Kayla E. Platt Rady

She represents employers in the private and public sectors in matters involving employment and labor issues. Kayla litigates claims arising from the employment relationship, including representing employers in judicial and administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). Kayla defends state and local government agencies, officers, and employees (including municipalities, counties, school boards, police departments, and sheriff’s offices) against claims of employment discrimination and retaliation such as religion, national origin, race, gender, age, and political patronage, asserted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Chapter 760, Florida Statutes; Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871; the American Disabilities Act (ADA); Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA); and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).

Kayla also represents clients in constitutional and casualty litigation in the private and public sector. She defends public and private clients against personal injury cases, including general negligence; negligent hiring, supervision/retention, and training; automobile accidents; tortious interference with business relationships; assaults and batteries; improper use of force; false arrests; and malicious prosecutions. Kayla’s constitutional experience includes defending public and private clients against alleged violations of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment; Free Exercise and Establishment Clause of the First Amendment; Reasonable Searches and Seizures Clause under the Fourth Amendment; and Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause under the Eighth Amendment. Because she represents clients in the public sector, Kayla is also experienced with qualified and sovereign immunities.

Awards & Honors

•Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 'Ones to Watch' for Labor and Employment Law - Management and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2024-2026

Articles & Presentations

•Author, 'Florida Legislative Session: 2026 Proposed Bills Affecting Employers,' February 2026
•Presenter, 'Wrapping Up 2025: Employment Law Updates,' Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management, December 2025
•Presenter, 'Employment Legal Panel,' HR Miami + HRABC Conference, September 2025
•Author, 'The “Big Beautiful Bill” & Potential FLSA Pitfalls: What Employers Need to Know on “No Tax on Tips & Overtime” Provisions,' July 2025
•Panelist, 'AI, Accommodations & Compliance: What Employers Need to Know in 2025,' Big Bend SHRM Annual HR Tallahassee Conference, April 2025
•Author, 'A Blow to Whistleblowers: No More Pain and Suffering Damages,' April 2025
•Author, 'No Extra Hurdles for Employers Claiming Overtime Exemptions: High Court Rules FLSA Does Not Require Stricter Evidence Standards,' April 2025
•Panelist, 'The FLSA: 86 Years Young,' Wage and Hour Committee and Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar CLE, October 2024
•Co-presenter, 'Employment Law Roundup' Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Big Bend Chapter, HR Tallahassee, May 2024
•Author, 'Stop Woke Act Stopped by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals...For Now,' March 2024
•Co-author, '2024 Proposed Bills Affecting Florida Public and Private Employers,' February 2024
•Author, 'Is Separate Equal for Public School Sports?' March 2023
•Author, 'Employers Beware: Highly Compensated Employees Could Be Entitled To Overtime,' March 2023
•Author, 'In the Case of Public School Bathrooms: Separate Is Equal,' January 2023
•Author, 'Stranger Things Are Going On: Federal Judge Pulls Florida from First Amendment “Upside Down,' August 2022
•Co-presenter, 'Employment Law Update,' HR Tallahassee Conference: The Great Recovery hosted by SHRM Big Bend, May 2022
•Author, 'Florida Still Strongly Favors Employer’s Non-Compete Agreements,' April 2022
•Author, 'Florida Legislature Proposes Bill Banning Transgender School/College Athletes From Girls' & Women’s Sports,' April 2021
•Author, 'Biden Expected to Approve American Rescue Plan Act within Next 72 Hours,' March 2021
•Author, 'Student-Athlete’s Signed Released Insulates School Boards From Personal Injury Claims,' March 2021
•Co-Author, 'Florida Limits Amount of Recovery in Mass Shootings,' Florida Bar Education Law Journal, Volume 2, Issue 3, Fall 2020
•Author, 'Florida Limits Amount of Recovery in Mass Shootings,' September 2020
•Author, 'SCOTUS Rules LGBTQ Workers are Protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,' Daily Business Review, June 18, 2020
•Author, 'SCOTUS Has Ruled: Federal Civil Rights Law Protects LGBTQ in the Workplace,' June 2020
•Co-Author, 'COVID-19: The Paycheck Protection Program Q & A,' April 2020
•Co-Presenter, 'Families First Coronavirus Response Act - Important Information for Employers,' Florida Association of District School Superintendents, March 26, 2020
•Co-Presenter, 'Families First Coronavirus Response Act - Important Information for Employers,' North East Florida Educational Consortium, March 24, 2020
•Co-Author, 'The Coronavirus Stimulus Bill-What is the Impact on Employers and Businesses?' March 2020
•Author, 'President Approves Last Minute Paid Sick Leave Bill Proposed During COVID-19 Pandemic,' March 25, 2020
•Author, 'Lawmakers Propose Last Minute Bill Providing Paid Sick Leave During COVID-19 Outbreak,' March 16, 2020
•Author, 'Florida Makes It Easier to Appeal Non-Final Orders Denying State Immunity,' January 29, 2020
•Author, 'The Circuit Court Showdown: Will SCOTUS Say Yay or Nay Under Title VII to LGBT Workplace Discrimination?' January 17, 2020
•Co-Author, 'Relief for Employers Arrived When High Court Closed Door on Class Arbitration,” Daily Business Review, May 6, 2019

Kayla's News and Insights

02.13.2026
Employment and Labor

Florida Legislative Session: 2026 Proposed Bills Affecting Employers

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session is in full swing. There...

Photo: Shutterstock/gguy

12.11.2025
Events

Partners Nicole Smith and Kayla Platt Rady Speak at Big Bend SHRM

During the December 10, 2025 program for the Big Bend...

09.10.2025
Events

RumbergerKirk Employment Attorneys Take the Main Stage at 2025 Annual HR Conference

RumbergerKirk employment attorneys participated in a panel discussion at the...

08.21.2025
Firm News

27 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America

Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year;”...

07.22.2025
Employment and Labor

The “Big Beautiful Bill” & Potential FLSA Pitfalls: What Employers Need to Know on “No Tax on Tips & Overtime” Provisions

On July 4, 2025, as part of the One Big...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Lysenko Andrii

04.29.2025
Events

AI, Accommodations & Compliance: What Employers Need to Know in 2025

RumbergerKirk employment law attorneys shared powerful legal insights to help...

04.10.2025
Employment and Labor

A Blow to Whistleblowers: No More Pain and Suffering Damages

On February 26, 2025, in the lawsuit Agency for Persons...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/pathdoc

04.08.2025
Employment and Labor

No Extra Hurdles for Employers Claiming Overtime Exemptions: High Court Rules FLSA Does Not Require Stricter Evidence Standards

In a unanimous opinion decided January 15, 2025, E.M.D. Sales,...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/sasirin pamai

02.03.2025
Firm News

RumbergerKirk Promotes Three New Partners From Orlando, Birmingham and Tallahassee

ORLANDO, Fla., BIRMINGHAM, Ala., TALLAHASSEE, Fla., February 3, 2025 -...

12.09.2024
Employment and Labor

Ding Dong the New DOL Rule Raising Minimum Salary Levels is Dead

Good news for employers - the Department of Labor’s (DOL)...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Jacob Lund