Perspectives from the bench and table.

Employment arbitration is no longer just an alternative to litigation. In Florida, it is reshaping how employment disputes are investigated, valued, negotiated, and resolved from the very beginning.

Employment arbitration agreements remain common in Florida, but in 2026 the real story is not whether arbitration still works. It is whether agreements are drafted carefully enough to match current Florida procedure and modern federal carve-outs.

Before she became a mediator, Leslie W. Langbein was a litigator and advisor in labor and employment matters. Her path into mediation reshaped not only her practice, but her view of what real resolution looks like.

Retaliation claims remain one of the most persistent employment risks. The strongest prevention strategy is not a slogan. It is a repeatable process built into reporting, supervision, documentation, and follow-through.