What To Do If You Get Laid Off: Employment Attorney Ryan Stygar on Keyboard Tracking, Return to Office and Negotiating Severance
Descripción del Episodio
Employment attorney Ryan Stygar joins Nicole to hand us the playbook our employers hope they never find. He breaks down what "at-will employment" actually means and the exact moves to make the moment you get that dreaded out-of-nowhere email from HR. He also reveals everything that's negotiable in a severance package: the cash amount, COBRA coverage, equity vesting schedules, and non-disparagement clauses, and shares how he turned a $6,000 severance offer into over $60,000 for one client.
Then Nicole and Ryan role-play a firing from both sides of the table — so you know exactly what to say and what never to say. They dig into the issues that disproportionately affect women at work: pregnancy discrimination (the number one form Ryan sees in his practice), his controversial-but-legally-sound advice to disclose your pregnancy early, what rights you have if you miscarry, and how return-to-office mandates are quietly being weaponized as stealth layoffs.
Plus: AI keystroke monitoring, non-competes in the current legal landscape, and the interview questions that are totally illegal — that you're probably being asked right now.
Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram
Get Ryan's book Get It in Writing
Here's what Nicole covers with Ryan:
00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?
02:01 Ryan's Path: From Firefighter to Workers' Rights Lawyer
02:52 Nicole Gets Let Go From CNN
03:44 Why HR Is Not Your Friend
05:34 The Right (and Wrong) Way to Fire Someone
06:41 It's Illegal to Fire Someone for Discussing Their Pay
08:44 Building Your Paper Trail From Day One
20:07 At-Will Employment, Explained
24:50 What to Do the Moment You Get That HR Email
26:31 Don't Sign Anything When You're Fired
29:14 Severance Is Negotiable
31:54 How Contingency Lawyers Can Help (Even When You're Broke)
33:38 What Else Is on the Table: COBRA, Equity, and Non-Disparagement Clauses
37:38 Role Play: Getting Fired (What Not to Do)
39:23 Role Play: Getting Laid Off (The Right Way to Handle It)
44:09 How a Good Employer Handles the Conversation
46:34 Freelancers and the 1099 vs. W-2 Trap
49:59 The Fear of Getting Blacklisted for Asserting Your Rights
50:19 Sexual Harassment: Who's Most at Risk and What to Do
52:44 Maternity Leave and Pregnancy Discrimination
55:28 Controversial Advice: Disclose Your Pregnancy Early
59:14 What to Get in Writing When You're Pregnant
01:02:16 Your Rights If You Miscarry
01:04:59 Return to Office as a Stealth Layoff Strategy
01:08:10 AI Tracking and Keystroke Monitoring
01:12:25 Non-Competes: What You Need to Know in 2026
01:17:09 Illegal Interview Questions (Role Play)
01:23:00 Ryan Stygar's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank
All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor or attorney before making any financial or legal decisions.
Episodios Recientes
Más podcasts de Sociedad y Cultura
Ver toda la categoría →
A TODO SI
By shows
Y juré decirle Sí a mis sueños... Sí a aventarme Sí a seguir mis sueños Sí a creérmela Sí a las oportunidades Podcast por Stephanie Rodríguez Instagram @atodo_si @stephanierdzs @cartasaluniverso_
The Wild Project
By shows
CADA MARTES Y JUEVES NUEVOS EPISODIOS. Bienvenidos a THE WILD PROJECT, el podcast de Jordi Wild. Charlas con los invitados más interesantes, actualidad, ciencia, deportes, filosofía, psicología, misterio, debates y tertulias... y muchísimo más. Cada semana hablando alto y claro sobre el mundo que nos rodea. ¡No te lo pierdas!
Prenderse Fuego: Las Voces de Pedro Lemebel
By shows
<p>Serie sonora y biográfica que recorre la vida, obra y legado de Pedro Lemebel a través de su voz. A partir de archivos radiales, entrevistas inéditas, testimonios íntimos y documentos personales, este viaje sonoro reconstruye al artista, narrador, cronista, performer y figura pública desde su registro más icónico: su forma de hablar, de relatar y de provocar. Cada episodio explora una etapa distinta de su vida, enfatizando en su voz —como herramienta estética y política— y cómo fue transformándose hasta el final de su vida.</p> <p>Prenderse Fuego es una coproducción de GAM y Podium Podcast Chile.</p>
Testigo Directo
By shows
Testigo Directo es un video podcast de periodismo investigativo que te sumerge en las historias más impactantes de Colombia y América Latina. Desde el narcotráfico y el crimen organizado, hasta casos de corrupción, desapariciones y luchas sociales, cada episodio revela verdades ocultas y voces silenciadas. Con una narrativa ágil, testimonios exclusivos y análisis de fondo, Testigo Directo va más allá de los titulares para mostrar lo que otros no cuentan. 🔍 Escucha. Cuestiona. Sé Testigo Directo.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
By shows
In "Hardcore History" journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his "Martian", unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn't academic history (and Carlin isn't a historian) but the podcast's unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists has entertained millions of listeners.
Mick Unplugged
By shows
Everybody talks about your WHY. Mick Hunt goes deeper. Mick Unplugged is the leadership and personal growth podcast built on one idea: your BECAUSE is the purpose underneath your purpose, and it is the most powerful force you own. Hosted by Mick Hunt, USA Today bestselling author and the voice of Modern Leadership, every episode sits across from a high performer, founder, athlete, or culture-shaper and asks the one question they cannot fake an answer to. What is your BECAUSE? Past guests include Shark Tank stars Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, motivational legend Les Brown, Chef Robert Irvine, comedians Rickey Smiley and Earthquake, NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, hospitality mogul David Grutman, and World Series champion Jeremy Guthrie. No scripts. No surface-level fluff. Just the real fire behind why they refused to quit. If you are a leader, an entrepreneur, or someone who is done coasting on motivational quotes, this is your show. You will walk away every week with mindset shifts, leadership strategy, and the kind of straight talk that actually moves you forward. New episodes drop weekly. Follow Mick Unplugged on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss one. Your BECAUSE is your Superpower. Go Unleash It.
Creators Inc. Podcast
By shows
Andy Bachman's Creators Inc. Podcast is an unfiltered podcast where top content creators talk honestly about how they grow, go viral, and make real money online. We break down strategies, mistakes, algorithms, and the behind-the-scenes moments nobody posts — plus personal stories, internet drama, and whatever wild shit is happening in their world. Smart, funny, and unscripted. Swear words included. If you’re building an audience or just want to know how the creator economy really works, this is creators thinking out loud.
Coffeez with Joe Shalaby
By shows
Hosted by Joseph Shalaby, Founder and CEO of E Mortgage Capital, this isn’t your typical business podcast. Each episode brings you inside the minds of high-level entrepreneurs, investors, athletes, celebrities, and cultural voices shaping today’s economy — not just what they do, but how they actually win. From raw origin stories and early struggles to the real mechanics behind how money is made, scaled, and sometimes lost, Joe cuts through the noise to get to what matters. No fluff. No surface-level answers. Set inside the world of Coffeez, every conversation unfolds with intention — how they started, how they built, what it cost them, and what separates them now. Whether you're building something, investing in something, or simply trying to understand how the game really works, Coffeez with Joe Shalaby delivers unfiltered insight from people who are actually in it.