Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw

Shaw Law Group, PC
  • 4.8 (20)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join us every Wednesday as we discuss recent developments in Employment Law.

  1. 4D AGO

    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 don’t have to be risky.

    18 min

  2. MAR 25

    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 creating unnecessary reputational risk.

    18 min

  3. MAR 18

    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 California employers — and how to fix them before they cost you.

    17 min

  4. MAR 11

    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 employers are crossing the line, and how to audit your existing contracts before a plaintiff’s lawyer does.

    16 min

  5. MAR 4

    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, and leadership that understands when to escalate risk. Learn why litigation prevention isn’t about reacting faster — it’s about building systems that make better decisions inevitable. Because court is rarely the result of one bad moment. It’s the result of structure — or the lack of it.

    21 min

  6. FEB 25

    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 pros who are tired of cleaning up preventable messes and want leaders to understand their real role in risk management.

    17 min

  7. FEB 18

    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.

    28 min

  8. FEB 11

    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 harassment concerns without creating legal risk.

    17 min
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4.8
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Join us every Wednesday as we discuss recent developments in Employment Law.

Information

  • Creator
    Shaw Law Group, PC
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    225
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw

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