see you. 🌈 Duane Morris LLP [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Human Rights Campaign [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] #pridemonth #transrights #leadership Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-boss-with-michael-cohen/id1880393211] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20huBMzosx7v8mku3HeM6O?si=d1a20680e7244a44&nd=1&dlsi=936d534dc9d74c9e] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/likeaboss.podcast/] Youtube [https://www.youtube.com.mcas.ms/channel/UCSn2zKCDDrhHbWrwfpBHc4g]

Episode 62: A Very Personal Message for Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 (and for ALL the other months)

When I was a kid, my "Uncle" Stevie (my dad's best friend) was my favorite person in the entire world.👑 He was the kindest and most thoughtful person I knew and Steve was the true embodiment of the word "mensch." A gay man without his own children, Uncle Stevie treated my brother and me as though we were his kids and we treasured every moment spent with Uncle Stevie. Tragically, as you will hear in today's Like A Boss Podcast (below), in the 1980s Steve contracted the AIDS virus and passed away. 💔 Rarely does a day go by without my thinking about Uncle Stevie. The stark reality is that LGBTQ+ rights and, in many cases, LGBTQ+ members of our community, themselves, are under attack. In our workplaces, many of our LGBTQ+ employees, allies and colleagues feel unseen, feel worried and feel targeted. While there are so many different things we can do, day-to-day, to support this community, I discuss 4️⃣: 🌈 Ensuring inclusive language in policies and communications 🌈 Creating and maintaining a safe and supportive work environment 🌈 Providing education 🌈 Being an ally I miss Uncle Stevie every single day. 🥹 In this #PrideMonth, and in honor of the best man I've ever known, I ask you PLEASE to watch, PLEASE to comment and PLEASE to share your thoughts and this post. #lgbtq #lgbtqrights #pridemonth #leadership #hrc (please tag the following Duane Morris LLP [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Duane Morris Institute [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Human Rights Campaign [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055] Lambda Legal [https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com.mcas.ms%2Ffeed%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D20893&McasCSRF=e7af7df43294ea1cc45b92db24cd30903e6a28acb2bcf24d56cc9d4da76e0055])