High Turnover and Legal Risks: What Every HR Leader Needs to Know with Leah Stiegler
Eps. #120 APRIL 29TH, 2025
In this episode of the HR Mixtape podcast, host Shari Simpson welcomes Leah Stiegler, a principal employment attorney at Woods Rogers. They dive into the pressing issue of toxic workplaces, exploring both legal definitions and cultural implications. This conversation is timely as organizations increasingly prioritize employee experience and inclusive leadership, making it essential to understand the signs of toxicity and the legal ramifications of workplace disputes.
Listener Takeaways:
Learn how to identify early warning signs of a toxic work environment, such as high turnover and inconsistent management practices.
Discover why transparency in termination discussions can protect your organization from potential lawsuits.
Explore strategies for managing "brilliant jerks" in the workplace while maintaining a healthy company culture.
Hit “Play” to gain valuable insights that can transform your approach to HR challenges!
Guest(s): Leah Stiegler, Principal, Woods Rogers
Leah can walk employers through any workplace situation. From complex personnel matters, to implementing client-specific performance management practices, Leah advises employers to navigate these issues to keep them out of court. Her counseling covers the entire employment spectrum: recruitment, onboarding, workplace culture, pay equity audits, RIFs, terminations and severance packages.
Leah handles workplace investigations and defends actions before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL, and NLRB. Leah has extensive litigation experience, defending employers in state and federal court on claims including but not limited to:
Breach of employment agreements
Harassment, discrimination, and retaliation (Title VII)
Whistleblower complaints
ADA or religious-based failure to accommodate claims
FMLA non-compliance
Workplace violence and negligent supervision
FLSA unpaid overtime, misclassification and off-the-clock claims
Workplace safety, OSHA, or VOSH actions
Leah also represents employers navigating union issues, labor relations arbitrations and collective bargaining. Every workforce loves Leah's dynamic public speaking style. Having traveled the Mid-Atlantic to train front-line employees, upper management, HR and other industry professionals, Leah creates custom workforce training programs with her team and has fun doing it!
Leah also maintains a higher education practice. She provides day-to-day compliance advice to public and private higher ed institutions on employment and student-related matters. These include navigating Title VII, Title IX, and code of conduct investigations, faculty, administrative, and athletic coach contracts and severance packages, tenure and promotion processes, and pay equity audits. Leah also trains school leadership, such as Deans and Chairs, on improving documentation and engaging in performance management of faculty.
