Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw

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.

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.

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.

Paid sick leave and family leave laws in California continue to expand at a rapid pace. In this episode, Jen reviews the latest changes to the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act (expanded sick leave accrual and usage), the California Family Rights Act’s broadened definition of “designated person,” and updates to Paid Family Leave benefits.

California continues to lead the nation in pay equity enforcement, and new requirements are reshaping employer obligations. In this episode, Jen breaks down SB 1162 and other recent legislation requiring employers to post pay scales in job ads, disclose pay ranges internally, and file detailed pay data reports with the state.

California’s off-duty cannabis use protections continue to evolve, and employers are scrambling to update policies. In this episode, Jen breaks down recent legislation, including AB 2188 and SB 700, which restrict the use of certain drug tests and prohibit adverse action based on lawful off-duty cannabis use.

In this episode, Jen unpacks the latest EEOC guidance on telework as a reasonable accommodation for disabilities and religious beliefs—and what it means for California employers.

In this episode, Jen and fellow Shaw Law Group attorney and Title IX expert Katherine Guilford discuss Title IX investigations and the best practices for interviewing students in K-12 schools. 

Retaliation claims now top the EEOC’s charge list, and California employers are no exception. Why are these claims on the rise, and what everyday employer decisions trigger risk? Jen explains the trends, the traps, and the tools HR needs to prevent retaliation while still enforcing accountability.

High-stakes investigations—harassment, retaliation, fraud, or safety concerns—are where credibility and process matter most. Jen shares strategies for handling tough interviews, assessing credibility, documenting defensibly, and keeping investigations fair and trauma-informed, even under pressure.