Dear Clients & Friends:

If you've been job hunting and hearing nothing back, you're not imagining it. The economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, and unemployment rose to 4.2%.

Layoffs are still occurring, especially for older workers, and hiring has slowed to a crawl. Recruiters now process roughly 300 applications per job vs. 100 previously. AI is the “screener” for many resumes before a person ever sees them, and ghost jobs make up a meaningful share of postings. Silence is often not about you.

It is hard to know how to protect yourself along the way, and how to endure the often-arduous job interview processes. You can read some survival tips in this article posted in the News section of the website.

If you are one of the lucky folks who lands an offer, read the language carefully before you sign, especially non-competes and arbitration terms. If you're laid off, don't sign a severance agreement on the spot.

And if you suspect software screened you out for a protected trait, document what happened, and read more about the Mobley v. Workday litigation in this newsletter to see if you should opt-in to the class of those being discriminated against by AI Agents and software algorithms.

If you're looking at a job offer, or a severance agreement or termination situation that just doesn't feel right, reach out. Executive compensation matters can be tricky. It is far better to have a legal document reviewed before you sign it than after.

Please click on the links above - and below - to read the articles in this newsletter. And for more information, check our website's "News" page, and the "Media" tab to watch the Money Matters TV show, "LawTalk with Robin Bond."

Thank you for the opportunity to be your workplace legal resource.

Sincerely,