Week@Work

COMPLIMENTARY WEEKLY UPDATE

Week@Work

Every Monday, a short, practical briefing on what California employers need to know this week. No charge, no signup, no email required.

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.

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Episode 25

August 3, 2026

This episode of Week@Work updates California employers on the most important legal news from the last week. At the national level, the NLRB found a worker who publicly criticized his employer’s DEI programs was protected under federal law and a federal appellate court reinstated an HR manager’s retaliation suit. In California, Kanye West has settled a harassment suit brought by his former assistant, a court held Kaiser mishandled a religious accommodation request, and Warner Bros. sued Amazon for recruiting an executive under contract. And our bizarre case of the week accuses Comcast of using cream pies to motivate employee sales.

Episode 24

July 27, 2026

This episode of Week@Work is full of important news (and tips) for California employers. At the national level, the EEOC has voted to eliminate the EEO-1 requirement (but California data collection obligations continue) while the Department of Labor interpreted pay obligations for mid-day commuting. In California, failing to pay out vacation cost BofA $4 million, the Ninth Circuit found an offensive Facebook post didn’t create a hostile work environment, a worrisome bill in Sacramento falls to the wayside, and three new class action lawsuits demonstrate the importance of proper pay practices. And our bizarre case of the week analyzes accusations that a U.S. Cabinet Secretary engaged in religious proselytizing to workers.

Episode 23

July 20, 2026

This episode of Week@Work highlights several important developments for California employers. At the national level, Congress considers protections for menopause, the IRS ups the standard mileage reimbursement rate, and several off-duty employee incidents lead to termination. In California, Blackberry will have to defend claims it retaliated against a worker who filed anonymous harassment complaints, Ralph’s agrees to stop asking about applicant criminal records to settle a lawsuit, and 26 Meta workers ask a court to stop layoffs because the decisions were made by AI. And don’t miss our bizarre case of the week, which features a famous rapper accused of employment retaliation.

Episode 22

July 13, 2026

This episode highlights several developments California employers should have on their radar. At the national level, Walmart agreed to pay $13 million in a pay case, the New York Times fires back in a high-profile promotion case, and the EEOC files two new religion cases for failing to accommodate workers’ sabbath. In California, Pfizer scores a big win in a retaliation suit, Amazon Fresh pays $5 million to settle OT suit, and Governor Newsom signs a new law limiting the use of arbitration agreements. Plus, don’t miss this week’s Bizarre Case, which involves a flight attendant’s TikTok dance video that has resulted in a discrimination lawsuit.

Episode 21

July 6, 2026

Although it was a holiday week, there was no shortage of employment law news. Joe covers a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could reshape the leadership and priorities of the NLRB and EEOC, President Trump's nomination of Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor, the EEOC's latest actions on DEI, the NLRB's reversal on non-compete agreements, California's July 1 minimum wage increases, several noteworthy settlements and lawsuits, and a bizarre case involving a $642 Super Bowl deli platter that somehow turned into a $4.25 million arbitration award.

Episode 20

June 29, 2026

This episode highlights retaliation verdicts, arbitration wins, union organizing, religious accommodation, and a battle over a tell-all book that could reshape the enforceability of non-disparagement agreements. Joe also breaks down important Ninth Circuit and NLRB developments affecting California employers and closes with a bizarre case involving Prada, Louis Vuitton, and workplace appearance standards that reminds employers to evaluate employees based on performance, not personal style.

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