The Workplace: a Podcast by CalChamber

Episode 233 - Addressing Employees’ Speech in the Workplace

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel, Labor and Employment Bianca Saad, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss employers’ best practices to address employees’ speech in the workplace.

More than ever, world, national and local affairs are creeping into the workplace with employees increasingly speaking out publicly about them. Employers may be struggling with understanding when and how to address employees’ public statements or comments that may cross the line in the workplace.

Episode 232 - Employment-Related Legislation Headed to the Governor

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss several employment-related bills sent to the Governor to potentially sign into law and what these could mean for employers.

After thousands of bills were introduced in 2025 — including some having a direct impact on employers — the regular 2025 California legislative year has ended. Now, Governor Gavin Newsom has until October 13 to sign or veto legislation passed through both legislative houses.

Episode 231: Pending Automated Decision-Making Systems (ADS) Legislation, Regulations

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel, Labor and Employment Bianca Saad and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss recent California regulations and legislation related to automated decision-making systems (ADS) and technology — colloquially known as artificial intelligence (AI).

Episode 230: Keeping Up with Mid-Year Employment Law Updates

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel, Labor and Employment Bianca Saad, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Labor and Employment and CalChamber Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara discuss mid-year employment law updates — including presidential executive orders, local and industry-specific minimum wages, a new poster requirement, annual workplace violence prevention obligations and recent court decisions.

Episode 229: Clearing Common Misconceptions About Workplace Violence Prevention Standards

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel, Labor and Employment Bianca Saad and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss common misconceptions about California’s general industry workplace violence prevention standards and how employers can proactively remain in compliance.

Episode 228: How to Prepare Your Workplace, Employees for Workplace Immigration Enforcement

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Sheppard Mullins Partner Greg Berk and Sheppard Mullins Special Counsel Andrew Desposito discuss the recent changes in how the federal government is enforcing immigration policies and procedures, and how employers can prepare their workplace and employees if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials show up.

Episode 227: Workers’ Compensation: The Who, What, Where of Workplace Injuries

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss several important considerations employers face when navigating workers’ compensation claims in California. From what to do when a workplace injury occurs to how to work with ongoing workers’ compensation claims, employers can have difficulties managing workers’ compensation issues.

Episode 226: Current, Pending Legislations Affecting California Employers

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts and CalChamber Senior Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss pending employment-related legislation, including bills on CalChamber’s Affordability Agenda, in the California Legislature

Episode 225: Employers, Don’t Overlook Your Annual Workplace Violence Prevention Obligations

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Labor and Employment General Counsel Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts discuss what employers are required to do annually to comply with general industry workplace violence prevention standards.

Episode 224: Furloughs, Layoffs, Reducing Work Hours During Economic Uncertainty

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss employers’ questions about furloughs, layoffs and reducing employees’ work hours to manage workforces during times of economic uncertainty while still being able to conduct business.