PODCAST · business
Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
by Shaw Law Group, PC
Join Jen Shaw every Wednesday morning for insightful commentary about legal developments, discussions with special guests, and much, much more. Listen to past podcasts here!
Episodes
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The EEOC Has Changed Direction: Are Your Policies Keeping Up?
The federal enforcement landscape has shifted. In June 2026, the EEOC adopted a new National Enforcement Plan emphasizing merit-based, evenhanded enforcement of federal employment discrimination laws. For California employers, the challenge is not simply understanding what the EEOC is…
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No Robo-Bosses: California’s New Rules for AI at Work
California has drawn a new line in workplace AI. On September 30, 2026, Governor Newsom signed SB 947, which prohibits employers from relying solely on artificial intelligence when making disciplinary or termination decisions and requires additional transparency when AI causes a mass layoff,...
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What’s Actually in the Personnel File? Employee Records Requests
A former employee sends an email demanding “my entire personnel file and every document you have about me.” Does the employer really have to turn over everything? Usually not. IN this episode, Jen explains what California employees are entitled to receive, why different categories of records have...
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You’re Late Again: Attendance Problems Without the Lawsuit
Attendance should be simple: employees are supposed to come to work. But sometimes the reason they are not at work implicates sick leave, disability accommodation, family leave, pregnancy protections, workers’ compensation, or another protected right. In this episode, Jen explains how employers…
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Wait—Are You Recording This? Secret Recordings in the Workplace
Nearly everyone has a recording device in their pocket, and employees are increasingly using them in meetings, investigations, performance discussions, and conversations with supervisors. In this episode, Jen breaks down California’s rules on workplace recordings, when a secret recording may be...
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Privileged—or Not? Attorney-Client Privilege at Work
Copying a lawyer on an email does not magically make it privileged. Neither does writing “Attorney-Client Privileged” at the top. In this episode, Joe Beachboard and Jen break down what attorney-client privilege really protects, when it applies in the workplace, how employers accidentally waive…
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Back to Basics: Employment Law 101 in 15 Minutes!
Employment law can get complicated fast, but most workplace problems come back to a handful of basic rules. In this episode, Jen goes back to the fundamentals every California employer should understand—from wage and hour and discrimination to leaves, accommodations, documentation, and…
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The Five-Minute Employment Law Checkup
In this episode, Jen walks through a quick employment law checkup every California employer should take. Listeners will learn five questions that can reveal common compliance gaps and how EmployersLawyer can help organizations stay current, spot problems earlier, and make better workplace…
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2026 Midyear Employment Law Update: What California Employers Need to Know
In this episode, Jen and Joe take stock of the employment law developments shaping California workplaces halfway through 2026. They highlight important new cases, regulatory developments, and emerging compliance issues, and explain what employers should be watching and doing now as they head into...
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You Don’t Need More Employment Law Information
In this episode, Jen explores why the real challenge for California employers is not finding more employment law information—it is knowing what matters and what to do with it. Listeners will learn how to cut through the noise, identify developments that require action, and use EmployersLawyer to...
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What New Labor Relations Professionals Need to Know (and Veterans Should Remember)
In this episode, Jen and Shaw Law Group attorney Dilpreet Mayall discuss the labor relations fundamentals that every new professional should learn—and experienced practitioners should never overlook. They explain why the National Labor Relations Act matters even in non-union workplaces, discuss…
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The Documentation Advantage: Protecting Good Decisions Before They Become Lawsuits
In this episode, Jen explains why good documentation is one of an employer's most valuable risk management tools. She discusses why otherwise defensible employment decisions can unravel because of poor documentation, shares practical tips for creating clear and credible records, and highlights…
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The First 24 Hours: Responding to Employee Complaints the Right Way
In this episode, Jen discusses why an employer's response during the first 24 hours after receiving a workplace complaint often determines whether the issue is resolved—or becomes litigation. She explains the immediate steps HR professionals and leaders should take when concerns are raised,...
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Is Arbitration the Right Choice for Your Workplace?
Arbitration continues to be one of the most important, and most misunderstood, decisions California employers can make when it comes to resolving workplace disputes. In this episode, Jen is joined by employment law attorney and EmployersLawyer co-founder Joe Beachboard to discuss how the legal...
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Watch Your Language: The Legal Limits of English-Only Rules
In this episode, Jen discusses one of the most misunderstood areas of California employment law: English-only workplace rules. She examines when employers may regulate language in the workplace, common situations involving multilingual employees, recent enforcement developments, and practical...
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Beyond the Written Plan: Workplace Violence Prevention That Actually Works
In this episode, Jen discusses why California's workplace violence prevention law requires far more than a written plan. She examines the mistakes employers continue to make, the warning signs leaders should never ignore, and practical steps to build a safer workplace while satisfying…
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Defamation Risks in the Workplace: References, Complaints, Investigations, and California’s New Protection
Workplace defamation claims can arise from termination explanations, reference checks, investigation interviews, complaints, and manager comments. In this episode, Jen explains where the risks come up, how California’s new Civil Code section 47.1 affects the analysis, and how employers can...
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Politics at Work: What California Employers Can and Can’t Control
Political discussions at work can quickly create risk for California employers. In this episode, Jen discusses voting leave, political activity protections, off-duty conduct, workplace speech, dress codes, retaliation risks, and practical strategies for keeping the workplace professional and...
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When a Resignation Becomes a Lawsuit: Constructive Discharge in California
Not every resignation ends the story. In this episode, Jen explains how ignored complaints, retaliation concerns, intolerable working conditions, and poor documentation can turn a resignation into a constructive discharge claim — and what California employers can do to reduce risk before an...
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Associational Discrimination: When an Employee’s Relationship Creates Employer Risk
Associational discrimination claims arise from an employee’s relationship with someone else — such as a family member, spouse, friend, or caregiver connection. In this episode, Jen and Joe Beachboard discuss where California employers commonly get into trouble and how to reduce risk when…
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Employment References: Handle with Care
In this episode, Jen tackles one of the most debated employer practices: providing references. She outlines the legal guardrails, the moments where well-intentioned disclosures create exposure, and the strategic choices employers make between saying nothing and saying too much. The focus is on...
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When the Harasser Isn’t an Employee: Investigation Strategies for California Employers
When harassment allegations involve customers, vendors, contractors, patients, or other nonemployees, employers often face difficult questions: Do we have to investigate? What corrective action is enough? And how does California law differ from federal standards? In this episode, Jen and Joe...
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Cell Phone Reimbursement: The Compliance Trap You Can Fix
In this episode, Jen explains what California law requires when employees use personal cell phones for work and why employers still get it wrong, especially with remote and hybrid teams. She covers where compliance fails, how liability adds up, and the practical, defensible approaches that…
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Last Chance Agreements Done Right
Last chance agreements are one of the most effective tools employers have when used correctly. Done right, they create clarity, set expectations, and provide a defensible path forward. Done poorly, they create confusion and risk. In this episode, Jen breaks down when to use last chance…
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Contreras v. Green Thumb: When Being Wrong Still Wins
In this episode, Jen and Joe Beachboard break down one of the most important California retaliation decisions in recent years, Contreras v. Green Thumb Produce. The court made clear in that case that even legally “incorrect” complaints can be protected—and changes the risk calculus for every...
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Investigations Under Pressure: Getting It Right When It Matters Most
Workplace investigations often happen under pressure—tight timelines, high emotions, and real risk. In this episode, Jen focuses on how to structure investigations that are defensible, fair, and practical, even when the stakes are high.
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AI-Drafted Complaints: A New Workplace Reality
AI is changing how employees raise concerns—and not always for the better. Complaints are getting longer, more legalistic, and sometimes less grounded in actual facts. In this episode, Jen discusses what this trend means for employers and how to respond without overreacting.
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Bereavement Leave: It’s Not About Good Intentions
Bereavement leave feels human—but California law makes it highly technical. In this episode, Jen walks through what’s actually required, where employers unintentionally get it wrong, and why good intentions won’t protect you from liability.
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Should You—or Shouldn’t You? Providing Employment References in California
Providing references sounds simple—but in California, it’s anything but. In this episode, Jen breaks down what the law actually protects, where employers get into trouble, and how to strike the right balance between helping former employees and protecting your organization. Done right, references...
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Arrested — Now What? The Fair Chance Act and Hiring in 2026
An applicant’s background check shows an arrest or pending charge. What can you ask? What can you consider? And when does the Fair Chance Act apply? In this episode, Jen gives employers a clear, practical framework for navigating arrests and pending charges without violating California law — or...
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Payroll is Not a Defense: Regular Rate Mistakes That Trigger Lawsuits
Think your payroll provider has wage-and-hour covered? Think again. From regular rate miscalculations to meal period premium errors and bonus mistakes, the most common violations are hiding in plain sight. In this episode, Jen walks through the technical payroll-related traps that still trip up...
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Handcuffs in Disguise: The Stay-or-Pay Agreements That Could Cost You
Training repayment agreements, claw-back provisions, and “stay bonuses” are under serious scrutiny in California. What looks like a smart retention strategy may actually be an unlawful penalty. In this episode, Jen breaks down what California now considers an illegal stay-or-pay agreement, where...
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You Stay Out of Court Long Before There’s a Lawsuit
Most employment cases don’t start with a complaint — they start with culture. In this episode, Jen and Joe Beachboard dig into the foundational elements that determine whether an organization stays out of court: workplace culture, clear policies and procedures, consistent enforcement mechanisms,...
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The Leader is the Risk: How Small Decisions Turn into Big Problems
Most employment lawsuits don’t start with a policy — they start with a manager’s off-the-cuff decision. In this episode, Jen discusses how well-intentioned leaders unknowingly create legal risk through inconsistency, over-sharing, and poor documentation. This is a practical conversation for HR…
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Top 10 Lessons from the EmployersLawyer 2026 Employment Law Update Webinar
In this episode, Joe Beachboard and Jen dig into the top 10 takeaways from the EmployersLawyer webinar, Confidential California Employer Update: New Laws and Key Cases for 2026—and what they actually mean for California employers.
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When the News Comes to Work: ICE, Minneapolis, and Managing Political Conversations in California Workplaces
News out of Minneapolis has reignited intense workplace conversations across the country — including in California. In this episode, Jen explains what California employers should and shouldn’t do when national events spark heated discussions at work, and how to manage free expression, safety, and...
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$103 Million and Counting: When Workplace Statistics Convince a Jury
A Los Angeles jury just sent Liberty Mutual Insurance a $103 million message—and it’s this: the numbers matter. Workforce statistics, age patterns, and data trends played a starring role in findings of age discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. In this episode, Joe Beachboard, co-founder of...
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Why You Must Update Your Employee Handbooks Every Year
An outdated employee handbook is one of the easiest ways for California employers to create unnecessary legal risk. In this episode, Jen explains why they should be reviewed and updated every year—and how the wrong language can cost employers in litigation. (Click here to participate in the...
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Managing Employee Leaves in California Without Getting Sued
California’s leave laws are some of the most employee-and lawsuit-friendly in the country. In this episode, Jen walks through the most common leave scenarios and the best practices for managing them without creating legal exposure. (Click here to participate in the February 11, 2026…
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Employment Law Trends to Watch This Year
Employment law risk doesn’t stand still—especially in California. In this episode, Jen discusses the key trends, enforcement priorities, and litigation risks employers should be watching this year, and how to stay ahead of them. (Click here to participate in the February 11, 2026, complimentary...
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A Few Thoughts About the New “Know Your Rights Act” Notice
In this episode, Jen explains what information employers must include in the new “Know Your Rights” notice and why it may not be the best approach to use the DIR’s template version without tailoring it first.
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California Employment Law in the New Year: Your Tasks for Day One
A new year brings new compliance risks for California employers. In this episode, Jen breaks down the must-know employment law updates and practical steps employers should take right now to start the year protected - and avoid costly mistakes.
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Unpaid Wage Judgments: Penalties Triple Under SB 261
Employers who ignore wage judgments will face sharp consequences starting January 1, 2026 — including mandatory attorneys’ fees and triple the amount owed. Jen explains the new enforcement framework and what HR and payroll leaders can do now to prevent costly exposure.
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Cal-WARN 2.0: New Layoff Notice Obligations (SB 617)
Employers covered by Cal-WARN must now include new information in layoff and closure notices — including access to workforce development and food-assistance programs. Jen details what changed, who’s covered, and how to avoid a compliance crisis during a downsizing.
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Pay Equity 2.0: California Expands Transparency Rules (SB 642)
Pay equity is getting a major upgrade in 2026. SB 642 redefines “wages,” extends protections to non-binary employees, and tightens job-posting rules. Jen explains how these changes expand employer liability — and how to prepare your pay data before the March reporting deadline.
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Goodbye, Stay-or-Pay: The End of Retention Repayment Agreements (AB 692)
“Stay-or-pay” agreements — where employees must repay training or bonuses if they leave — are now off-limits in California (with narrow exceptions). Jen explains what counts as a prohibited repayment clause, how this law changes contract drafting, and what to do before January 1.
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Know Your Rights: California’s New Annual Notice Requirement (SB 294)
Starting January 1, 2026, all California employers must issue a new annual written notice to every employee explaining key workplace rights — from workers’ compensation to union activity protections and immigration inspection procedures. The DLSE will release a model notice, but employers can’t...
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Performance Reviews That Work—And Keep You Out of Court
As we head into annual performance review season, Jen explains how to make reviews meaningful, defensible, and fair. Learn how to coach managers to give honest, consistent feedback and avoid documentation pitfalls that lead to litigation.
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Workplace Violence Prevention: The Clock Is Ticking
In this episode, Jen focuses on California’s SB 553 requirements for workplace violence prevention plans, training, and recordkeeping. She offers a clear roadmap for HR and compliance teams still working to meet the new standards.
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Politics, Protests, and the Workplace: What Employers Can—and Can’t—Do
In this episode, Jen unpacks the challenges of managing political discussions and expression in the workplace ahead of the 2026 election. Listeners will learn about SB 399, free speech boundaries, and practical ways to maintain civility and neutrality.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Jen Shaw every Wednesday morning for insightful commentary about legal developments, discussions with special guests, and much, much more. Listen to past podcasts here!
HOSTED BY
Shaw Law Group, PC
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw have?
Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw currently has 253 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw about?
Join Jen Shaw every Wednesday morning for insightful commentary about legal developments, discussions with special guests, and much, much more. Listen to past podcasts here!
How often does Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw release new episodes?
Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw publishes regularly with 253 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw?
You can listen to Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw?
Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw is created and hosted by Shaw Law Group, PC.
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