In the first part of this two-part podcast series, Karen Tynan (shareholder, Sacramento) and Robert Rodriguez (shareholder, Sacramento), who are co-chairs of Ogletree’s Workplace Violence Prevention Practice Group, review the first year of Cal/OSHA enforcement of California’s SB 553 workplace violence prevention law. Karen, who is also chair of the
Articles Discussing General Workplace Issues in California.
Wrong About the Law…Still Protected?
California employers often assume that if an employee’s complaint is legally incorrect, it falls outside the scope of protected activity. That assumption is not only flawed—it is increasingly risky. A recent decision from the California Court
Should You—or Shouldn’t You? Providing Employment References in California Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Providing references sounds simple—but in California, it’s anything but. In this episode, Jen breaks down what the law actually protects, where employers get…
Arrested — Now What? The Fair Chance Act and Hiring in 2026 Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
An applicant’s background check shows an arrest or pending charge. What can you ask? What can you consider? And when does the Fair Chance Act apply? In this…
California Workplace AI Notice and Disclosure Bill Would Impose Hefty Penalties
Introduced by Assembly Member Nick Schultz on February 12, 2026, Assembly Bill 1898 (AB 1898) would impose significant new notice and transparency obligations on California employers that use AI-powered tools to manage workers or make employment-related decisions. If signed into law, this bill would represent one of the most comprehensive
City of Costa Mesa to Require Staffing for Self-Check Out
Costa Mesa has passed an ordinance that regulates staffing for grocery and drug retailers that operate self-checkout stations. The measure requires employee staffing and supervision of self-checkout, restricts certain transactions at self-checkout, and requires customer signage. It is similar to an ordinance passed by the City of Long Beach last year. Costa Mesa’s ordinance takes… Continue Reading
Featured post Sixth Circuit Rejects NLRB’s Cemex Standard—What California Employers Should Know March 18, 2026 By: Tashayla “Shay” Billington, Zi Xuan “Daisy” Chen
On March 6, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit became the first federal appellate court to reject the National Labor Relations Board’s 2023 Cemex standard, which was adopted during the Biden administration.
California Appeals Court Ruling Provides Guidance on Arbitration Agreement Enforceability Under FAA
On January 13, 2026, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, issued a published decision in Tuufuli v. West Coast Dental Administrative Services, LLC, affirming a trial court’s order compelling arbitration of an employee’s individual claims and dismissing her class claims against her former employer. The decision provides important
CDF Webinar: The NLRB in Flux – What California Union and Non-Union Employers Need to Know Now
With the possible exception of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, no federal agency has generated more significant developments for California employers over the past year than the National Labor Relations Board.
Don’t Forget the March 30 Emergency Contact Deadline
Most employers already collect emergency contact information during onboarding. It is one of those routine HR forms that gets completed on day one and then quietly sits in a personnel file. Until now. A new California requirement
California’s Proposed Menopause Workplace Protections: What Employers Need to Know About AB 1940
Assembly Bill (AB) 1940, introduced in February 2026, represents a potentially significant development in California employment law. If enacted, this legislation would expressly include perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause within the definition of “sex” under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), making discrimination based on these conditions an unlawful
Handcuffs in Disguise: The Stay-or-Pay Agreements That Could Cost You Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Training repayment agreements, claw-back provisions, and “stay bonuses” are under serious scrutiny in California. What looks like a smart retention strategy…
Employee Losing Labor Code Claims In Arbitration Has No Standing To Pursue PAGA Representative Action
Employee Losing Labor Code Claims In Arbitration Has No Standing To Pursue PAGA Representative Action
California Risk Assessments: Seven Steps for Employers
California Risk Assessments: Seven Steps for Employers
Effective January 1, 2026, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires certain employers to complete detailed, documented risk assessments before engaging in many routine data processing practices. Because the assessments must be finalized before Covered Processing begins—and because they must include the date
What California Employers Need to Know about Military Leave Protections
As the situation in the Middle East progresses, and National Guard and Reservists are called to serve, employers will likely have employees who require leave of absence to fulfill their obligations to the military. While under federal law, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) guarantees the rights of military service members to… Continue Reading