Mother Knows Best? U.S. Department of Labor vs. Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment

From stay-at-home mom to successful founder, Rhea Lana Riner of Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment found herself catapulted into an unexpected and highly public legal battle with a major federal agency. When the United States Department of Labor declared that her business did not comply with employment laws, Rhea Lana’s entire business model was at risk. How did a loving mother who built a grassroots enterprise to help her family and community become the target of a federal agency? This incident examines how the founder of a small business responded when the federal government challenged the foundation of her business model. The critical incident highlights the important decisions she made under pressure and explores how her actions illustrated both transformational leadership and crisis management.