Week@Work

Every Monday, we release a short, practical briefing on what California employers need to know this week. Enjoy it on us!

Episode 38

November 9, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, we examine how the midterm elections could reshape workplace legislation/regulation and a $22 million settlement involving alleged discriminatory employment practices by a federal contractor. In California, the state Supreme Court considers the future of PAGA arbitration, a costly wage-and-hour settlement highlights the price of missed breaks, an appeals court upholds the dismissal of harassment and retaliation claims against a nonprofit, and Delta Air Lines faces a lawsuit alleging unpaid work by flight attendants. And our bizarre case of the week features a financial adviser who impersonated a federal labor official to drum up business—only to find himself facing a very different retirement plan.

Past Episodes

Previous episodes are available in the EmployersLawyer Library, which is accessible to all clients.

Episode 38

November 9, 2026

Episode 35

October 19, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, we examine the EEOC’s pivot on employers’ use of criminal background checks and a key ruling upholding a termination decision due to the plaintiff’s lying. In California, a wage and hour case settles for $1.5 million, a disability lawsuit is dismissed because the employer offered reasonable accommodations, and Disney is facing an age case brought by a 30-year employee on the legal team. And our bizarre case of the week involves surreptitious workplace recordings, AI, and toilet paper.

Episode 33

September 28, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, we examine DoorDash’s $130 million settlement of wage and hour allegations and an employer-friendly ruling from the NLRB regarding worker misconduct. In California, a judge has refused to overturn the $4 million award for a wealth manager who was fired for seeking reimbursement for a deli plate, California is suing employers that don’t provide pay and demographic data, and In-N-Out workers file a class action alleging they weren’t properly paid. And our bizarre case of the week involves a deeper dive into a story in the headlines involving a leader who didn’t follow policies or learn from training – and is paying the price.

Episode 32

September 21, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, we examine the EEOC’s new push encouraging workers to bring claims of anti-American discrimination and an NLRB ruling ordering the reinstatement of a tech employee fired after raising workplace concerns. In California, the Ninth Circuit upholds an $8 million verdict for employees denied religious accommodations, Drybar managers bring a new misclassification lawsuit, and a former employee on Shrinking alleges sexual misconduct, wage violations and retaliation. And our bizarre case of the week involves an IRS manager whose falling-out with her goddaughter triggered an investigation that uncovered considerably more than a family feud.

Episode 31

September 14, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, this week’s episode addresses a $15 million independent contractor misclassification case in Hawaii and new class action wage and hour lawsuits brought against Dunkin’ Donuts and Boeing. In California, unions are getting creative, a severance agreement keeps former Meta employee from promoting her book, and Walmart gets sued for terminating a worker who tested positive for marijuana. And our bizarre case of the week discusses a twice-fired Ford worker who still may get his job back.

Episode 30

September 8, 2026

Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the prior week. At the national level, this week’s episode addresses Ford’s $2.3 million settlement in a graffiti harassment case and a finding that Microsoft employees weren’t protected from firing when they protested. In California, new bills may demote AI, suggestions of retirement prove costly for a school district, and the Warriors face employment claims brought by former team execs. And our bizarre case of the month explores just how far “inappropriate” behavior can go before the law says “enough.”

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