Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw

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 the second half of the year.

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 turn employment law updates into practical workplace decisions.

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 the importance of recognizing protected concerted activity, and share practical guidance on documentation, contract administration, front-line leader training, and maintaining productive relationships with union representatives. Throughout the discussion, they highlight common mistakes that create unnecessary legal risk and offer practical strategies employers can implement right away.

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 the common documentation mistakes that create unnecessary legal exposure.

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, including preserving evidence, preventing retaliation, communicating appropriately, and deciding when a formal investigation is necessary.

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 landscape has changed and why employers should take a fresh look at their arbitration strategy. They examine the potential benefits and drawbacks of arbitration, including cost, efficiency, confidentiality, employee relations, and litigation risk, while offering practical guidance to help employers determine whether arbitration is the right fit for their organization.

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 strategies for addressing communication concerns without creating unnecessary legal risk.

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 California's ongoing compliance requirements. Whether you've already implemented a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan or are taking another look at your program, this episode will help you move beyond simply checking the box.

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 communicate carefully without creating unnecessary liability.

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 compliant.