The world doesn’t stop when you clock in — and this week, neither do we. Employment attorney Peter Rahbar and journalist Laura Brounstein tackle four topics that are impossible to ignore right now. In this episode:

⚔️ Balancing Work & War — When the headlines feel like too much, your employees feel it too. Peter and Laura discuss how managers can check in on their teams, what mental health resources employers should be offering, and how to support your people — including those with family in conflict zones — without making grand public statements.
🏕️ Corporate Retreats Gone Wrong — The WSJ story about the 2017 Plex retreat in Mexico went viral for good reason: a hotel manager who quit, a sick CEO, Navy SEALs, and yes — someone eating a tarantula. Peter and Laura share their own retreat war stories and break down what makes a retreat great vs. a total disaster (hint: it’s about inclusion, not intimidation).
🙋 Voluntold — You didn’t raise your hand, but suddenly you’ve got a new assignment and the same paycheck. Peter explains when to embrace the opportunity, when to push back, and why managers need to be careful about who they keep tapping for extra work.
🤯 What to Do When Your Boss Has Lost His Mind — No, we’re not naming names. But if you’re an executive watching your leader make fiscally reckless, erratic, or potentially illegal decisions, Peter walks through your real options: internal reporting channels, audit committees, whistleblower programs, and when it might just be time to walk.

🎙️ Across the Bar is your weekly drink with a lawyer and a journalist — where employment law meets real life.
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