20: Alisa Arnoff

Join Host Christopher Baker and guest Alisa B. Arnoff for a compelling episode exploring leadership, workplace culture, and accountability in today's fire service.

In this conversation, Alisa shares her journey working with the fire service, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and Women in Fire — including how she first became involved and what inspired her long-standing commitment to supporting firefighters and fire service leaders.

The discussion also examines the origins of the IAFC Bullying Prevention Task Force and the connection formed through Fire-Rescue International 2021. Together, Christopher and Alisa unpack some of the most pressing recruitment and retention challenges facing the fire service today and discuss how departments can create healthier, more sustainable workplace cultures.

Listeners will gain insight into the role of employment law for the company officer, why leadership responsibilities and accountability matter more than ever, and how workplace expectations continue to evolve across public safety organizations.

The episode also takes a deeper look at moral injury and agency betrayal — what these terms mean, how they impact firefighters and leaders alike, and why understanding these issues is critical to the future of the fire service.

Biography:

Alisa B. Arnoff is a founding member of the Chicago law firm of Scalambrino & Arnoff, LLC.. Alisa concentrates her practice in the areas of employment and labor law, representing privately and publicly held companies throughout the country. She also provides preventative counseling in avoiding and handling employee disputes. A big part of her practice is consulting with clients concerning everyday workplace problems, such as recruitment and selection, employee morale, absenteeism, productivity and separation from employment. Other law firms regularly retain Alisa to conduct workplace‐related investigations. Alisa has a special interest in the Fire Service and consults regularly on Fire/EMS personnel matters throughout the country, including DEI issues, reproductive rights and other compliance matters. She is also a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Bullying Prevention Task Force and teaches courses offering strategies and tactics for confronting bullies in the Fire Service, as well as other personnel-related courses. She serves as Fractional General Counsel for Women in Fire and The Beltane Guild. She counsels firefighters throughout the country on personnel issues, with a critical focus on trying to ensure that they can seek mental health services where needed.

Alisa was elected to the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers in 2010. She was the first woman to be appointed as the Editor in Chief of the Illinois Bar Journal. She speaks regularly on topics of labor and employment law throughout the country and has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top labor and employment lawyers, as well as one of the top female lawyers, in Illinois.

Show Notes: https://www.thebakerpodcast.com/blog/20-alisa-arnoff