‘Good documentation” is often the difference between a defensible termination and a six-figure settlement. But many managers either say too much—or nothing at all. Jen breaks down what to document, how to write it, and when to escalate. Don’t miss this essential refresher on getting it right.
Endless Medical Leaves? Not So Fast…
Managing employee medical leaves can be one of the most confusing challenges for California employers. You want to support your team, but what happens when the time off just keeps getting extended, with no clear
From Feedback to Fallout: How to Deliver Performance Reviews Without Creating Legal Risk Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Performance reviews can inspire growth—or lead to grievances. If your evaluations are vague, sugar-coated, or inconsistent, you may be setting the stage for a…
What Keeps You Up at Night? Top Wage-Hour Traps for 2025 Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Wage and hour compliance continues to trip up even experienced HR pros—especially in California. From meal periods to bonus calculations, the rules are complex…
Workplace Violence Prevention & Threat Assessment: Practical Strategies for Safer Workplaces
California employers are legally required to have an effective Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) in place, but compliance alone isn’t enough. Leaders must be prepared to recognize risks, assess threats, and respond swiftly and effectively.
High Stakes: Navigating California’s New Cannabis Workplace Rules
California’s updated cannabis laws have raised the bar for workplace compliance — and the stakes have never been higher.
Big Changes Ahead: The Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on California Workplaces
President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” makes sweeping changes to tax, benefits, and labor laws — and California employers need to understand how those changes will affect their workplaces.
From Feedback to Fallout: How to Deliver Performance Reviews Without Creating Legal Risk – Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Performance reviews can inspire growth—or lead to grievances. If your evaluations are vague, sugar-coated, or inconsistent, you may be setting the stage for a claim. Jen shares practical advice on writing and delivering evaluations that are honest, useful, and defensible.
Employment Law Potpourri
The employment law universe is full of developments these days. Below are some important (but unrelated) items you should spend some time contemplating… Cal/OSHA’s New Posting Yes, it’s the middle of the year. But Cal/OSHA recently released
Unlimited Vacation: HR Dream or Legal Disaster?
Unlimited vacation” sounds like a dream—no accrual tracking, no caps, no payouts upon separation. What’s not to love? Plenty, if you’re in California. Although the concept of unlimited paid time off can offer flexibility and reduce administrative
When Employees Behave Badly: Accountability Without Breaking the Law – Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Some employees are technically doing their jobs—but their behavior poisons the workplace. Whether it’s chronic negativity, resistance to feedback, or outright insubordination, these issues can’t be ignored. In this episode, Jen breaks down how to address bad behavior in a way that’s direct, effective, and legally sound.
Employee Rights in Workplace Investigations: What Employers Should Know in 2025
Conducting workplace investigations can be tricky, especially when it comes to how much information to share with participants. Do employees accused of misconduct have a right to know the details of the complaint? Can they
When Employees Behave Badly: Accountability Without Breaking the Law Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Some employees are technically doing their jobs—but their behavior poisons the workplace. Whether it’s chronic negativity, resistance to feedback, or outright…
Rethinking Workplace Investigations in 2025: Getting It Right from the Start
We’ve all been there. It’s a busy afternoon, and an unexpected employee complaint lands in your inbox. You pause and think, “What do I do now?” The short answer? If you don’t know the key
Ghosting, Gaslighting, and Gen Z: New Workplace Behaviors, Old Legal Risks – Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Today’s workplace is changing fast—ghosted interviews, Slack snubs, viral firings. But the legal rules? Not so much. In this episode, Jen unpacks how modern behaviors collide with decades-old employment laws, and how employers can modernize their expectations without running afoul of protected activity, bias claims, or wage-hour traps. Consider this your crash course in managing the new workplace without making the old mistakes.