Jennifer Barrera
Jennifer Barrera took over as president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce on October 1, 2021. Previously, she oversaw the development and implementation of policy and strategy as executive vice president and represented the CalChamber on legal reform issues. She led CalChamber advocacy on labor and employment and taxation from September 2010 through the end of 2017. As senior policy advocate in 2017, she worked with the executive vice president in developing policy strategy. Before joining the CalChamber, she worked at a statewide law firm that specializes in labor/employment defense. Barrera earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Bakersfield, and a J.D. with high honors from California Western School of Law. See full bio.
Voters May Decide Fate of “Gig” Drivers and Delivery Workers
Last week, a much-anticipated initiative was filed regarding independent contractor status for transportation network drivers and delivery network drivers/couriers in the gig economy.
The initiative...
More Exemptions Needed on Bill Codifying Independent Contractor Test
There are three weeks left in the legislative session and one of the most common questions I get multiple times on a daily basis...
For Uber and Lyft Drivers, Reclassification Means Less Flexibility
Last week, an op-ed appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the fact that executives from Uber and Lyft have come together to address...
CalChamber-Sponsored Bill to Protect Businesses from Predatory Lawsuits Passes
Legislation sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce to help educate businesses and protect them from predatory lawsuits passed an Assembly committee last week with unanimous...
Assembly Committee to Hold Informational Hearing on Dynamex Today
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee today will hold an informational hearing on the decision issued last April by the California Supreme Court that...
Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Workplaces
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is in the process of developing regulations to prevent heat illness in indoor workplaces.
A California...
Independent Contractor Coalition Continues Working for Legislative Solution
The effort to develop a proposal supporting the ability of workers to work independently will continue through the legislative recess.
As many employers know, the...
CalChamber: State Legislature Needs to Set Standard on Independent Contractor Test
During an interview with KPCC radio yesterday Jennifer Barrera, senior vice president of policy for the California Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the urgent need...
Opposition Stops Retroactive Liability for Product Manufacturers, Distributors
A coalition led by the California Chamber of Commerce has stopped legislation that would have created an extraordinary new scheme of product liability resulting...
Protect Harassment Victims, Employers From Defamation Suits
Cross posted in The Ventura County Star
In 2016, 554 Californians filed sexual harassment complaints with the state civil rights agency, and many other employees...
CalChamber-Backed Bill Helps Minimize California Waste
An Assembly policy committee gave near-unanimous approval this week to a California Chamber of Commerce-supported bill that will reduce the number of surplus household...
Chambers Urge Stronger Link Between Career Technical Education Funding, Workforce Needs
The California Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of local chambers of commerce are asking legislators to broaden the criteria for career technical education...
California Chamber Doesn’t Condone Wage Theft
Mark Schacht’s recent op-ed on wage theft (“Let California’s workers recover stolen pay,” Viewpoints, Feb. 9) falsely portrays the California Chamber of Commerce.
To be...
Coalition Stops Proposal to Force Trade Secret Reveals
The California Chamber of Commerce and a broad coalition of associations have blocked legislation that would have unfairly leveraged California companies into costly settlements...
Governor Vetoes Job Killer
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. has vetoed a job killer bill that would have imposed a new data collection mandate on California employers and...
Governor Preserves Evidentiary Standards for Elder Abuse
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr yesterday vetoed a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill that would have made it easier for plaintiff’s attorneys to attempt...
Why Blow Up a Good Deal on Equal Pay?
What’s wrong with gathering more data about employee salaries, especially in the fight for workplace pay equity? Plenty, when the real motivation is to...
Job Killer Creates More Litigation at Expense of Job Creation
A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed job killer bill that provides the perfect pleading pathway for class action attorneys to avoid arbitration awaits action by...
CalChamber-Opposed Bill Accelerates Salary Threshold for Exempt Employees
A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill that accelerates the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees is awaiting action on the Senate Floor.
CalChamber is opposed...
Private Attorneys Target California Businesses for Public Nuisance Claims
Government entities’ use of contingency fee arrangements with private attorneys to pursue public nuisance claims against companies has been a growing concern for California...