Matthew Roberts
Matthew J. Roberts joined the CalChamber in July 2019 as an employment law counsel/subject matter expert. He explains California and federal labor and employment laws to CalChamber members and customers, and was named in October 2021 to serve as manager of the Labor Law Helpline. He came to the CalChamber from the Shaw Law Group, P.C. of Sacramento, where he was a senior attorney, authored articles on emerging issues in employment law, and represented employers before state/federal employment law agencies. He received a B.A. in government from California State University, Sacramento and holds a J.D. from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, where he also served on the McGeorge Law Review as both a writer and primary managing editor. See full bio
Public Entities Not Liable for PAGA Penalties
The Private Attorneys’ General Act (PAGA) is continuing to make news as a decision from the California Supreme Court — amongst other holdings —...
U.S. Supreme Court Halts OSHA’s General Employer Vaccine Mandate
On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order staying the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) emergency temporary standards (ETS) requiring employers...
Key Considerations for Employers Returning Their Employees to the Workplace
Many employers in California are in the process of returning their employees to the workplace on either a full-time or part-time basis. For some...
9th Circuit Allows California’s Ban on Mandatory Arbitrations to Proceed
On September 15, 2021 in a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that prohibited California...
Coming Soon: U.S. Emergency Rule Establishing a Large Employer Vaccination or Testing Mandate
On September 9, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. Department of Labor through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is working...
Cal/OSHA Revises Guidance on COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards
Last year, California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) approved emergency COVID-19 temporary standards, which became effective and enforceable on November 30, 2020.
Under...
CalChamber Asks Cal/OSHA to Delay Enforcing Emergency COVID-19 Rules
The California Chamber of Commerce is urging the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to delay enforcement of the emergency COVID-19 rules.
The...
Update on Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Regulations
As we head into the new year, California continues to see a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections, and some employers are starting...
Vacation Policy Factors to Consider During COVID-19 Pandemic
A consequence of the prolonged shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders issued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically reduced travel. As a result,...
Reasonable Accommodations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
How have the interactive process and reasonable accommodations for disabilities changed due to COVID-19?
Furloughs Versus Layoffs: Is There A Difference in California?
Many Californian businesses are facing difficult choices during this COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic). Confronting losses in revenue and uncertainty in...
Key Employment Law Issues When Addressing Workplace Illnesses
Our employee has recently returned from traveling in an area where there is an illness epidemic. What can we do to address the employee’s...