The Workplace: a Podcast by CalChamber

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The Workplace is a podcast by CalChamber that provides expert and entertaining commentary on issues critical to California employers and employees. Episodes will include discussions about California employment laws, legislative proposals, and national and state politics. The first podcast was posted on Wednesday, March 6. New episodes appear each Wedneday. Please visit our website at www.calchamber.com

CalChamber


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 16m AVG DURATION
    • 205 EPISODES

    4.8 from 32 ratings Listeners of The Workplace: a Podcast by CalChamber that love the show mention: thankful.



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    Latest episodes from The Workplace: a Podcast by CalChamber

    Episode 225 - Employers, Don't Overlook Your Annual Workplace Violence Prevention Obligations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 12:00


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts discuss what employers are required to do annually to comply with general industry workplace violence prevention standards.

    Episode 224 - Furloughs, Layoffs, Reducing Work Hours During Economic Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 20:20


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss employers' questions about furloughs, layoffs and reducing employees' work hours to manage workforces during times of economic uncertainty while still being able to conduct business.

    Episode 223 - How Privacy Agency's Proposed AI Regulations Would Affect California Businesses

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 17:37


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Covington & Burling LLP Partner Lindsey Tonsager and Covington & Burling LLP Associate Attorney Jayne Ponder discuss the California Privacy Protection Agency's (CPPA) latest regulatory efforts on automated decision-making technology (ADMT), also known more broadly as artificial intelligence (AI).   Read more at https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2025/05/13/how-privacy-agencys-proposed-ai-regulations-would-affect-california-businesses/ .

    Episode 222 - Recent Labor Law Helpline Questions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 21:56


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss real employer questions from our Labor Law Helpline — including frequently asked questions and a few unusual ones.

    Episode 221- Common Mistakes to Avoid With California's Pregnancy Disability Leave

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 15:52


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara cover common mistakes employers encounter when working with pregnant employees who request leave due to their pregnancy.

    Episode 220 - What Supervisors Need to Know, Part II: The ‘Soft' Skills

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 20:23


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene cover the often-overlooked soft skills supervisors need to lead their teams successfully.   Read more at https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2025/03/25/what-supervisors-need-to-know-part-ii-the-soft-skills/ .

    Episode 219 - What Supervisors Need to Know, Part I: ‘Hard' Compliance Skills

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 25:20


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene tackle what is often referred to as “hard” compliance skills necessary for supervisors to help maintain a liability-free workplace in California.

    Episode 218 - Executive Orders and Their Impact on DEI

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 29:27


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel of Labor and Employment, Bianca Saad and Associate General Counsel of Labor and Employment, Matthew Roberts are joined by Jonathan Mayes, CEO of Jonathan Mayes Consulting, to discuss some of the changes happening in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) space following recent executive action from the White House.

    Episode 217 - It's All in the Handbook: Creating and Maintaining an Effective Company Resource

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 15:41


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss the importance of a well-built and up-to-date employee handbook.

    Episode 216: Potential Changes Coming to Workplace Violence Prevention Standards

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 16:04


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Robert Moutrie discuss potential changes coming to the Workplace Violence Prevention Standards for General Industry.

    Episode 215: Navigating California's Paid Sick Leave Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 15:07


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara discuss California's paid sick leave law, sharing best practices to ensure compliance and avoid legal pitfalls.

    Episode 214: Workplace Raids and I-9 Audits: What Employers Need to Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 18:44


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and immigration law experts Greg Berk and Andrew Desposito discuss employer obligations during federal  immigration raids and audits.

    Episode 213: 2025 Compliance Checklist: Key HR Practices for Employers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 22:03


     In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts discuss key compliance practices and reminders for California employers.  

    Episode 212: California Wildfires: Key Employer Responsibilities for Worker Health and Pay

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 15:19


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts discuss the wildfire-related regulations and best practices employers should know.

    Episode 211: Practical Emotional Intelligence Applications for HR Professionals and Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 18:56


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and emotional intelligence expert and keynote speaker Jen Shirkani share valuable insights on how emotional intelligence (EQ) can transform workplace dynamics, and share practical applications for leaders and HR professionals.  

    Episode 210: Boosting Workplace Performance Through Emotional Intelligence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 19:14


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and emotional intelligence expert and keynote speaker Jen Shirkani discuss how successful managers and leaders leverage the power of emotional intelligence to engage and motivate their employees and associates.

    Episode 209: What California's AI Proposed Rules Mean for Employers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 12:55


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the workplace proposed by the California Civil Rights Council (CRC).

    Episode 208: Understanding California's PAGA Reforms

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 13:13


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss the recent guidance released by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency on changes to the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

    Episode 207: California to Limit Certain Employer Communications Starting January 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 10:03


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss SB 399 (Wahab; D-Hayward), which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law last week. This new legislation, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, places restrictions on employer communications regarding political and religious matters.

    Episode 206: Business Leaders Discuss Economic Consequences of California's Prop 32

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 18:46


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and California Restaurant Association President and CEO Jot Condie discuss Proposition 32, a measure appearing on California's November Ballot that would increase the state's minimum wage to $18 an hour.

    Episode 205: Court Rulings Spotlight Complex Harassment Issues in Bailey and Okonowsky Cases

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 15:17


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene examine two recent court cases—Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney's Office and Okonowsky v. Garland—that highlight complex incidences of workplace harassment, retaliation, and social media.

    Episode 204: How Recent California Supreme Court Rulings Affect PAGA Litigation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 11:19


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts discuss two recent California Supreme Court decisions on California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), Stone v. Alameda Health System and Turrieta v. Lyft, Inc.

    Episode 203: A Look at California Workplace Violence Prevention Challenges, Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 18:49


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel Bianca Saad discusses with CalChamber Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and CalChamber Vice President of Human Resources Hilda Watson the common questions, practical challenges and lessons that employers have been experiencing as they implement their workplace violence prevention programs.  

    Episode 202: How Remote Work Is Changing California's Workforce

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 27:09


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and PPIC researchers Sarah Bohn and Hans Johnson discuss how remote work is reshaping the California labor market.

    Episode 201: Age-Related Litigation, Challenges in Today's Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 20:59


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss age-related litigation and harassment in the workplace.

    Episode 200: PAGA Reform Explained: Key Takeaways for Employers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 12:52


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman explain the recent reforms made to the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and provide compliance best practices.

    Episode 199: Quick Overview of Agreement to Reform PAGA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 9:15


    In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Jennifer Barrera and CalChamber Associate General Counsel of Labor and Employment Matthew Roberts discuss the compromise announced last Tuesday by Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas after months of discussions between labor advocates and the Fix PAGA coalition, which included CalChamber and representatives from the business community, non-profits, social justice advocates, and family farmers. 

    Episode 198: California Litigation Trends and How to Safeguard Against Them

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 18:09


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara discuss litigation trends and what steps employers can take to avoid or defend against claims.

    Episode 197: Key 2024 Court Cases Affecting Employers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 19:07


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss three recent court cases that affect employers: Huerta v. CSI Electrical Contractors, Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc., and Muldrow v. City of St. Louis.

    Episode 196: Ellen Savage Reflects on 30-Year Career as Labor Law Expert

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 20:33


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts interviews former CalChamber employment law expert Ellen Savage to revisit memorable lessons from her 35-year career at the CalChamber.

    Episode 195: Update on California Indoor Heat Regulations

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 14:28


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Senior Policy Advocate Robert Moutrie discuss the newest developments in California's indoor heat illness regulations.

    Episode 194: Answering Questions on Displays of Affection, Pronoun Use, Free Speech and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 13:54


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss some of the issues HR training attendees have been asking about recently.

    Episode 193: California's ‘Right to Disconnect' Bill Raises Concerns

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 9:51


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss a new bill in the California Legislature that would prohibit employers from communicating with employees during nonworking hours, AB 2751 (Haney; D-San Francisco).

    Episode 192: Preview of 2024 California Employment Law Legislative Proposals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 27:23


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts is joined by CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman and Chris Micheli, partner at Snodgrass & Micheli, LLC, to review some of the key employment law-related bills being discussed this legislative session.

    Episode 191: Career Advancement Best Practices in the Age of Remote, Hybrid Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 23:39


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and career consultant Nick Warner discuss the career advancement challenges remote workers face and give best practices for creating career opportunities in the current remote workplace environment.

    Episode 190: What Employers Should Know About California's Latest Paid Sick Leave Expansion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 21:37


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber employment law expert Ellen Savage discuss what employers need to know about the latest expansion of the California Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act (SB 616).

    Episode 189: Business Legislative Wins and What Employers Can Expect in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 30:19


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts sits down with CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman and Chris Micheli, partner at Snodgrass & Micheli, LLC, to review some of the key bills and topics that arose during the 2023 legislative session and whether they will be discussed again this year as well as topics that may return from years past.

    Episode 188: What Employers Should Know About California's New Workplace Violence Regulation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 12:58


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts sits down with Bianca Saad, CalChamber vice president of labor and employment for content, training and advice, to discuss the requirements of California's new workplace violence standard, SB 553 (Cortese; D-San Jose).

    Episode 187: New Laws California Employers Will Need to Follow in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 13:14


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman review several new laws that will affect California employers in 2024: SB 616 (Gonzalez; D-Long Beach), expansion of paid sick leave; SB 848 (Rubio; D-Baldwin Park), reproductive-related bereavement leave; and two bills dealing with cannabis use, AB 2188 (Quirk; D-Hayward) and SB 700 (Bradford; D-Gardena).

    Episode 186: AI's Workplace Opportunities, Challenges

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 24:13


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, and Peter Bittner, award-winning multimedia journalist and artificial intelligence (AI) consultant, discuss the growing presence of AI in the workplace, exploring the various ways it is transforming business operations. 

    Episode 185: Key Employment Law Bills Awaiting Gubernatorial Action, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 29:19


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, employment law expert Matthew Roberts and Chris Micheli, partner with Aprea & Micheli, Inc., join up again to give a second update on remaining key labor and employment-related bills that await the Governor's pen. The proposals discussed include a bill setting a workplace violence standard, SB 553 (Cortese; D-San Jose); a WARN Act expansion, AB 1356 (Haney D-San Francisco);  a notice requirement to return remote employees to the workplace, SB 731 (Ashby; D-Sacramento); a CalChamber-opposed bill setting an onerous return to work mandate, SB 723 (Durazo; D-Los Angeles); and a CalChamber-opposed bill establishing a 90-day retaliation presumption, SB 497 (Smallwood-Cuevas; D-Los Angeles).

    Episode 184: California Legislature Passes Bills on Discrimination in Employment, Paid Sick Leave Expansion, Reproductive-Related Bereavement Leave

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 29:18


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, employment law expert Matthew Roberts and Chris Micheli, adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a partner with Aprea & Micheli, Inc., give an update on important labor and employment-related bills that passed the California Legislature last week, including bills on discrimination in the workplace (SB 403 (Wahab; D-Hayward), CalChamber job killer bill AB 524 (Wicks; D-Oakland), CalChamber-opposed bill AB 2188 (Quirk; D-Hayward), and SB 700 (Bradford; D-Gardena)); expansion of paid sick leave (CalChamber job killer bill SB 616 (Gonzalez; D-Long Beach)); and reproductive-related bereavement leave (CalChamber “Oppose Unless Amended” bill SB 848 (Rubio; D-Baldwin Park)).

    Episode 183: How a Recent National Labor Relations Board Ruling Affects Workplace Rules, Employee Handbooks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 18:00


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law experts Matthew Roberts and James Ward discuss the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling in Stericycle, Inc. and Teamsters Local 628, and how it affects California employers' workplace rules and handbooks.

    Episode 182: Remote Workers Moving Out of State, School-Related Leaves a Top Concern for Employers Calling the CalChamber Labor Law Helpline

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 27:54


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Ellen Savage discuss some of the latest labor and employment issues of concern to California employers, including: remote workers moving out of state; termination and layoff best practices; working minors; and school-related leaves of absence.

    Episode 181: Trending Topics on the Labor Law Helpline: Remote Work Expense Reimbursements, Pet Bereavement Leave, and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 24:33


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Ellen Savage discuss some of the latest labor and employment issues concerning California employers, including: remote work expense reimbursements; religious accommodation requests; lactation accommodations; and pet bereavement leave.

    Episode 180: Unlimited Paid Time Off Policies Are Attractive, But Have Risks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 14:25


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts sits down with Bianca Saad, CalChamber vice president of labor and employment for content, training and advice, to discuss unlimited paid time off (PTO) policies.

    Episode 179: Update on Harmful Proposals as Legislature Heads for Summer Break

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 30:33


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Helpline manager and employment law counsel Matthew Roberts and Chris Micheli, of Aprea & Micheli, give an update on important labor and employment-related bills in the California Legislature that employers should keep an eye on, such as SB 616, which expands California's paid sick leave law; AB 524, which adds a new protected class under the Fair Employment and Housing Act; SB 399, which bans employers' speech; SB 365, which undermines arbitration; and SB 809, which prohibits consideration of conviction history in employment.

    Episode 178: Cal/OSHA Heat Regulations and Where Things Stand with SB 553

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 17:00


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts sits down with CalChamber Policy Advocate Robert Moutrie to discuss the newest developments in California's indoor heat regulations and proposed legislation, SB 553, dealing with workplace violence rules.

    Episode 177: Employer Best Practices to Ensure Compliance with California Equal Pay Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 17:03


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts sits down with Bianca Saad, CalChamber vice president of labor and employment for content, training and advice, to discuss the legal requirements of the California Fair Pay Act and provide best practices for improving compliance.

    Episode 176: Mental Health Awareness Month: Identifying Indicators of Distress and Ways Employers Can Help

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 16:20


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts speaks with clinical social worker Amanda Gibson about mental health in the workplace, including how employers can detect mental distress in workers and what to do to help.

    Episode 175: Nurturing a Culture of Wellness in the Workplace Helps Employees, Business Thrive

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 16:18


    In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts and CREtelligent Chief Experience Officer Tobi Lutz discuss how employers can create a better work environment for mental health.

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