The Workplace is a podcast by CalChamber that provides expert and entertaining commentary on issues critical to California employers and employees. Episodes include discussions about California employment laws, legislative proposals, and national and state politics.

Commentary on the podcast should not be considered as legal advice.

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Episode 102

Performance Reviews in a COVID-19 Year

(December 21, 2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has created many hardships for employers and employees this year, and in this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss how annual performance reviews can elevate company morale and enhance the relationship between employers and employees.

Episode 101

3 New Labor Laws Employers Should Know

(December 16, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad to highlight three important new labor laws passed this fall: SB 1159, AB 1867, and SB 1383.

Episode 100

COVID-19: When Workers Test Positive

(December 3, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss recent regulations that address how employers should respond if an employee tests positive for COVID-19.

Episode 99

Returning Remote Workers to the Office

(November 30, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the challenges some employers are facing as they ask remote workers to report back to the office, and provide takeaways for dealing with employees who refuse to return to the workplace.

Episode 98

What Prop. 22 Means for Employers

(November 24, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the passage of Proposition 22, which classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors, and what that means for California employers.

Episode 97

Keeping Up with COVID-19 Guidelines

(November 18, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss best practices for keeping up with COVID-19 guidelines.

Episode 96

COVID-19: Reasonable Accommodations

(November 16, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated reasonable accommodation requests and what employers should consider when they begin the interactive process with employees.

Episode 95

New Guidance on COVID-19 Notices Law

(October 26, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and CalChamber policy advocate Robert Moutrie discuss the October 16 guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on AB 685, California’s new COVID-19 workplace exposure reporting law.

Episode 94

Emergency COVID-19 Rules Coming Soon

(October 21, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and CalChamber policy advocate Robert Moutrie discuss the upcoming California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Board vote in November on pending emergency COVID-19 regulations and why the five-day public notice period given by the agency is problematic for employers.

Episode 93

When Employees Talk Politics at Work

(October 19, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss how employers can navigate the election season and ways to handle political discussions in the workplace.

Episode 92

The Workplace Podcast: COVID-19: New Exposure Notice Reqs

(October 14, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and CalChamber policy advocate Robert Moutrie discuss California’s new COVID-19 workplace exposure reporting law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2021.

Episode 91

COVID-19: Moving Between Tiers

(October 8, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss California’s COVID-19 Tier Framework and what employers should keep in mind as counties transition into and out of tiers.

Episode 90

New Law Creates Supplemental Sick Leave

(September 25, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss AB 1867, which establishes COVID-19-related supplemental paid sick leave for some employees and took effect on September 19, 2020.

Episode 89

New Law Expands CFRA to Small Business

(September 21, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss how employers should prepare for the newly signed family and medical leave law (SB 1383) that expands the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and takes effect on January 1, 2021.

Episode 88

COVID-19 Laws Employers Need to Know

(September 17, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss three important employment-related bills that came out of the Legislature this year; two bills, AB 2257 and AB 1867, have been signed into law, and one bill, SB 1159, awaits action by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Episode 87

Bill Adds Small Business to CFRA

(September 9, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss SB 1383, a CalChamber job killer bill that is awaiting action by the Governor. The bill requires that employers with five or more employees provide up to 12 weeks of protected mandatory family leave to eligible employees.

Episode 86

Vacation Policy Best Practices

(September 2, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss some of the best practices and common pitfalls of vacation policies in California.

Episode 85

Remote Work: Workers’ Comp Liabilities

(August 25, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and workers’ compensation expert Randy Pollak discuss current workers’ compensation trends, and talk about what workers’ compensation liabilities exist when employees work remotely.

Episode 84

New DIR COVID-19 Guidance Issued

(August 21, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) guidance, “Safe Reopening FAQs for Workers and Employers,” which addresses a number of workplace-related issues as employers and employees continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 83

D&I Critical to Strong Organizations

(August 20, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg and Dr. Jessica Milam, Inclusion and Diversity Advisor to the U.S. Navy, discuss practical applications employers can glean from the U.S. Navy’s diversity and inclusion programs.

Episode 82

COVID-19 Litigation Trends, Takeaways

(August  10, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank talks with employment litigation expert Kristen Nesbit, partner at Fisher Phillips, Los Angeles, about the types of COVID-19-related litigation employers are seeing and what employers can do to protect their business.

Episode 81

COVID-19: What Employers Ask Part 3

(July 29, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss the most common COVID-19-related questions employers have been asking the CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline this month, including requiring test results, what to do if an employee doesn’t want to return to work, workplace mask obligations, and mental health considerations.

Episode 80

COVID-19: Planning for School Closures

(July 22, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss what leave options are available to employees affected by school closures, and how employers should prepare for school closures during the incoming fall school term.

Episode 79

COVID-19: Enforcing Mask Rules at Work

(July 13, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss ways employers can ensure employees comply with state guidelines on masks and social distancing, and continue fostering a healthy workplace.

Episode 78

COVID-19 Positive: Employer Obligations

(July 8, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss what employers should do if an employee tests positive with COVID-19.

Episode 77

COVID-19: Masks, 6-Foot Rule

(July 6, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg, and CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank discuss best practices for enforcing workplace face mask and social distancing policies to ensure the safety of employees and customers.

Episode 76

Tips for Fostering Workplace Diversity

(June 30, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg and Albertsons Companies Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Jonathan Mayes discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and provide best practices to help foster a diverse workforce, which will help the company succeed.

Episode 75

Tips for Creating a Return to Work Plan

(June 24, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss what employers should consider when drafting return to work guidelines.

Episode 74

Caveats to Using Virus Monitoring Apps

(June 19, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the use of COVID-19 symptom monitoring apps, and whether they are effective tools for maintaining a healthy workplace.

Episode 73

COVID-19: Monitoring Off-Duty Workers

(June 17, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the obligations employers have if they decide to monitor off-duty employees as a means of reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Episode 72

Remote Harassment Investigation Tips

(June 9, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss important takeaways when conducting workplace harassment investigations while employees are working remotely.

Episode 71

COVID-19 Workers’ Comp Order Explained

(May 22, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and workers’ compensation attorney Tiffany Boyland of Michael Sullivan & Associates LLP discuss Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order that created a rebuttable presumption for workers claiming to have contracted COVID-19 in the workplace and seeking workers’ compensation benefits.

Episode 70

COVID-19: What Employers Ask Part 2

(May 20, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and Labor Law Adviser Ellen Savage discuss the most common coronavirus-related questions employers and human resources professionals have been asking the CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline as they prepare to reopen their workplaces.

Episode 69

Tips for Reopening Your Workplace

(May 6, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw offer tips and insights on how employers can prepare to bring teleworkers back into the office once COVID-19 stay-at-home orders are lifted.

Episode 68

Small Employers and New Emergency FMLA

(May 4, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the responsibilities small employers have under the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA), and how the new leave differs from the regular Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Episode 67

Avoid Cal-WARN Act Liabilities

(April 29, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss key points, misconceptions and liabilities employers need to be aware of concerning the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act and California’s equivalent, Cal-WARN.

Episode 66

Remote Work: Gauging Job Performance

(April 28, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss what employers should consider when monitoring employees working remotely and provide key takeaways for evaluating the performance of remote workers.

Episode 65

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

(April 23, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss key details of California’s COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, including gig workers, eligibility requirements, verbal requests, avoiding a “gotcha moment,” and employer recommendations.

Episode 64

Science Provides Hope for COVID-19

(April 22, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg, and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Science and Regulatory Advocacy Richard Moscicki, M.D., discuss how increased testing, medical treatments and vaccines can provide short- ,middle- and long-term solutions to battling the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and reopening the economy.

Episode 63

Avoid Liability: On-Call Rules to Know

(April 21, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank, and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the difference between “restricted” and “unrestricted” on-call shifts, and what issues may arise with the Paycheck Protection Program if employers place workers on on-call shifts.

Episode 62

COVID-19 Paid Leaves Explained

(April 14, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss how the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act interact with California laws; how to handle paid time for these new laws; the importance of written documentation; and recommendations for employers.

Episode 61

COVID-19 Loans and the New Economy

(April 13, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg and Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, discuss the variety of federal COVID-19 loan programs available for businesses of all sizes, and provide tips on how businesses can prepare for the new economic landscape that awaits.

Episode 60

COVID-19: Telework Best Practices

(April 9, 2020) As employers shift to a work-from-home workplace model, many are finding that managing telework has its own set of challenges. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss remote work best practices, such as ways to ensure workers are taking mandated rest breaks, reimbursing expenses, establishing COVID-19-specific policies, and maintaining a harassment-free environment.

Episode 59

COVID-19 Workforce Reduction Guidance

(April 8, 2020) Even more unpredictable than a recession, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced business owners to take a hard look at their viability and make very difficult business decisions. Many have closed up shop, are reducing their workforce or determining how to keep employees on the payroll in the midst of severe economic uncertainty. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law expert Jennifer Shaw to discuss important considerations and requirements for employers when they undergo a reduction in force (RIF).

Episode 58

COVID-19 Business Loans Explained

(April 3, 2020) Starting today, qualifying small businesses may apply for the federal loans offered through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg, and Golden Pacific Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Virginia Varela and Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Joseph P. McClure discuss what small business loan programs are available through the CARES Act and how business owners can determine which program best meets their needs.

Episode 57

Federal COVID-19 Leaves: Key Points

(April 1, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert James Ward discuss key points and guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on the Families First Coronavirus Reponse Act (FCCRA), which takes effect on April 1.

Episode 56

The CARES Act Explained

(March 28, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg discusses the newly-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with economist Christopher Thornberg, going over what it means for businesses, employees and the broader economy.

Episode 55

COVID-19: What Employers Are Asking

(March 25, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by employment law experts Bianca Saad and Matthew Roberts to discuss the most common coronavirus-related questions employers and human resources professionals have been asking the CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline this past week.

Episode 54

COVID-19 Federal Paid Leaves Explained

(March 21, 2020) The federal government passed a coronavirus emergency relief package on March 18 that provides protected paid leave to workers impacted by COVID-19. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg is joined by employment law expert Benjamin Ebbink and CalChamber Executive Vice President Jennifer Barrera to discuss what employers should know about the new Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act.

Episode 53

COVID-19: Preparing for Remote Work

(March 18, 2020) Much has happened over the weekend on a national scale and for California, there is rising concern among business owners and employers due to the rapidly changing issue of COVID-19. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss working remotely, the resources available for employees and Governor Gavin Newsom’s guidance on the state’s aging workforce.

Episode 52

COVID-19: Top Resources for Employers

(March 11, 2020) As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread throughout communities, state and local governments are providing wage replacement options to affected workers. There is a lot of information out there, so on today’s episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank breaks down exactly what employers need to know: what wage replacement resources are available for workers, what employers can do to minimize the spread of the virus at the office, and a comprehensive source for all relevant workplace-related coronavirus news.

Episode 51

Coronavirus: An Economic Look

(March 4, 2020) Coronavirus continues to dominate the news, raising concerns among individuals and for our economy. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by economist Christopher Thornberg, Ph.D, founding partner of Beacon Economics, to discuss the COVID-19 coronavirus and its possible impact on the economy and businesses.

Episode 50

Workers’ Comp Retaliation Claim Pitfalls to Avoid

(February 26, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss workers’ compensation retaliation claims and provide tips on how to avoid common problems.

Episode 49

Employer Do’s/Don’ts of Workplace Dating

(February 19, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss workplace dating, and what employers should and shouldn’t do if employees begin romantic relationships in the workplace.

Episode 48

What AB 51’s Preliminary Injunction Means for California Employers

(February 12, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank is joined by special guest Donald M. Falk, partner at Mayer Brown, to discuss the CalChamber’s successful legal challenge to AB 51 that he helped lead and what steps employers should take now that a preliminary injunction has been issued.

Episode 47

Super Bowl Flu, Gambling and Red Carpet Reviews: The Impact of Cultural Events in the Workplace

(February 5, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss the ways that cultural events like the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards can create potential issues and affect productivity at work.

Episode 46

New Law Expands Definition of Registered Domestic Partnership, Add Flex Plan Notice Requirement

(January 29, 2020) In keeping with the new year theme, today’s podcast includes two new “sleeper laws” that took effect on Jan. 1, 2020. These laws have not been highly publicized or spoken about frequently in the news, yet are still important for employers to know. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad highlight laws on domestic partnerships and flexible spending accounts, sexual harassment prevention deadlines, and new required updates for workplace posters and pamphlets.

Episode 45

Podcast Shares Questions Asked Most Often at Employment Law Updates Seminars

(January 22, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad recap the topics on which they received the most questions during their seminars: the CROWN Act, expansion of lactation accommodation law, wildfire regulations, and meal and rest breaks.

Episode 44

HR Experts Recap New State Lactation Accommodation Rules

(January 15, 2020) California’s new lactation accommodation requirements, effective Jan. 1, 2020, impacts a broad spectrum of California employers. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law experts Matthew Roberts and Bianca Saad discuss new lactation accommodation requirements, highlighting location specifications, a new policy requirement, rest and meal break premium pay penalties, private right of action, exceptions, and the undue hardship exemption.

Episode 43

What to Do When Your HR Recommendations Are Ignored, Dismissed

(January 8, 2020) In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert Jennifer Shaw discuss ways HR experts can combat dismissive attitudes from leadership and help the workplace comply with federal and state laws.