Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw

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.

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.

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.

$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 EmployersLawyer, joins Jen to unpack how the data—not just bad emails or rogue managers—helped fuel one of the largest age-discrimination verdicts in U.S. history, and what employers should take away from it.

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An outdated employee handbook is one of the easiest ways for California employers to create unnecessary legal risk.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 February 11, 2026, complimentary live webinar, “Confidential California Employer Update: New Laws / Key Cases for 2026,” offered by EmployersLawyer.)

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, complimentary live webinar, “Confidential California Employer Update: New Laws / Key Cases for 2026,” offered by EmployersLawyer.)

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 live webinar, “Confidential California Employer Update: New Laws / Key Cases for 2026,” offered by EmployersLawyer.)

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. 

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.

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.