When immigration policy change overnight…

What's an employer supposed to do when immigration policy shifts overnight?

That's the question employers across the country are now facing. More than 500,000 immigrant workers—who entered the U.S. legally under a humanitarian parole program—were recently told to leave their jobs and “self-deport” after the Department of Homeland Security abruptly ended the program.

The headlines are emotional. The legal issues are complex.

Generally, if an employee has a properly completed I-9 form, the employer is not liable for hiring someone who later turns out to be unauthorized. As long as the documents provided at the time of hire reasonably appear genuine and relate to the employee, you're in the clear. That's exactly how the system is meant to work.

This situation, however, is different. In this case, the government is notifying employers that certain employees' immigration status has changed—and that they are no longer authorized to remain in the U.S. Still, even under these circumstances, telling an employee to "self-deport" carries legal risk.

A dog of a workplace lesson

Last weekend, I got bit by the doggie mayor of Boston's Seaport.

His name is Bennett. He's a 9-month-old golden retriever. And while visiting the area on a family vacation, I met the young mayor in a beer garden.

He was adorable. Charismatic. Clearly popular. And then—he chomped down on my arm.

It was classic puppy behavior—playful, harmless in intent, but still… teeth on skin.

What stood out most wasn't the bite. It was his "parents"—sitting nearby, watching it happen, saying absolutely nothing.

WIRTW #762: the 'cheers' edition

🚨 BREAKING: The death of craft beer has been greatly exaggerated.

According to a new 2024 economic impact study from the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, my state's craft brewing industry is very much alive and pouring.

📊 Consider this:

• $1.29 billion in economic output (up from $1.22 billion in 2022).
• 12,255 jobs supporting 8,095 households (up from around 11,500 jobs in 2022).
• $427.3 million in labor income created.
• Nearly $230 million paid in state and federal taxes (identical to 2022).
• 46 new breweries opened in 2024—with 53 more already in planning (bringing Ohio’s total to 442, up from 420 in 2022, 357 in 2020, and 300 in 2018).

That's not a dying industry. That's a growth industry.

But let's not sugarcoat it: challenges remain. Younger generations are drinking less beer. Tastes are shifting toward spirits, RTDs, non-alcoholic options, and cannabis. And tariffs on brewing equipment and ingredients continue to threaten and squeeze margins. It's not easy out there—but Ohio's brewers are adapting, evolving, and still finding ways to grow.

Moreover, this isn't just about pints. Ohio breweries are revitalizing neighborhoods, anchoring downtowns, hosting community events, and donating millions to charity.

So the next time someone says "craft beer is over," raise a pint and say: Not in Ohio.

🍻 Cheers to great beer and better data.

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Here's what I read this week that you should read, too.

The 6th nominee for The Worst Employer of 2025 is … The Terrible Trafficker

HotHead Grabba is now officially in the hot seat.

A 74-count indictment charges owner Hunter Segree and two managers with operating a tobacco-processing sweatshop and exploiting its immigrant workforce.

2.5 million reasons to avoid age discrimination

"Younger and hungrier."

That was the phrase executives at CrossCountry Mortgage allegedly used to describe the kind of people they wanted in their accounting department.

The only problem? They already had Cheryl Shephard, a senior accountant who wasn't "younger." Shephard was 65. And a CPA. No disciplinary record. No PIP. Just years of reliable, quality work with strong performance reviews

Then, out of the blue, CrossCounty Mortage fired her in a so-called reduction in force.

Do you know the difference between legal and illegal interview questions?

You're hiring. Great.
You're asking illegal interview questions. Not so great.

Most employers don't mean to cross the line in interviews. But intent doesn't matter when the EEOC or a process server comes knocking. The law draws a pretty clear line around certain topics. And the moment you ask the wrong question, you've handed a candidate "Exhibit A" in their future discrimination claim.

The 5th nominee for The Worst Employer of 2025 is … The Predator Manager

The EEOC has filed a lawsuit against Franchise Management LLC, the operator of over 20 Subway locations in the Beehive State, alleging that it failed to prevent the sexual harassment and assault of a 16-year-old male employee by a district manager.

The manager, Justin Nielson, reportedly made inappropriate sexual comments, asked the employee for photos of himself in his underwear, sent similar photos of his own, and ultimately assaulted the teenager during work hours.