The Workplace: a Podcast by CalChamber

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment Matthew Roberts and CalChamber General Counsel for Labor and Employment Bianca Saad explore how California employers can navigate drug and alcohol issues in the workplace amid evolving legal standards.

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment Matthew Roberts, CalChamber General Counsel for Labor and Employment Bianca Saad and CalChamber Employment Law Counsel Vanessa Greene walk through the analysis required when employers choose to let someone go or reorganize their workforce.

In Episode 239 of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment Matthew Roberts, CalChamber General Counsel for Labor and Employment Bianca Saad, and CalChamber Employment Law Counsel Vanessa Greene help guide employers through managing paid sick leave and applying its legal requirements to their everyday operations and policies. Read more at https://advocacy.calchamber.com/2026/03/12/frequent-employer-questions-about-californias-paid-sick-leave/ .

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, Matthew Roberts, CalChamber Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment, welcomes CalChamber Employment Law Expert Sharon Novak for a timely conversation on wearable technology in the workplace. What begins with a seemingly simple scenario — an employee shows up to work wearing prescription smart glasses — quickly opens the door to complex issues around privacy, recording, disability accommodation and policy gaps many employers don’t realize they have yet.

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, Matthew Roberts, Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment at the California Chamber of Commerce, is joined by CalChamber Employment Law Counsel Vanessa Greene to discuss why now is the best time to audit, update, and rethink your handbook strategy.

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber General Counsel, Labor and Employment Bianca Saad and CalChamber Associate General Counsel, Labor and Employment Matthew Roberts discuss a new employment law taking effect on January 1, 2026, that affects California employers — the Workplace Know Your Rights Act.

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, CalChamber Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss top tips for newer human resources (HR) professionals, which even seasoned professionals may find insightful.

The holiday season is here — including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, Christmas and more. It’s when employers and their employees often let loose and celebrate the end of the year before the beginning of the next. In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, CalChamber Senior Employment Law Counsel Erika Barbara and CalChamber Employment Law Subject Matter Expert Vanessa Greene discuss what employers should consider for a wonderful end-of-year celebration — or any workplace gathering — that doesn’t lead to concerns or issues at the end of the party.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Associate General Counsel Matthew Roberts, Covington & Burling LLP Partner Lindsey Tonsager and Covington & Burling LLP Associate Attorney Jayne Ponder discuss the California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) latest regulatory efforts on automated decision-making technology (ADMT), also known more broadly as artificial intelligence (AI).